BOTOLAN, Zambales — Fishermen from Masinloc, Zambales who lost their livelihood when a cargo ship destroyed their fish aggregating device (FAD) or payao early this year will get yet another windfall with the help of Zambales 2nd District Rep. Doris “Nanay Bing” Maniquiz.
Members of the New Masinloc Fishermen’s Association (NMFA) on June 8 signed a memorandum of agreement with officials of the SMCGP Philippines Power Foundation, Inc. for the installation and maintenance of FADs in waters off Masinloc.
Maniquiz, who helped broker the agreement, said the assistance will amount to P909,000 and will be given to the fishermen’s group upon completion of legal requirements.
The Zambales lawmaker had brought to the attention of SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., owner and operator of the Masinloc Power Plant, the plight of the fishermen and negotiated in their behalf for the assistance that will boost payao operations and other livelihood projects.
Maniquiz herself gave P150,000 last March so that the fishermen could immediately build another payao, while the provincial government of Zambales gave legal assistance.
NMFA president Leonardo N. Cuaresma said they lost their payao worth P150,000 when a ship carrying coal fuel for the Masinloc power plant ran over their device last January 17. They also incurred damages of P360,000 in unrealized income from payao harvest, and about P390,000 from hook-and-line fishing by the 36 NMFA members, he added.
Atty. Cynthia V. Pantoñal, executive director of SMCGP Foundation, said that while the support was not connected to the loss of the payao caused by a third party, the SMCGP Foundation gave its help because it wanted to establish a partnership with local payao fishermen.
Engr. Roland Cabasal, manager of the Masinloc Power Plant, meanwhile, said his office is willing to help out fisherfolk families in terms of employment opportunities at the power facility.
Under the agreement, NMFA members will handle the installation of FADs, and assume full responsibility in the management, operation, maintenance and monitoring of the project. SMCGP Foundation, on the other hand, shall provide the P909,000 funding.
NMFA officials said the funds from the SMGCP Foundation will help them maintain the four payao devices that members of his group had installed in the sea off Masinloc.
Some of it will also be used for the completion of a smokehouse for the group’s tinapa-making project, as well as to buy a tricycle for transporting fish products and materials in the community, Cuaresma said.
Maniquiz, meanwhile, advised the group to use the funds wisely and well. “You should be able to do a lot with this generous assistance, so that our kind donors would go on giving support.”
“Always be thankful, grow your project, be successful and be an example to others,” Maniquiz added.
