BFAR earmarks P50 M for boats of storm-hit fishers

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has earmarked P50 million to build boats for fisherfolk affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

In a statement yesterday, BFAR director Asis Perez said bulk of the amount will be used to build an initial 3,000 fishing boats, while the remaining amount will go to the construction of 350 units of shallow-water payao, which will be installed to provide fisherfolk with targeted fishing areas.

The BFAR is targeting 10,000 fishing boats within three months to help some 20,000 coastal families regain their livelihood under the “Ahon! Sampung Libong Bangka Para sa Dalawampung Libong Pamilya” initiative.

“Thousands of boats and fishing equipment have been lost to Yolanda when the calamity struck weeks ago. Our main concern right now is to help our fisherfolk get back their livelihood,” Perez said.

He said addressing the extent of damage brought by Yolanda would require the support of partner government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sector.

Perez said a six-meter fishing boat without a motor engine is estimated to cost P6,000, and a unit with a motor engine, P15,000.

“We are very happy with the influx of support the public is coursing through us. Even before the launching, we have already been receiving pledges of commitment for this initiative. And they are most welcomed to join us,” Perez said.

He added though that the BFAR will not accept cash donations, and that instead, monetary assistance will have to go through participating non-profit organizations based in strategic locations.

The BFAR, however, can accept materials used in building fishing boats, including marine plywood, marine epoxy, nails, five-horsepower motor engines, and stainless steel bars.

The bureau has so far put up material collection hubs in Cebu and Butuan City where supplies, bought or delivered, can easily be loaded on its multi-mission vessel, M/V DA-BFAR, which will then sail for Tacloban City, Guiuan in Eastern Samar or Carmen in Cebu where the boats will be built.

To make way for transparency in the flow of contributions, BFAR will set up a special Ahon! Initiative webpage where the public can monitor how much monetary or supply assistance is collected, where it goes and who receives the bancas.

As for the selection of fisherfolk-beneficiaries, the bureau will make use of the data collected through the Fisherfolk Registration System or the national database for municipal fisherfolk registration launched in July.