CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) is now eyeing to provide over P117.864 million worth of emergency relief assistance, early recovery efforts, and mid-to-long-term recovery aid to oil spill-hit areas, most especially those affected municipal fisherfolks.

According to the Facebook post of BFAR Mimaropa, P4.4 million of this budget allocation was already spent for post-harvest training for various fisherfolk associations and cooperatives, and over P1.5 million was already utilized for food assistance to more than 5,000 affected fisherfolks in the region.

Millions-worth of funds was also allocated for the ongoing grant and capacity-building efforts of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) boats with marine engines to affected fisherfolks in Oriental Mindoro.

In addition, the bureau has deployed monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) vessels, as well as PPE sets and other materials for clean-up activities.

Supplementary interventions are in the pipeline, including the grant of additional FRP boats, fish aggregating devices, aquaculture feed mill projects, bangus fry, tilapia fingerlings, and fish cages to areas affected by the oil spill. (GATS/PIA Mimaropa/BFAR Mimaropa)