Groups donate 1.4 thousand kilos of fish to marginal households

CEBU, Philippines —  The Bisayas Alliance of Fishing Operators for Reform (BAFOR) and the Toledo City Fisherfolk Workers Association have donated 1,400 kilograms of fishes to more than 600 marginal households in Cebu City and other sectors that were affected by the Corona Virus-19 crisis.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-7, through the Cebu Provincial Fishery Office, has facilitated seven separate relief distributions since April 27 to ensure food availability in poor communities.

In a statement, BFAR-7 said that the relief assistance has benefited indigenous communities, charitable institutions, schools, jail facilities, and other sectors, which sought help from them.

On April 27, BAFOR donated 100 kilograms of fresh fish to 100 marginal and homeless families at Sitio Dumon.

The next day, BAFOR’s donations were given to 104 families from the fire-stricken sitio of Barangay San Roque.

On May 4, the Toledo City Fisherfolk Workers Association donated 250 kilograms of fishes to 142 marginal households from Sitio Palma, Barangay San Roque; the Sisters of Mary Boystown in Minglanilla town; and the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos in Cebu City.

The association has donated again portions of their fish catch on May 12. About 300 kilograms of fresh fishes were distributed to at least 257 marginal families from three sitios in Barangay San Roque and to 43 enforcers and volunteers assigned at checkpoints in the cities of Cebu, Talisay, and Naga.

On May 13, BAFOR had donated 100 kilograms of fishes to 30 marginal households from the same barangay and some were shared to Cebu archdiocese charitable institutions like the Gasa sa Gugma and the St. John Paul II Home for Aged Priests.

On May 19, the Toledo City Fisherfolk Workers Association gave 200 kilograms of assorted fishes to two clusters of Badjao communities in Sitio Alaska, Mambaling. At least 85 kilograms were sent to the Cebu City Jail in Barangay Kalunasan which were coursed through Cebu Caritas, Inc. for its ongoing cause of gathering donations for the inmates.

On that same day, BFAR-7 personnel shared about 25 kilograms of fishes to policemen and volunteers deployed in the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Naga and San Fernando town.

On May 26, the association gave out at least 279 kilograms of fresh fishes. The Sisters of Mary Girlstown in Talisay City received 60 kilograms of fishes, while 50 kilograms were given to the Sisters of Mary Boystown in Minglanilla.

At least 80 kilograms of fishes were set aside for the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Cebu City and 70 kilograms for Alaska, Mambaling. The rest were shared to the assigned officers at checkpoints that the BFAR vehicle passed by on its way to Cebu City from Toledo.

In another event, BFAR-7, through the efforts of the Regional Fisheries Training and Fisherfolk Coordination Division, gave away on May 14 at least 70 food packs to the fisherfolk community of the Ati Tribe in Barangay South Poblacion, Naga City.

BFAR-7 expressed its heartfelt gratitude to the donors who have extended help for the sectors affected by the prevailing health crisis.

The regional office is also open to receiving donations from other fisherfolk organizations or associations that are willing to share portions of their harvest or fish catch.

"These series of relief distributions make the observance of the Farmer's and Fisherfolks' Month this May more meaningful as the fishery sector proved that they contribute greatly in ensuring the country’s food security amid the crisis," BFAR-7 said.

It added that the endeavor also manifests the “bayanihan” spirit among local fishing communities especially at a time when the country continues to confront the global pandemic.  GAN (FREEMAN)