For “build-a boat” campaign DENR gives lumber to BFAR

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources 7 has turned over to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7 some 170 pieces of seized lumber to be built as fishing boats for fisherfolks affected by typhoon Yolanda in northern Cebu.

The 4,280.01 board feet (bd. ft.) or 10.09 cubic meters of mixed Dipterocarp lumber pieces were estimated to cost P192,600, said DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo.

 BFAR 7 Regional Director Andres Bojos, in a Dec. 26, 2013 letter to Montejo, requested for some confiscated lumber pieces to be used for the “Build-a-Boat’ campaign.

  The turnover was held at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Cebu City at pier 3 area also attended by Forest Management Services Regional Technical Director Eduardo Inting and other BFAR officials.

 These confiscated logs, which have been deposited at CENRO Cebu City, were found to have no existing court cases and were up for disposal through donation after an inventory conducted by FMS.

  The DENR 7 already handed over 145,091.84 bd. ft. or lumber pieces from Jan. to Dec. last year to the Department of Education (DepEd) in Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor for the construction and repair of classrooms, chairs, tables, desks, and other office fixtures and furniture pieces.

 In a related development, Montejo indicated DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje to exhaust all possibilities to speed up the adjudication of cases of illegally sourced and transported forest products in line with the present direction to donate them to the DepEd.

Meanwhile, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) has responded the call of the Provincial Board to help BFAR in its rehabilitation initiative, “Ahon!  Sampung Libong Bangka para sa Dalawampung Libong Pamilya.”

RAFI announced its program to help them get back their livelihood, including the distribution and/or repair of fishing boats.

The giving of boats is part of the third phase (rehabilitation) of the Foundation’s relief efforts for the typhoon survivors.  RAFI is now in the process of finalizing the proposal for RAFI’s plan on donating bancas to affected fishermen of the coastal and island communities in northern Cebu.

“This is more of a livelihood assistance by helping them repair or get a new banca,” said Marge Gravador head of RAFI’s relief operations distribution team.

At present, the Foundation is working on the initial list of necessary items. This is to ensure that they will be given the right materials according to what they need.

“We still need to assess what the community needs, because most of the fisherfolks only lost their nets and other fishing gears,” Gravador said.

Even before the PB made its call, however, RAFI has already started planning on helping the survivors recover by assisting them on their means of livelihood.

“It is our way of helping people get back on their feet. We do this by providing them boats,” said Dominica B. Chua, RAFI Chief Operating Officer.

Before 2013 ended, the PB has asked the Cebu business sector to support the Department of Agriculture-BFAR initiative.

The program aims to come up with 10,000 fishing boats or bancas within three months to help 20,000 fishermen and their families get back on their feet.— (FREEMAN)