Fifty new fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) boats are ready to sail the coastal waters of Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.

Fifty registered fisherfolk families in Tandag City were the latest beneficiaries of the “Banka Ko, Gawa Ko” training program of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) in Caraga region.

Regional director Omnia B. Olama, together with Pierre Easter L. Velasco, the national focal person for F/B Pagbabago Livelihood Development Program, city mayor Roxanne C. Pimentel, provincial governor Alexander T. Pimentel, 1st district representative Romeo S. Momo, city agriculturist Von C. Falcon and other BFAR Caraga key officials, led the distribution of the 30-footer FRP boats to the Tandaganon fisherfolk beneficiaries in a turn-over ceremony held on Friday, April 28, 2023 at Brgy. Mabua, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.

RD Olama, in her message, encouraged the fisherfolk beneficiaries to take good care of their newly acquired FRP boats, to use them honorably and to refrain from engaging in unlawful fishing practices.

Mayor Pimentel thanked the DA-BFAR for the livelihood project and reiterated the call of RD Olama to use the FRP boats responsibly. The city mayor also encouraged the fisherfolk recipients to support the programs and activities of government specifically designed for the protection and conservation of the aquatic resources.

The city government of Tandag is also committed to enhance their data collection of fish catch and to further provide capacity trainings for the fisherfolk on the aspects of sustainable fisheries management, fishery laws, and financial management, as they aspire of building a resilient fishing communities adaptive to the changing climate conditions.

Funded by the former Senator Kiko Pangilinan, the project intends to give FRP boats to the local fisherfolk so they can boost their productivity, leading to a better standard of living for their families. (Andy T. Ordoña, Information Officer, DA-BFAR Caraga)

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