CEBU, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR- 7) distributed over P640,000 worth of fishery projects to the fisherfolk in the four towns of Camotes Islands.
Beneficiaries from the towns of San Francisco, Pilar, Tudela, and Poro received the assistance as part of the highlights of the observance of Farmers and Fisherfolks Month this May.
The turnover of the projects was done during the "SugBusog" program caravan of the Cebu Provincial Government in the island last Monday.
The town of San Francisco received five units of motorized fiberglass boats worth P240,225. The BFAR-7 also provided two units of motorized fiberglass reinforced plastic boats and two units of fish aggregating device locally known as "payao" worth P144,302 to the municipality of Poro.
Tudela also received two units of motorized fiberglass reinforced plastic boats worth P96,102 while five units of payao worth P120,500 will be given to the Pilar town. BFAR-7 also pledges P70,450 worth of post-harvest equipment comprising of an upright freezer, pressure cooker, and processing utensils to the Cebu Technological University in Camotes campus.
These livelihood projects are earmarked under BFAR's Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (TARGET) program, which seeks to assist marginal fishermen and improve their livelihood and income.
RED TIDE
Meanwhile, BFAR-7 has urged the public to refrain from gleaning shellfishes from the coastal waters of Tagbilaran City and Dauis town in Bohol province; and Tambobo Bay of Siaton town in Negros Oriental province. Laboratory results continue to indicate the presence of red tide toxins in these areas.
“All shellfishes in these coastal waters and bay are unsafe for human consumption,” BFAR-7 said. — FPL (FREEMAN)