Four coastal local government units in Davao del Norte will receive 400 motorized boats from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to strengthen management of marine resources and intensify anti-illegal fishing drive in the province.
The cities of Tagum, Panabo, and Samal, and the municipality of Carmen will receive 100 fiberglass fishing boats each. Two fisherfolk families will share the benefit of each boat, which costs P70,000, complete with fishnets and fishing rods.
The boats are part of the motorized fishing boats allocated by the DA to LGUs under the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP).
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol announced the availability of the boats, during the recent organizational meeting of the DIDP in Davao City.
“For every LGU member of the DIDP na may coastal area we are committing a hundred fishing boats each . . . fiber glass fishing boats complete with engine (for every LGU member of DIDP that has a coastal area, we are committing a hundred fiber glass fishing boat complete with engine),” the official said.
He asked local officials to allow DA personnel to validate the identities of the beneficiaries before releasing the P7-million allotted to each LGU.
He also outlined other requirements and responsibilities of the recipient fisherfolk families, which include joining the anti-illegal fishing and coastal clean-up efforts.
“We have to educate the fishermen on their responsibilities. For example, walang illegal fishing, mamumulot sila ng basura… Magmo-monitor lang sila ng illegal fishers, magre-report sila. They will also serve as “Bantay Dagat” (… For example, no illegal fishing, they will pick up trash. They will help monitor illegal fishers, and report them to us. They will also serve as “Bantay Dagat”),” he added.
In high spirits after hearing about this development, DIDP Chair Governor Anthony del Rosario immediately asked DA-XI OIC-Regional Director Ricardo M. Oñate Jr. regarding the necessary requirements.
“…mogawas na ang atong request. Na-estorya na nato si Director Oñate bahin niana, (Our request will be out soon. I have already spoken to Director Oñate regarding that)” del Rosario said. (pioDavNor)
