UPLIFTING LIVES. Members of Cabulihan Fisherfolk Association in Limasawa, Southern undergo seaweed farming training in this undated photo. Fishers on the island town are grateful for the support they got during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources)
TACLOBAN CITY – Since her teenage years, Marites Solonia, 44, has been engaged in fishing in the island town of Limasawa in Southern Leyte, but she said it was only during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., that the fishing sector got its rightful support.
Solonio, who leads the 64-member Cabulihan Fisherfolk Association, said apart from getting fish production-related livelihood skills training, they expect the delivery of 60 pump boats within the month.
As a leader of the group, she got motorboats from the government last July 4 during the visit of President Marcos in Palo, Leyte, for the awarding of assistance to farmers and fisherfolk.
The group is a recipient of 60 22-footer fiberglass-reinforced plastic boats worth PHP2.8 million, inclusive of engine and boat accessories.
The boats have been delivered to Maasin City, Southern Leyte after some delay due to big waves between the main Leyte Island and Limasawa Island, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
“I could feel the President’s genuine concern for the fishery sector when he personally handed over the assistance to our group. We never had support from the national government in the past until 2023,” Solonio told the Philippine News Agency hours before President Marcos delivered his 3rd State of the Nation Address on Monday.
The group, she said, has been looking forward to receiving fishing boats since most of their members just rent boats from their neighbors. They only earn 30 percent of their catch.
The fishers in Cabulihan village have been identified as recipients of the Department of Agriculture-BFAR-Special Area for Agricultural Development Program Phase 2, designed to contribute to poverty reduction by providing sustainable livelihood opportunities to poor fishers.
The group got in late 2023 fishing gear and paraphernalia worth PHP2.3 million to help fishers recover from the impacts of Typhoon Odette that battered the province in December 2021.
The assistance also allowed them to enhance their fish drying process. They are now producing 50 to 100 kilograms of dried squid every month. Each kilogram is sold for PHP1,000.
In the island town of Zumarraga, Samar, each of the 25 fishers of Tubigan village got PHP2,000 worth of fishing gear, such as bottom-set longlines and gillnets.
These gears are used by local fishermen to continue their practice of sustainable fishing.
“We have been employing this sustainable fishing method for the past 40 years, but this is the first time that our group has received fishing gear from the national government. We are happy that President Marcos personally handed these gears to us,” said Zhonne Cabueños, president of the fisherfolk association in the village.
Each member catches an average of nine to 12 kilograms daily.
The provision of free fishing gear is crucial for low-income fishermen since they have to replace their equipment every six months.
The group of Cabueños is just one of the hundreds of fishermen who received assistance from the government during the President’s visit to Calbayog City, Samar early this month.
During his speech in the province, President Marcos assured the residents that the government would work double time to improve their lives and ensure that all necessary assistance would be provided to them as envisioned under the “Bagong Pilipinas.” (PNA)
