CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) -- The city government of Calapan led by Mayor Malou Flores-Morillo has recently turned over livelihood interventions to fisherfolk associations in the city.

Among the fishing equipment that were distributed were: a fiberglass canoe, bundles of nets, rolls of monofilament nylon cord, rolls of rope, bamboos, wok with kitchen utensils, steel drum, modified fish aggregating devices, net floaters, boat propellers, fish hooks, and cast nets.

In her message, Morillo highlighted that through the city government, the fisherfolk will receive more support and wishes to take care of the given interventions for their livelihood.

“Ito ay umpisa pa lamang ng mga biyaya at ayuda para sa sektor nila [mangingisda]. Nawa’y ang mga natanggap [niyo] ngayong araw ay alagaan at pagyamanin pa upang tuluy-tuloy na makatulong sa pag-unlad ng [inyong] mga samahan,” 

[This is just the beginning of interventions and aid for their sector [fishermen]. The interventions [you] received today may be taken care of and further enriched to continuously help the development of [your] organizations,” said Morillo.

Roland Argusar, a member of a fishing association and one of the beneficiaries expressed his gratitude to the city government for the tools and equipment that they will use to augment the fishing capacity of their organization. 

“Malaking tulong na maituturing itong aming natanggap mula sa pamahalaan ng Calapan na pinangungunahan ni Mayor Malou. Sisikapin namin pag ingatan ang mga ito,”

[“This is a great help that we received from the government of Calapan led by Mayor Malou. We will try to preserve it,”] said Argusar.

The City Trade and Industry Department (CTID), and the City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) were also present in the turnover ceremony, which in turn gave an overview in strengthening the livelihood of the fisherfolk associations. (GATS/PIA MIMAROPA)