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BFAR-10 grants scholarships, fiberglass boats

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–Targeting to improve the fisheries sector, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-10 urges fisherfolk to fill-up the Municipal Fisherfolk Registration of local government units (LGUs) to avail various assistance like the fiberglass boats, and encourages the latter's children and willing students to apply in their scholarship program.

In 2021, BFAR allocated a P30,000-50,000 worth per unit of fiberglass boats to congressional requests from Rep. Peter Unabia (100 units) and Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (100 units). This year, Camiguin received 64 units, and Misamis Oriental got 16 units of fiberglass boats, said Regional Director Teodoro Bacolod Jr. during the Lambo Dyes radio program, February 18.

These recipients have not yet benefited from BFAR’s interventions in the past programs, as recorded from the LGU fisherfolk registry. This April, boats will be provided to fisherfolk affected by typhoon Odette.

Shift from wooden boats to fiberglass boats was implemented as these boats are plastic reinforced, designed to float better and are more disaster resilient during strong currents and storms. Components that come with the fiberglass boats are its machine and other fishing equipment such as nets.

Payao was also received by each association, a fish reef device that provides fishermen a target area to fish. About 1 to 2 weeks are also spent training the recipients to assess and evaluate the technical feasibility of fisherfolk in handling the boats. BFAR-10 offers these support not only to those who have registered to their municipalities, but also to individual fisherfolk.

Bacolod also assured that these interventions have been fully assessed and studied before implementation. “We conduct assessment sa mga mananagat, dili pataka og hatag. Ang amo, kung unsa gyud ang appropriate for that place nga need sa atong mananagat, mao among ihatag. We have the technology, atong tabangan nga ma-improve ilang existing karon nga pamaagi,” Bacolod said.

(We conduct assessments with fisherfolks, so we will not give impractical support. What’s appropriate and needed is what we will provide. We have the technology, so we have to help improve the existing practices of the fisherfolk)


BFAR scholarship program

To increase productivity and income for fisherfolk, BFAR-10 does not only provide equipment to fisherfolk in the region but also a four-year educational grant to study Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BS-FAR) offered in MSU Naawan, MSU Marawi, and MSU Zamboanga.

BFAR’s Fisheries Scholarship Program (FSP) is categorized as Fisherfolk children educational grant for fisherfolk children, Fisheries industry leader (top 10 students of a class), and the Indigenous cultural communities. These recipients are only expected to maintain a 3.0 grade or a 75 mark. A monthly stipend of P5,000 is also given, together with book allowance, thesis assistance, and graduation allowance to each scholar.

Currently, there are 110 FSP recipients and 26 incoming scholars for the school year. To inquire and apply, one may visit the bureau's provincial fisheries offices. (RLT/PIA-10)

Mambajao LGU and BFAR-10 distribute 15 fiberglass reinforced plastic boats to the town's fisherfolk, February 17. (LGU Mambajao)

About the Author

Recthie Paculba

Regional Editor

Region 10

Camiguin Information Center Manager 

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