The DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) formally held the turnover of management from concurrent regional director Remia Aparri to the designated RD of BFAR-Negros Island Region, Rene Parreño, Jan. 7 marking the start of full regional operations.
The ceremony gathered BFAR officials, headed by the Bureau’s national director, Elizer Salilig, together with assistant director for Technical Services Isidro Velayo Jr., BFAR 7 RD Mario Ruinata, and personnel.
The turnover capped off months of transition work, led by Aparri, to prepare the new region for operations. These included coordination meetings with BFAR7, setting up administrative and financial systems, hiring of personnel, and initial budget planning to support regional programs.
In her welcome message, Aparri underscored the importance of cooperation during the transition, noting that the preparatory work was guided by a shared goal of ensuring that BFAR–NIR starts ready, organized, and responsive to local needs.
“Be assured that the Provincial Fisheries Office of Negros, which will be your new home and temporary regional office, is ready and capable to support the direction you will set for BFAR–NIR,” Aparri said in warmly welcoming Parreño.
Velayo also expressed his support to Parreño, saying this is the way of the government to have focused fisheries services in NIR, and advised him to truly commit to the position and to communicate and compromise with partners, where necessary.
With its leadership now in place, BFAR-NIR, in a press release, said it is set to carry out its mandate of promoting sustainable fisheries, food security, and the welfare of fishing communities in the region.
“Our goal is to lessen the poverty incidence of our fisherfolk here in NIR as a whole,” Salilig in his remarks as he reminded personnel of the ultimate goal of the Bureau’s programs, projects, and activities.
He said the management has secured a budget for a new BFAR-NIR Office.
Parreño, formerly chief fishing regulations officer of BFAR-Mimaropa, and a native of Koronadal, South Cotabato, said he is looking forward to serving the BFAR-NIR and continue what Aparri and Ruinata have started.
“We commit to contribute positively in the direction and goals of BFAR, especially in poverty alleviation. Let us coordinate with the DSWD to target our poorest of the poor in the fisheries sector,” he said in his acceptance speech.
As neighboring regions sharing Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 11, Ruinata expressed his hope for the BFAR-NIR, saying the region has a lot of potentials and also great responsibility. He added that together with Aparri, BFAR7 is ready to continue nurturing NIR as it takes its first steps as the newest BFAR Regional Office.
The BFAR-NIR was established following the creation of the Negros Island Region under Republic Act 12000, unifying the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor Island into one administrative region. ||
