Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU, May 19 (PIA) -- Over 5,000 fisherfolk-household
beneficiaries in Central Visayas stand to gain from the livelihood
programs rolled out by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(BFAR-7) this year.
BFAR-7 Regional Director Andres Bojos said the move is part of the
government’s thrust to reduce poverty incidence by capacitating the “poorest of
the poor” and uplift their quality of life.
“There are 5,190 fisherfolk-household beneficiaries that will be
given priority for identified livelihood programs” that will be rolled out this
year for them, said Bojos during the weekly forum of the Association of
Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) that tackled the celebration of May as
Fisherfolks Month.
Bojos said the 5,190 recipients represent five percent of the
“poorest of the poor” among the fisherfolk sector in the region and chosen
based on the cross-match of their fisherfolk registration system and the
National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction used
by Department of Social Welfare and Development.
According to Bojos, BFAR-7’s registration data on fisherfolk
population is currently at 107,000 but still counting as they are
dependent on the local government units to give them the list of legitimate
fishermen in their area.
Livelihood projects to be rolled out for the intended
beneficiaries include ‘guso’ making, mangrove planting, fish farming,
and crab farming.
BFAR-7 Assistant Director Allan Poquita in the same forum said a
P34-M budget has been allocated for the purchase of fishing materials to help
the intended beneficiaries.
We are given a timeline between September to October to complete
the projects for the identified fisherfolks, said Poquita.
Several activities are being undertaken by BFAR-7 until the end of
the month in celebration of Fisherfolks Month including various
capacity-building trainings to fish wardens and fisherfolks. (rmn/fcr/PIA-7)