The City Government of Isabela, through the City Agriculture Office (CAgO), in partnership with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Office IX, turned over various fisheries livelihood intervention packages to local fisherfolk and associations on November 6 at JB Dans Hall.
The turnover ceremony was attended by City Administrator Pedrito Eisma, representing Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman; City Agriculturist Maria Gina Alberto; and OIC City Fishery Officer Robert Aporado, representing BFAR IX Regional Director Dir. Al-zath Kunting. Also present were BFAR IX personnel, City Agriculture staff, and representatives from various fisherfolk organizations and individual beneficiaries.
The livelihood assistance distributed included ten sets of multiple hook and line, five sets of gill nets, fourteen sets of collapsible crab pots, fifteen sets of gleaning tools, fourteen headlamps, sixty sets of farm seaweed implements for individual beneficiaries, one fish aggregating device (FAD), two 20-footer bancas, and two 30-footer bancas.
The identified beneficiaries of the intervention were the HAPIsabela King Crab and Fish Cage Association, Eslita Fisherfolk Association, Badjao Village Women’s Seaweed Processing and Marketing Association, Magay Fisherfolk Association, Lampinigan Fisherfolk Association, Marang-Marang Women’s Association, and fisherfolks from Tabiawan, Baluno, and Diki.
Through this partnership, the City Government of Isabela and BFAR IX continue to support local fisherfolk by providing much-needed resources and assistance, fostering a resilient and sustainable fisheries industry that contributes to the city’s overall economic development. (Words by SJ Asakil/Photos by M. Santos, CIO)
