The United States government and its partner non-governmental organization in the Philippines have launched a pro-fisherfolk program in Cagayan Valley as part of its initiative to support resilient fishing communities. The program to establish a fisherfolk cooperative will offer loans to at least 26 fishers based in Aparri with low interest rate to enable them to finance their essential needs, such as boat repairs. It will also strengthen the coordination between the US government as well as its partner, NGO Impl. Project Philippines, and the community in fishing activities, and improve the latter’s physical security. "Beneficiaries will also receive training and equipment that will help them improve their catch and enhance their capacity to monitor marine poachers," the US Embassy in Manila said. The US has been supportive of fishing communities in the Philippines, with the recent visit of Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirming their commitment. In Palawan, Harris also vowed to extend support to local fisherfolk to combat unregulated and illegal fishing activities in the Philippine waters. For her part, Nina Lewis, the embassy’s program officer, said the US is "proud" to work with the Filipino fishers. Aparri fisherfolk cooperative president Rashep Valencia said the "equipment and training that we will receive through this program will have a huge impact on us, our families, and the whole community here in Cagayan." The cooperative in Aparri is the third cooperative created under the US program. In 2020, the US government and Impl. Project Philippines launched the Unified Livelihood Agriculture Cooperative (ULAC) in Masinloc, Zambales.  ULAC provided 80 fisherfolk with training, safety equipment and low-interest loans that sustained their livelihood after the presence of foreign vessels prevented their access to their traditional fishing grounds in Scarborough Shoal. The second cooperative, the Bangsa'Sug Fisherfolks of Patikul Sulu, was launched in Jolo, Sulu earlier this year.