A total of 350 fisherfolk families in the province of Palawan will now be lifted out of poverty as they became proud and happy owners of new and bigger fishing boats given out by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources today in Brooke’s Point town.
It was the first time the DA-BFAR gave out the 38-foot fiberglass fishing boats powered by two engines and capable of carrying a crew of five people.
The bigger boats weighing 4.2-tons with a maximum speed of 12-knots could be used in fishing farther from the shore.
It is equipped with an ice storage chest and will be owned by five families instead of just two families for the smaller boats.
BFAR Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona who joined me in the Biyaheng Bukid Forum in Brooke’s Point early today said the bigger boats were designed to allow poor fishermen to be able sail farther out into the seas.
Costing P180,000 per unit, the first 70 units will benefit 350 fishermen divided into groups of five.
When the Palawan fishermen saw the big fiberglass boats, they almost could not believe that these would be given to them for free by government.
In addition to the boats, nets, fishing gears and hooks and line, I directed Usec Gongona to ensure that the groups of five fishermen are provided with an initial working capital of P5,000 for each boat to be used in the purchase of fuel, ice and their provisions as they sail out for the first time.
BFAR Region IV-B Director Elizer Salilig was instructed to implement the new financial assistance program.
Excited fishermen-beneficiaries clambered into one of the boats used in the ceremonial turn-over.
“Amin na talaga ito, Si?,” one of the fishermen asked me. He said it was the first time he and his fellow fishermen received such help from government.
The distribution of fiberglass fishing boats nation-wide is part of the anti-poverty program of President Rody Duterte aimed at reducing poverty in the country from 26% to only 17% at the end of his term.
Farmers and fishermen are among the poorest sectors in the country.
In addition to the 70 units given out to the fisherfolks, 26 units of the same fiberglass boats were also given to the different towns of the province for their Bantay Dagat anti-illegal fishing operations.
Mayors of almost all towns of Palawan including Cong. Eric Abueg were present during the turn over.
(Photos of the Brooke’s Point forum taken by Engr. Nicyl Barretr.)
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