CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro, and Malampaya Foundation, Inc., recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the training on the construction, repair, and maintenance of fiberglass reinforced plastic boats for alleviating the situation of oil spill-affected fisherfolks in the province.
In the signed MOA, the Provincial Agriculture Office will conduct the profiling of fisherfolks while BFAR will be in charge of providing the materials for fiberglass boat making, as well as trainers, food, and daily allowances of trainees throughout the training period.
On the othe hand, TESDA will supervise and assess the competency of trainees and issue training certificates. The said project will also be supported by Malampaya Foundation, Inc., a non-government organization that will provide transportation and accommodation to qualified fisherfolks during the said training. At the end of the program, the trainees would take home the boat they have built for them to be used once the fishing ban is totally lifted.
Meanwhile, DOLE will provide emergency employment to fisherfolks under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantage Workers Program (TUPAD). Beneficiaries of this program will receive a daily allowance of P355 (minimum wage in Mimaropa) based on their attendance for the 15-day boat making training. Beneficiaries will be covered by a one-year group insurance under the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
The training has been participated by 25 fisherfolk beneficiaries from different municipalities of the province and this will be ongoing process as of this writing. (DN/PIA Mimaropa-OrMin/DOLE Oriental Mindoro)
