The Department of Agriculture (DA) is investing over P300 million to develop this coastal municipality into a leading fisheries and agricultural growth center in Eastern Visayas, aiming to boost local incomes, strengthen food security, and drive rural development.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. led the distribution of aid and production support on June 11, emphasizing Mapanas’ strategic value to national food security. He noted the town’s vast coastal waters hold great potential for tuna and deep-sea fishing, while its fertile lands are ideal for high-value crops.
To ease the burden of rising living costs, the DA also launched the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program here, giving registered farmers and fisherfolk access to rice at P20 per kilo. The measure is meant to help vulnerable families cope with inflation while they focus on improving their livelihoods.
Support released included P4.7 million in seeds, farm inputs, and equipment, plus cash aid for more than 2,000 beneficiaries under the presidential assistance program. A key part of the package was P293 million in crop and fishery insurance from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., protecting producers against typhoons, floods, and climate risks. The DA also turned over P1.2 million worth of abaca stripping machines to raise processing quality and earnings for fiber growers.
For the local tuna industry, Laurel committed a 10,000-kg solar-powered ice plant, light fishing boats by end-2026, and a modular solar cold storage facility for fish, meat, and vegetables.
Despite having 1,528 registered farmers, 816 fisherfolk, and 16,500 hectares of fishing grounds, nearly 30% of Mapanas residents live in poverty, with average household income at just P63,000 yearly. The town is known for tuna, coconut, cassava, and abaca, but production has not translated well to higher incomes.
The DA’s strategy shifts focus from simply raising output to building competitive value chains. By combining production aid, insurance, mechanization, and market-focused development, the government aims to unlock Mapanas’ potential and ensure more benefits from its resources stay within the community.
