Press Release
Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
November 29, 2013

Government Launches Boat Rehab Initiative for Calamity-Affected Fisherfolk

Relief is good but they also need boats.

CEBU CITY, CEBU—Three weeks since supertyphoon Yolanda hit island-region Visayas and impaired fishing operations in the coastal communities, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) launches a rehabilitation initiative that will ensure immediate livelihood assistance to the distressed fisherfolk.

The said initiative called “Ahon!  Sampung Libong Bangka para sa Dalawampung Libong Pamilya” aims to rally 10, 000 fishing boats or bancas in three months to help rebuild the livelihoods of some 20, 000 fisherfolk-families affected by the typhoon.

“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 to their livelihood,” BFAR director Asis G. Perez said.

To jumpstart this initiative, the bureau has already earmarked some P50 million, of which the bulk will be used to build the initial 3, 000 bancas. The remaining amount will go to the construction of 350 units of shallow-water payao which the bureau will install to provide fisherfolk with targeted fishing areas.

The devastation, however, is at magnanimous scale and with pressing urgency that the BFAR will need the support of partner government agencies, NGOs, the private sector and individual volunteers to work together in addressing this immediate need of the fisherfolk.  

“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.

A six-meter long fishing boat without a motor engine is estimated at P6, 000 and if equipped with a motor engine would cost P15,000. Perez, however, clarifies that BFAR will not accept cash contributions.

Monetary assistance will have to go through participating non-profit organizations based in strategic locations. BFAR will place material collection hubs in Cebu and Butuan City where supplies could be bought or delivered and can easily be loaded on the bureau’s multi-mission vessel, M/V DA-BFAR, which will then sail for Tacloban City and Guiuan in Eastern Samar or in Carmen, Cebu where the boat-building areas are.

Materials necessary in boat construction including marine plywood, marine epoxy, nails, 5hp motor engines and stainless steel bars among others will be accepted and may be brought to drop-off centers which BFAR will announce in the succeeding days.  

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/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 (FRS), the national database for municipal fisherfolk registration, which was launched July this year.

For more  details:
Please contact the Office of the Director
at telephone number (02) 454-5863