The Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has unveiled a P4-million (US$91,054) package of soft livelihood projects and support programs for the marginal fishermen of this town.
According to BFAR Director Asis G. Perez, the livelihood projects and support programs are aimed at al-leviating the poor living condition of the fishermen and sea farmers in this municipality.
He said that among the projects unveiled here include 28 units of 16-horsepower motor boat engines, con-struction of 10 units of payao worth P500,000 ($11,382) in selected areas of this town, P1 million ($22,763) worth of seaweed farm materials, and P1 million for the construction of an ice maker.
As this developed, Representative Nur Anna Sahidulla (2nd District, Sulu) also allotted P2 million to augment the amount given by BFAR for the purchase of seaweed farm materials for the sea farmers.
Perez also disclosed his plan to convert some selected sites or coastal sea areas of this town into hatchery sites for high-value fish species, including milkfish or bangus.
He said that some coastal areas of this town have the needed potentials for a natural hatchery site for high-valued fish and bangus fry.
The BFAR chief said that high-value fingerlings can be sold at a good market price, and are now in demand in most areas in the country, particularly in provinces where some traders are engaged in the mariculture-type of business.
What is needed here is only the continuous campaign of the local government of Banguingui led by Mayor Abdulwahid Sahidulla against dynamite and cyanide fishing, including those other types of fishing that could destroy the sea beds and kill the fish fry, Perez said.
Adding that if this natural hatchery project here can be realized, the local economy of this town will surely improve, and very soon most of our fishermen here will be able to enjoy life like others do.
For his part, the mayor here vowed to continue banning fishermen from engaging in dynamite or cyanide fishing in order to improve the local economy of this town.
Sahidulla, through a local ordinance, has banned fishermen from engaging in illegal fishing, as he formed a Bantay Dagat team to help him and the local government here implement the ordinance.
His wife, Representative Sahidulla, also vowed to bring in more livelihood projects for the poor people under her district this year.
She said a series of soft livelihood projects and programs will also be implemented this year in her district as part of her commitment to bring development in the entire 2nd District of Sulu.
2012. Manila Bulletin