The merry month of May is Farmers and Fisherfolks month.

The month-long celebration is a yearly undertaking of the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) since 2005 as a tribute and as a way of recognition of the selfless sacrifices and dedication of the countrys farmers and fisherfolks who labored day and night in providing the food on our table.

v At the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, it was Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr., who had just retired from government service, issued BFAR Fisheries Order No. 80 s. 2005 creating the Mangingisdang Direktor Program.

The Mangingisdang Direktor program is mandated by a Malacanang Executive Order (EO 240) recognizing the establishment of FARMC or the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council as stipulated in Section 2 of RA 8550 or the Fisheries Code of 1998.

The empowerment and partnership of the organized fisherfolk with the government was strengthened further when elections were held for national and regional fisherfolk leaders through regional fisherfolk assemblies in consonance with RA 8435(AFMA) and RA 8550.

This year, Rogelio D. Amatorio, or Ka Onyok, a revered fisherfolk leader from Jordan, Guimaras province was elected as national fisherfolk director and will seat as head of BFAR from May 1 to 31, 2011. Consecutively, the other 16 elected fisherfolk leaders will head and administer their respective regional offices.

The regional fisherfolk directors are: Angelito Gumarang (Region 1); Noli B. Tamayo (Region 2); Lorenzo N. Mapanao (Region 3); Rodolfo Rondon (Region 4A); Elorde P. Rodriguez (Region 4B); Jesus V. Sumayang (Region 5); Teddy A. Matulac (Region 6); Violeta M. Epon (Region 7); Demetrio T. Cipriano (Region 8); Mario D. Bendijo (Region 9); Ruby Macabaya (Region 10); Eladio Mijares (Region 11); Patriotismo Germise, Jr. (Region 12); Andres Saluta (Region 13); Danilo Tronco (CAR); and Talib Undog (ARMM).

The fisherfolk leaders were sworn in by Gina dela Cruz, assistant secretary of the National Anti Poverty Commission in simple ceremonies conducted at Boracay beach resort in Aklan Province. BFAR OIC Director Gil A. Adora and RD Drusila Ong witnessed the event.

Adora said that under the program, the fisherfolk directors, from the national to the regional level, will perform only routinary functions of the regular directors. Functions involving financial and policy-related matters remains with the regular officials as spelled out in DA Special Order No. 88 and Fisheries Order No. 80 .

Ka Onyok, who also served as PAMPANO president, said that as this years national mangingisdang director, he is committed to implement and spearhead the following national activities: simultaneous mangrove reforestation to address the concern of climate change; simultaneous tilapia fingerlings dispersal; national Fish Summit; and turnover of livelihood projects to fisherfolk groups.

Relative to the turnover of livelihood projects, Amatorio divulged that funding assistance for 8 project proposals, 4 of which are fisheries related, have already been approved by the Agricultural Competetiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF).

The four fisheries projects approved for funding assistance are the Hagonoy Aquaculture Development Project; the Manufacturing of Agri Marine-Based Product; Seabass Culture in Floating Cages; and the Expansion and Upgrading of Ulang Production in Oriental Mindoro.

Amatorio also served as sectoral representative for fisheries of the National Anti-Poverty Commission from 2005 to 2010.