Gov’t Assistance for Zambales Fishermen
IBA, Zambales — National government agencies are providing assistance to Filipino fishermen and their families in Masinloc and other towns in Zambales near West Philippine Sea.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Remedios Ongtangco said the agency has distributed fishing paraphernalia consisting of Marine Engine (5.5 horsepower, 12 horsepower, 13 horsepower), Tuna handline, Collapsible crab pot, Gillnet, Life vest, Shallow payao, and Deep sea payao.
“The use of payao, or fish aggregating device consisting of an artificial floating raft and anchor, serves as a shelter under which fish congregate in the open sea,” Ongtangco explained.
BFAR also assists in seaweeds farms and provides tilapia fingerlings.
“We also have integrated coastal resources management special projects such as madcrub fattening, hog fattening, poultry egg production, samara pond culture in Sta. Cruz town; Saline Tilapia Culture in Pond, hog fattening, tilapia production in Candelaria; and Material recovery Facility with Vermi Organic Fertilizer Production, Natural Hog fattening, broiler production, quail egg production, samara culture in pen, saline tilapia culture in pond in Masinloc,” Ongtangco said.
Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) currently assists the Masinloc MPCI for the provision of P300,000 dried fish production equipment under the Share Service Facility (SSF) program.
A SSF proposal on food processing equipment has also been requested, approved, and soon to be procured for the Masinloc Rural Improvement Club.
Moreover, another SSF amounting to P108,500 has also been approved for the Magsasaka at Mangingisda ng Palauig MPCI for purchase of refractometer, working tables, and stainless shelves.
“The SSFs to be procured by DTI for the three groups are expected to improve and modernize their production like the one for Masinloc MPCI which are into dried fish production, which will result to more sales and eventually more income for the members,” said DTI Acting Regional Director Judith Angeles.
“For the Masinloc Rural Improvement Club, the SSF for food processing is specifically for Bagoong making, to make production safer, cleaner and more health conscious on the safety of consumers. The equipment is also expected to increase their production, in order to have more sales and eventually income,” Angeles added.
“For the Magsasaka at Mangingisda ng Palauig MPCI, the approved SSF equipment is expected to modernize and improve the production facilities of the group who are already producing Iodized Salt,” Angeles said.
All three groups are recipients of entrepreneurship trainings of DTI-Zambales under the SME Roving Academy held last July. (WLB/CLJD-PIA 3)