700 fisherfolk receives free boats

PROVINCE OF DAVAO ORIENTAL, November 13, 2015– A total of 700 fisherfolk from across the province have received free fishing boats for the year 2015, says the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRI).

A joint project of the Provincial Government and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) under the Task Force Pablo Rehabilitation Program, the turnover of fishing boats is part of the long-term interventions of the government for the victims of typhoon Pablo which severely devastated the province in 2012.

PAGRI said that out of the 700 boats provided, 300 were motorized while 400 were non-motorized.

Felipe Montera, Chief of the Fisheries Section of the PAGRI, during the latest turnover ceremony to 111 fisherfolks in the coastal town of Baganga, said that around 192 additional boats funded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will soon be distributed across the typhoon-hit coastal towns of Boston, Cateel, Baganga, and Caraga.

The fisherfolk beneficiaries expressed their gratitude towards the efforts of the government, particularly the Provincial Government, for giving them an opportunity to improve their means livelihood. They said that with these new boats they could certainly make a real catch.

Aside from the fishing boats, other interventions for the fishery sector in the typhoon-hit areas include mangrove planting, distribution of fishing implements, and support to high-value aquaculture, among many other livelihood interventions.

Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, who led the turnover ceremony, told the fisherfolk to take care of these boats as these are their primary means of livelihood.

She also reminded them, particularly the Bantay-Dagat to take care and guard the province’s marine resources against illegal fishers.

She further urged the beneficiaries to continue their support to the various development programs of the Provincial Government bent at boosting the socio-economic development of the province, particularly on the emerging eco-tourism development in their areas that holds the promise of further local economic improvement.

Gracing the turnover ceremony are Board Member Niño Uy and First District Representative Nelson L. Dayanghirang.

For his part, Cong. Dayanghirang lauded the efforts of the Provincial Government under the leadership of Gov. Malanyaon. Complementing the governor’s eco-tourism projects, Dayanghirang reported the nearing completion of the road networks linking Davao Oriental towns to the boundary of the neighboring Compostela Valley Province. He also vowed that he will continue to back the thrusts of the present administration and will continue to pour support to the typhoon Pablo-affected towns. (By KLD/PIO DavOr)