Quezon, Palawan – A Fisheries Caravan was conducted in this town on Friday, March 17, to boost fisheries production, provide services for local fisherfolks and achieve fish sufficiency in this sea locked province.
The caravan was made through the collaboration of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – Palawan, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Quezon and USAID Fish Right.
Dr. Romeo Cabungcal, Provincial Agriculturist, said that the activity aims to provide easier access to services needed by local fisherfolks in the said town and other far-flung areas.
He emphasized the need to have their commercial and municipal boats, fishing gear, and other fishing vessels registered to ensure their safety whenever they’re off-shore and to avoid any penalties in the future.
“Kapag sinabing agriculture, nandoon na ang fisheries, at kakaunti lang ng porsyento talaga ang pumupunta sa fisheries, pero napakalaki ng contribution sa ekonomiya ang ating pangisdaan, doon tayo tumingin kaya tayo nagkaroon ng fisheries caravan,” said Cabungcal.
The program ended in an open forum with the officials and more or less 100 local fisherfolks who attended the caravan where topics such as livelihood programs, grants, and other services were addressed.
Cabungcal also said that the Fisheries Caravan is a provincewide approach wherein the provincial government as well as the private sector are converging their efforts towards delivering the most needed services to local fisherfolks in different areas in Palawan.