Typhoon ‘Ompong’ victims receive P9.24M fishing gears

Typhoon Ompong lashes the province. (File photo)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—Various fisherfolk associations in the coastal city and towns of Ilocos Norte received various fishery livelihood projects on February 19, 2019 courtesy of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Composed of 56 payaos and two gillnets, BFAR Regional Field Office I Director Lilibeth L. Signey handed them to the beneficiaries in a simple turn over ceremony held at the Centennial Arena, this city.

The fishermen association of Pasuquin who were among those hit hard by typhoon “Ompong” got 16 payaos and gillnets worth PHP2.7 million next to Laoag’s PHP1.59 million worth of fishing gears; Pagudpud and Currimao received gears worth PHP1.2 million each.

Other recipients include fisherfolk associations in the towns of Bangui, Burgos, Bacarra, Badoc and Paoay.

“We are thankful for the government support. This is a big help for us to boost our livelihood,” said Brgy. Puyupuyan [Pasuquin] chairperson Ronald Peralta.

As part of BFAR’s program to empower marginalized fisherfolks, the agency is giving various fishing aid to them to ensure that they will no longer resort to illegal fishing and other means that destroy coastal resources.

While the government is slowly getting away from dole-outs, Ms. Signey also told fishers in the province there are non-collateralized loans which they can take advantage of through cooperative banks, cooperatives, farmers and fisherfolk organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs) as lending conduits.

With a minimum interest of 6% per annum, qualified applicant/s can avail up to PHP50,000 depending on the agri-fishery production project to be financed.

Insurable agri-fishery commodities financed under the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) facility may be covered with crop insurance by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).