At 2 o’clock in the morning, with the skies clear and the  waters placid, Gerry Carlos told his fellow fishermen, “Larga na ta.”

Every day, when the weather and sea are favorable, Gerry and his fellow fishermen head out to Mati Bay to earn their daily keep.

“Karong bulana sa December ug January, naa ra na sa panaw ang mga bariles (These months of December and January, the yellowfin fish will be swimming near the shore),” Carlos said in a phone interview.Sailing by just 20 nautical miles from their dock, they anchored their 23-footer boat in an area where they frequently spot and catch yellowfin fish.

Fisherfolk Association (DELSFA), talked to Mati City mayor Michelle Rabat about their problems. He said that the local chief executive committed to tapping the national government to address their concerns.

Blessings from BFAR and City Government of Mati

On January 17, blessings arrived for DELFSA as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) donated to them P8 million worth of fishing vessels and gear.

The donation included a P6.7 million commercial fishing vessel commonly known as “lantangan” and seven small boats, or “pakura.”

Hopes for a prosperous catch

With the donations from BFAR and City Government of Mati, Gerry and the officers and members of DELSFA hope to gain more catch than their previous produce.

Aside from bigger production, Gerry also expects that the new vessel will be their mother boat to carry ice boxes to preserve the quality of the fish.

Previously, each member earned an average of around P20,000 monthly. Although he cannot categorically say how much they will earn with the new vessel, he hopes, however, to maybe double their earnings.

“Dako kog pasalamat sa government nga among association ang nahatagan; dugang na jud og panginabuhian para sa among panginahanglan sa among mga estudyante ug pagkaon (I am very thankful to the government for giving this to our association; this will augment our livelihood to address the needs of our students and also our food),” he said. (PIA Davao Oriental/MLU/Photos from City of Mati LGU)