Fisherfolk benefit from BFAR-7’s cash for work program

CEBU, Philippines —  At least 60 individuals who are members of three fisherfolk associations in Cebu and Bohol benefited from the cash for work program of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7.

This after BFAR-7, through the Fisheries Production and Support Services Division (FPSSD), engaged the local fishing communities in a cleanup drive targeting inland waters under the Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa (BASIL) program.

FPSSD chief Mario Ruinata said that this endeavor is one of the components marked under the BASIL program which seeks to rehabilitate the lakes, rivers, and other reservoir systems that may contribute to improving inland fisheries.

The FPSSD-BASIL team went to Balamban town for the one-kilometer cleanup drive at Balamban River, starting from Barangay Nangka to Barangay Combada. With the team were 20 members of the Buswang Farmers and Fisherfolks Association, who were able to gather at least 30 sacks of garbage.

Another cleanup drive was carried out in Carmen town’s major river. The cleanup covered one kilometer from Barangay Cantumog going down to Barangay Luyang. For this activity, 20 members of Cantumog Farmers Association joined and collected around 35 sacks or nearly 1,400 kilograms of garbage.

The selected associations will be receiving P35,000 for every hectare or kilometer covered during the cleanup.

Ruinata, in a statement posted on Facebook, has emphasized the importance of the river rehabilitation initiative that intends to reduce the garbage pollution accumulated over time .

At the same time, she said that this initiative aims to raise awareness among the townsfolk to refrain from disposing of their garbage near the riverbanks.

He said the rivers have been mostly vulnerable and exposed to pollution, especially to plastic wastes that usually end up into the open waters or oceans.

Aside from rivers, the FPSSD team also identified a small water impounding project (SWIP) in Barangay Guinacot, Guindulman in Bohol province as one of the priority areas for rehabilitation.

This inland water is also among the management areas tagged under the BASIL program.

Some 20 members of the Masayag Farmers Association, who are currently managing this inland water, were employed in clearing the dead trees and overcrowding shrubs surrounding the SWIP to maintain the best suitable condition in the area, especially for aquaculture. — JMD (FREEMAN)