CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7 turned over yesterday a total of 1,453 new boats intended for the fisherfolk in 14 towns and one city in northern Cebu.
BFAR-7 information officer Alma Saavedra said that the new boats were part of their “Build-A-Boat” program which aims to assist fishermen affected by super typhoon Yolanda.
Saavedra said that the 1,453 new boats were distributed to Bogo City (410), Medellin (278), San Remegio (170), Daan Bantayan (119), Tabogon (70), Tabuelan (40), Borbon (40), Tuburan (40), Sogod (20), Bantayan (36), Sta. Fe (96), Madridejos (25), Poro (25), San Francisco (34), Tudela (25) and Pilar (25).
Aside from giving the new boats, BFAR-7 also briefed the fishermen on “Improving Enforcement Capability In Fishery And Coastal Resource Management.”
BFAR-7 aims to donate at least 10,000 bancas to identified fisherfolk in the Visayas that were affected by the super storm.
Around 6,000 fishermen lost their livelihood in Cebu when Yolanda struck the Visayas November last year.
The Fisherfolk registered under BFAR’s Municipal Fisherfolk Registration or FishR were given priority.
FishR is aimed at developing a standardized registry system among municipal fisherfolk nationwide as manda-ted under Section 19 of Republic Act 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code.
BFAR eyes to register at least 2 million fisherfolk nationwide by the end of the year. It has earmarked a total of P30 million to ensure the complete fisherfolk registration all over the country.
Yesterday’s event at AHON Construction site in Polambato, Bogo City, was graced by the mayors and representatives of the towns and city whose fisherfolk were beneficiaries of the program. (FREEMAN)