The Malabon City government, in partnership with the  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), distributed 20 motorized boats to four fishermen associations in the city on Monday, February 26.

Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval led the inaugural boat awarding ceremony at the Malabon Amphitheater.

The "Bangka para sa mga mangingisda" initiative is part of the livelihood assistance program jointly sponsored by DOLE, BFAR, and the city government through the Public Employment and Services Office (PESO).

The distribution aligns with Mayor Sandoval’s commitment to address the livelihood concerns of the residents. Thirty-six recipients from four fishermen's associations in Barangays Tañong, Hulong Duhat, Concepcion, and Ibaba were part of the program.

According to the city’s PESO head, Ms. Luziel Balajadia, through the DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantage/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, the four fishermen's groups that underwent the training provided by the BFAR constructed the boats using fiberglass-reinforced plastic materials.

They created the boats for 20 days and received a daily salary of P610.

In addition, beneficiaries will also receive 40 fishing nets that they can use.

"During the [Covid-19] pandemic, na-stop talaga yung kanilang pangingisda. So, isa ito sa mga naging advocacy natin, sa ilalim ng termino ni Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, na bigyan naman ng atensyon ang ating mangingisda. Dahil sa Malabon City, isa sa pangunahing pangkabuhayan nila ay ang pangingisda, kaya very masigasig tayo na mabigyan sila ng bangka (During the [Covid-19] pandemic, their fishing activities were stopped. So, this became one of our advocacies, under Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, to give attention to our fishermen. In Malabon City, one of the primary livelihoods is fishing, so we are very determined to provide them with boats)," Balajadia said.