FIBER GLASS BOATS. Fisherfolk of Pandan town receive 119 fiberglass boats to help them in their livelihood from June 17-21, 2019. Under its FB Pagbabago program, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) provided the boats. (Photo courtesy of PIO Antique)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique -- The Antique Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) has delivered 119 fiberglass boats to marginalized fishermen in the municipality of Pandan to augment their livelihood.
Alletth Gayatin, Senior Aquaculturist of the Office of Provincial Agriculture (OPA), said the delivery, which started on June 17, was completed on June 21.
“It took almost a week for the PEO to complete their delivery of the fiberglass boats to the fishermen in Pandan,” she said in an interview Monday, adding their dump truck could only carry five boats at most.
The fiber glass boats have engines from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) under its FB Pagbabago program. Each unit costs between PHP50,000 to PHP55,000 with the other towns also scheduled to receive their respective fiberglass boats.
“Today (June 24), two fishermen beneficiaries from Anini-y town are scheduled to get their boats,” she added.
Anini-y, which is the southernmost coastal town of Antique, is going to receive a total of 54 boats.
Gayatin said BFAR held a ceremonial turnover of fiberglass boats last March 28.
However, they were only provided with certificates of turnover because the engines are not yet available.
“Since the engines are already available, then the boats are now being delivered to 900 marginalized fisherfolks,” Gayatin said.
Gayatin advised fisherfolk recipients to coordinate with their office or the BFAR provincial office so they could schedule the delivery of the remaining fishing boats.
“The fisherfolks may also get the boats if they have their own transportation,” she said. (PNA)
