GMA launches crash program for fisherfolk

President Arroyo has instructed the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to undertake a crash program in six bays to address the depletion of fisheries resources and persistent poverty among the fisherfolk in these areas.

Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr. said the instructions were issued by the President during an executive committee meeting at Malacañang.

Afable identified the six bays as Calauag Bay, Tayabas Bay, San Miguel Bay, Ragay Gulf, Lagonoy Gulf and Sorsogon Bay, all in the Southern Tagalog and the Bicol regions.

Afable said the President also ordered the agriculture department to release P16 million for the training of fishermen in these areas in aquaculture and seaweed farming and to get them alternative sources of livelihood.

Afable noted that the crash program for the fisherfolk will start within the next few days.

The President did this, he said, because during her trips to the regions she saw that "there was really very extensive poverty among the fisherfolk in the marine degraded areas."

According to Afable, the DA presented the National Fisheries Program during the last Cabinet Meeting in the Palace.

"The President wanted this program focused and telescoped on these six areas immediately," Afable said, adding that "this will really be a crash program on these areas because she feels that the fisherfolk there are really in need of some relief from the government."