TACLOBAN CITY – “The Fisheries Resource Management Project (FRMP) in Region 8 is well-received by the people. Under the leadership of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), I am confident that this region can achieve its objective.”

This was the assessment of Weidong Zhou, head of the three-member Asi0an Development Bank (ADB) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Review Team, who assessed the implementation of the FRMP in Eastern Visayas from Nov. 25 to 28, 2004.

The other members of the team were ADB assistant project analyst Nida Calma and JBIC project officer Flerida Chan. The FRMP is funded by the ADB and JBIC.

The team visited and held project-review meetings with program implementers and industry stakeholders in the different FRMP areas.

These were the Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte covering 88 barangays in six towns; San Pedro Bay in Samar with 52 barangays in three towns; and Ormoc Bay, Leyte, with 37 barangays in one city and two municipalities.

“The main purpose of the FRMP is not only to preserve the environment and our marine resources but to generate opportunities and profi0t top our People,” Weidong stressed during the briefing conducted for the team by the BAFR regional office here.