BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Cordillera recently turned over five fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) boats to ten  fisherfolks in  Apayao  to help them in their livelihood.

BFAR-CAR Regional Director Lilibeth Signey and Apayao Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Officer Philip Uba led the turn-over  of two units of FRP boats  to fisherfolks in Pudtol, and one unit each  in Calanasan, Flora, and Kabugao.  

 The   five units of 20-footer non-motorized FRP boats were fabricated by the ten  fisherfolk beneficiaries.
 
This is part of the Bureau's F/B Pagbabago Livelihood and Development Program  in which the  fabrication of said fishing boats  are  done by the beneficiaries themselves through the scheme of "Bangka ko, Gawa ko".

These  FRB boats are disaster-resilient that could last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance unlike the wooden boats that only lasts for six years.
  
Signey said that one unit of the fishing boat is owned by two beneficiaries to promote shared ownership and responsibilities to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the boat. In return, beneficiaries shall submit catch record to BFAR each time the boat is utilized for fishing.
  
Uba  and the  beneficiaries expressed gratitude to   BFAR-CAR for providing the  fishing vessels that  they need to improve  their  livelihood towards better  socio-economic life.

  
“Maragsakan kami lang unay kadaytoy nga proyekto iti BFAR para kadagiti fisherfolks tayo ditoy Apayao. Daytoyen iti makunkuna nga livelihood. Pagbiyagan iti tattao. Agyaman kami met iti panangsabat iti kakailyan kadaytoy nga proyekto."
 
“Daytoy nga project ket napintas para kanya tayo nga manggalap. Permi nga agyaman kami ta naikkan kami iti gundaway nnga makaraman iti napintas nga proyekto nga makatulong iti pam-pamilya mi,” Roberto Banggawan, a recipient from Calanasan said.
 
Twenty five  units of FRP boats were already awarded to fisher folks in the province since 2017.(JDP/ RMC- PIA CAR) (Apayao PLGU/BFAR)