Register fisherfolk, mayors told

CEBU, Philippines - The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) is asking mayors of coastal municipalities to help implement fisherfolk registration in their respective localities.

A memorandum signed by LMP national president Donato Marcos was distributed during the Cebu chapter election last Friday.

Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante Jr. was elected new president of the chapter.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, together with the LMP and the League of Cities of the Philippines, are implementing the National Program for Municipal Fisherfolk Registration (FishR).

Other agencies involved are the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget and Management, National Anti-Poverty Commission and the National Statistics Office.

The FishR’s primary objective is to develop and promote a simplified and standardized national registration system for municipal fisherfolk using the Registry System For Basic Sector In Agriculture (RSBSA) program.   Among the information needed from the fisherfolk is his main source of income on capture fishing, aquaculture, fish vending, gleaning, fish processing and others.

His membership in an organization also needs to be indicated in the registration form.

The city or municipal mayor shall be the one to approve the application for the registration.

Republic Act 8550, otherwise known as the Fisheries Code of the Philippines, requires all cities and municipalities to maintain a registry of fisherfolk, so that those who are registered can be given preferential access to fishing and other socio-economic benefits.  (FREEMAN)