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).
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