BFAR-7 to Prioritize “Poorest” Fishermen in CV for Livelihood Programs

(PIA-7) — Over 5,000 fisherfolk-household beneficiaries in Central Visayas stand to gain from the livelihood programs rolled out by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-7) this year.

BFAR-7 Regional Director Andres Bojos said the move is part of the government’s thrust to reduce poverty incidence by capacitating the “poorest of the poor” and uplift their quality of life.

“There are 5,190 fisherfolk-household beneficiaries that will be given priority for identified livelihood programs” that will be rolled out this year for them, said Bojos during the weekly forum of the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) that tackled the celebration of May as Fisherfolks Month.

Bojos said the 5,190 recipients represent five percent of the “poorest of the poor” among the fisherfolk sector in the region and chosen based on the cross-match of their fisherfolk registration system and the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction used by Department of Social Welfare and Development.

According to Bojos, BFAR-7’s registration data on fisherfolk population is currently at 107,000 but still counting as they are dependent on the local government units to give them the list of legitimate fishermen in their area.

Livelihood projects to be rolled out for the intended beneficiaries include ‘guso’ making, mangrove planting, fish farming, and crab farming.

BFAR-7 Assistant Director Allan Poquita in the same forum said a P34-M budget has been allocated for the purchase of fishing materials to help the intended beneficiaries.

We are given a timeline between September to October to complete the projects for the identified fisherfolks, said Poquita.

Several activities are being undertaken by BFAR-7 until the end of the month in celebration of Fisherfolks Month including various capacity-building trainings to fish wardens and fisherfolks. (rmn/fcr/PIA-7)