BFAR Region 3 Director Wilfredo Cruz said the affected fishermen received from one to four pieces of marine plywood, nails and epoxy to repair their fishing bancas.
“Pagdamutan na ninyo ang nakayanan namin,” he told the beneficiaries.
He said they were a little late in giving the assistance to Bataan fishermen because they attended first to fisherfolk from other Central Luzon provinces.
Rudy Manait, fisherman from Orion town, said that he will build a new banca out of the four marine plywood that he received. “Malaking tulong ito para makalabas na kami sa dagat. Gagamitin ko ito sa paggawa ng bagong bangka,” he said.
With Cruz in the distribution were provincial agriculturist Imelda Inieto, BFAR provincial chief Danilo Abrera, Orion town Mayor Antonio Raymundo, Board Member Gaudencio Ferrer, chair of the sangguniang panlalawigan committee on agriculture, and municipal agriculturists from 10 towns and one city.
“Malaking katuwaan ng maliliit na mangingisda na nakatanggap sila ng biyaya sa BFAR. Salamat, sana tuloy-tuloy na mabigyan ng magandang ikabubuhay ang mga umaasa sa karagatan,” said Mayor Raymundo.
All 11 towns and one city in Bataan, except Dinalupihan, are along the coastal areas. Cruz said BFAR wanted to ease the lives of fishermen. “Pangalawa pa rin ang sector ng mangingisda sa pinakamataas na poverty incidence.
Nabawasan na ng 2 percent ang bilang pero target ng BFAR mabawasan pa ng 4 – 10 percent,” the regional director said.
He said BFAR has also plan to distribute engines to fishermen who lost their fishing boat engines during the onslaught of Glenda.
The typhoon induced big, strong waves along Manila Bay destroying fishing bancas and houses along the coastal areas of Bataan. Gov. Albert Garcia had placed the entire province under the state of calamity.
In a related development, Cruz said El Nino has a big effect on the fishery sector. “Hindi nakakayanan ng isda ang matinding init. Pati corals ay apektado,” he said.
