PUERTO PRINCESA CITY (PIA) — A total of 34 fisherfolk associations in Palawan receive fisheries support from the government.
These fisheries support are from different programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA)- (BFAR).
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally handed over these assistance to the associations in time for his visit in Puerto Princesa City, July 18, to distribute the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF).
For the National Mariculture Program worth P2.760 million, four fisherfolk associations in Palawan were provided with four units of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) fish cages, two of which are circular fish cages and the other two are modular fish cages.
According to BFAR-MIMAROPA OIC Regional Director Roberto Abrera, this project is for aquaculture purposes, intended for aquaculture development in Palawan.
The Palawan’s fisherfolk that benefited from this program are the Palawan Aqua-Agri Venture Agriculture Cooperative of Brgy. Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa City; Shell Island Fisherfolks Association of Brgy. I, Roxas, Palawan; Pag-asa ng Pag-unlad Association of Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Puerto Princesa City; and Quezon Basneg Operator Association of Brgy. Alfonso XIII, Quezon, Palawan.
For F/B Pagbabago-Livelihood Development Program for the Calendar Year 2024, a total of 27 fisherfolk from different municipalities in the province were provided with a 24-footer fiberglass reinforced plastic fishing boat with complete underwater fittings and 10 horsepower diesel marine engine, amounting to P990,000.
For the Capacitating Municipal Fisherfolk Program amounting to P26.1 million, DA-BFAR granted assistance to the Self-Reliant Team of Palawan Multipurpose Cooperative from Narra, Palawan; Sinadayan Fisherfolk Association from Brgy. Culasian, Rizal, Palawan; and Linapacan Fish Catchers Association from Linapacan, Palawan with a 62-footer FRP Fishing boat (Tuna Handliner) with 6 pieces support boat (Pakura) for each association.
“All of the beneficiaries for this program are organized group. Ang fishing ground nila ay West Philippine Sea (WPS). I-take advantage natin ang underutilized na fishing ground natin dahil diyan ay marami pang isda. Ito po ay imo-monitor natin, ‘yong fish production, para ma-account natin. Ito po ay kawil, sustainable, environment friendly, hindi po tayo gagamit ng lambat na makakasira ng corals,” Abrera said.
These fishing boats will last up to 20 years if maintained properly, according to Abrera. (OCJ/PIA-MIMAROPA, Palawan)
