Fisherfolk groups in Pagasa Island get P5-M gears, equipment
Published Jun 12, 2023 06:50 am
Different fisherfolk groups in Pagasa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan are set to receive various fishing gears and equipment worth P5 million to help them increase their catch and break free from poverty.
*(Photo courtesy of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources)
* The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) ferried the items from Puerto Princesa City, Palawan to Pagasa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group onboard BRP Francisco Dagohoy (MMOV-5002). The send-off ceremony coincided with the commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the Philippine Independence Day on Monday, June 12. The gears include fish stalls, fish containers, plastic floaters, twines, lead sinkers, and deep sea payao or fish aggregating device. Also included are post-harvest equipment such as blast freezer, ice coolers, industrial weighing scales, crate storages, seawater flake ice machine, and a generator set. Aside from the fishing gears, Pagasa Island’s fisherfolk groups – such as Kalayaan Palawan Farmers and Fisherfolks Association and Spratlys Strong and Brave Women Association – may also avail training on proper fish handling, good manufacturing practices, and sanitation standards from personnel of BFAR. According to BFAR, the initiative was conducted “to empower fisherfolk and help them maximize their catch in the West Philippine Sea.” “Itong paglalayag ay isang inisyatiba ayon sa tagubilin ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na paigtingin ang pagbibigay ng suporta sa sektor ng mga mangingisda, maging sa mga malalayong baybaying komunidad (This voyage is an initiative in adherence to the orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to increase the assistance given to the fishing sector, even those who are from far away communities),” DA-BFAR National Director Demosthenes Escoto said. Meanwhile, Escoto recognized the PCG and other partner agencies which support BFAR’s livelihood initiatives for the fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea. “Sa pamamagitan ng ating pagtutulungan ay naipararating natin ang tulong ng pamahalaan sa ating mga mangingisda maging sa malalayong dako ng ating karagatan (By working together, we are able to deliver help from the government to the fishermen even to those who re in far corners of our seas),” he said.