150 marginalized fisher folks avail DOLE assistance

The coastal municipality of Nueva Valencia in Guimaras Province offers a scenic view to visitors and a bountiful sea to the locals.

The abundance of the sea, however, is just a dream for fishermen who just rely on their old bancas, wooden paddles and tattered nets for their living.

For years, the marginalized fishermen in the municipality have toiled hard to catch fish for their daily sustenance.  Without modern fishing facilities, their industry is no match for the high cost of living and the demands of the modern times.

Recently, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-6 Regional Office in partnership with the local government unit of Nueva Valencia released Php3-million grant to 150 local fishermen.

“The livelihood assistance for the marginalized fishermen was for the purchase of engines to upgrade their bancas into motorized fishing vessels,’’ said DOLE-Guimaras Field Office (GFO) OIC-Head Richie Buyco.

Nueva Valencia PESO support staff Milagros Taton said that the beneficiaries really need the engines for their bancas.

“DOLE provided a great help. Their bancas do not have motors, and if they have one, it is unserviceable. They just rely on paddles,” Taton said.

Last year, DOLE provided the beneficiaries with fishing nets, plywoods and paints for the repair of their fishing bancas.

“The support aims to develop a sustainable livelihood that will provide a stable means of livelihood to the families of the marginalized fishermen,” said DOLE-6 Regional Director Cyril L. Ticao.

The beneficiaries are from the 11 coastal barangays of Cabalagnan, Tanhawan, Dolores, Igang, Igdarapdap, Lapaz, Lucmayan, Magamay, Pandaraonan, Poblacion, San Roque, San Antonio, Santo Domingo, Tando and the island barangays of Guiwanon and Panubulon.