BFAR registers 1.6-M fisherfolks for insurance

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is expected to finish within the year the registration of the country’s 1.6 million fisherfolks under a centralized government database that would be used for the provision of insurance and universal healthcare for the sector.

As of yesterday, 1.048 million fishermen have been registered under the National Program for Municipal Fisherfolk Registration (FishR).

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala  said almost all small fisherfolks nationwide would be covered by the end of the year.

The creation of the registry for municipal fisherfolk is mandated by the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

Since the approval of the fisheries code, only 50,000 fishermen were registered. After an information campaign launched by the BFAR in the second quarter of 2013, more fishermen enrolled in the registry. Enrollment  reopened on January 2014.

Fishermen included in the registry automatically receive insurance coverage for fishing boats and aquaculture stocks in the event of calamities through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC). They would also be given health coverage by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth).

“We always hear about the need to aspire for inclusive growth. And we believe the provision of insurance is the most effective way to do this because in times of calamities, fishermen are among the most vulnerable,” said Alcala. 

“Through this, we can provide targeted intervention based on the comprehensive list of beneficiaries,” he added.

BFAR director Asis Perez said aside from increasing production in the fisheries sector, the agency wants to lower the poverty incidence in the sector.

“We need to manage sustainable growth in the fisheries sector. There may be an increase in production but the poverty incidence is also growing. So there must also be actions towards reduction of poverty,” he said.

The registry is currently being cross-matched with the National Household Targeting System-Poverty Reduction program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture of the Department of Budget and Management.