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SAN JOSE, Antique – Fisherfolks have a massive role in the attainment of food security, said Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Fernando C. Corvera, chairman of the SP Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries.
“We hope that agencies of government, local government units and other sectors collectively support initiatives to implement program for the betterment of the lives of marginal fisherfolks,” Corvera said during the Provincial Conference of Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Management Council (MFARMC) recently at Adelaide Inn, San Jose.
Robert Espinosa, regional fisheries training and fisherfolk coordinator of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), disclosed that the province has a total of 119 fisherfolk organizations wherein 109 are duly registered with the Department of Labor and Employment, nine with Securities and Exchange Commission, and one with the Cooperative Development Authority.
Registered fisherfolks have an edge in terms of government assistance. The MFARMC could be a venue for the marginalized fisherfolk communities to express their needs and access government assistance, said Espinosa.
Antique has 15 coastal communities with 169 coastal barangays and 44, 247 fishing households directly or indirectly depending on fishing as their main sources of income. Data from BFAR showed that aside from the abundance of fishes, the province’ fishery resources include coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass beds, and seaweeds or algae, among others.
During the forum, the representatives of MFARMC expressed the need to have livelihood assistance for fishing communities.
The MFARMC Provincial Conference tackled amendments of the Fishery Code or Republic Act 10654 and other issues affecting the fishery sector. It was attended by more than 100 fisherfolks from different towns in the province. (PIA)
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