5,995 Cebu fisherfolk affected by Yolanda

CEBU, Philippines - The number of fisherfolk who lost their livelihood in Cebu due to super typhoon Yolanda stands at 5,995 the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7 said yesterday.

BFAR-7 information officer Alma Saavedra said 1,836 motorized bancas and 704 non-motorized bancas of fishermen in Cebu were also damaged by the storm.

“We will be giving out free bancas to the affected fisherfolk. But our priority are those registered with the Municipal Fisherfolk Registration (FishR),” Saavedra said.

FishR is aimed at developing a standardized registry system among municipal fisherfolk nationwide. It is anchored on Section 19 of Republic Act 8550 otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code.

As of last month, Cebu has at least 15,000 registered fisherfolk. There are around 150,000 fisherfolk registered nationwide.

Saavedra said that to date, Cebu has no baseline data as to how many fisherfolk are here.

Saavedra also said that fish catch has also declined due to the said typhoon that damaged the fisherfolk’s bancas and other fishing gear.

BFAR eyes to register at least 2 million fisherfolk in the country by 2014.

BFAR said that through FishR, the bureau will be able to know how to serve the fisherfolk better with the intent of recognizing them as BFAR’s real beneficiaries.

Through the said program, BFAR is bent on providing fisherfolk with medical and health insurance. This is proposed to be allotted with a P200-million budget.

BFAR has earmarked P30 million to ensure the complete registration of fisherfolk all over the country.  (FREEMAN)