175 pump boats given to fishermen in northern Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - BFAR-7 information officer Alma Saavedra said they have distributed at least 100 pump boats with fishing accessories to towns in Camotes Island as of April 7. Seventy-five other pump boats and accessories were also distributed to fishermen in Bantayan town.

Fifty more pump boats will be distributed to fishermen in Bantayan town next week. Bantayan is one of the places severely affected by the typhoon.

Early this year, BFAR-7 launched the “Build-A-Boat” program aimed at rehabilitating the livelihood of fisher folk affected by the typhoon.

Under this program, a total of 10,000 bancas will be given to identified fisherfolk in the Visayas.

BFAR-7 initially gave 193 pump boat engines (5.5 horse power) with fishing accessories (nets, sinkers, floaters, etc.) to selected fisher folk in 13 towns in northern Cebu.

The local government units identified are Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, Pilar, Tudela, Sta. Fe, Bantayan, Madridejos, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Poro, San Francisco and Bogo City.

Fisher folk registered under BFAR’s Municipal Fisherfolk Registration or FishR were given first priority.

FishR is aimed at developing a standardized registry system among municipal fisherfolks nationwide.

In Cebu alone, BFAR-7 has listed 5,995 fisher folk that lost their livelihood. At least 1,836 motorized bancas and 704 non-motorized bancas in Cebu were reportedly damaged by the super storm.  (FREEMAN)