OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental (PIA)—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)- Misamis Occidental is continuously providing livelihood support to fisherfolk in the province.

Provincial Fishery Director and Sr. Aquaculturist Cirilo D. Bagcat reported that they are helping fisherfolks upgrade their equipment through providing new equipment. “Kining modernization, kini ang paghatag og bag-o nga equipment, mga bag-o nga technology sa pagbuhi ug isda sama sa fishpond, fish pin, fish cages ug sa mga tangke apil na siya sa fisherfolks. Gihatagan sila ug mga bag-ong technology aron mapadaghan ang ilang production sa isda."

(This modernization is the provision of new equipment, new technologies to produce fish such as fishponds, fish pins, fish cages and tanks. They are being provided with new technologies to increase their fish production)

Bagcat said they have poured in a lot of help to the fisherfolk particularly through the Provincial Fisheries Office,  Agriculture Office and the local government units. One of its programs, Special Agricultural Area for Development (SAAD) has been implemented in the city of Tangub, Ozamiz and municipalities of Baliangao and Bonifacio.

“Special kini nga project diin ang mga association ang nahatagan niini nga project sulod sa tulo ka tuig nga pag-atiman, pag-ayuda sa maong mga association. Ang panglantaw sa kagamhanang national through BFAR ug LGU nga kini mapalambo,” he added.

(This is a special project where the associations have been given this project for three years of care, helping such associations. The vision of the national government through BFAR and LGU is that it will be developed)

During the pandemic until present, the national government through BFAR and LGUs provided cash and food assistance worth P5,000 each. There is rice, eggs and poultry to those registered fisher folks submitted list by the Agriculture Office.

Last year, there were 259 fisherfolk assisted with a loan amounting to P25,000 each through LandBank of the Philippines and this year, BFAR also has a fuel subsidy program worth P3,000 each for the fisherfolk registered with the LGU via boat registration using its engine and boat.

BFAR also coordinates with the LGUs if they have projects and programs in Misamis Occidental. “Dili kita magpili ug unsa’y mulo sa fisherfolks nga muduol kanamo ug kami sa BFAR andam kami mo tagana sa mga muduol namo nga mga fisherfolk.

(We do not choose what kind of fisher folks you are and we at BFAR are ready to provide assistance for those who needs help with us)

BFAR Misamis Occidental registered 30 thousand fisher folks in the province. (SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)