The labor department thru its Masbate Provincial Field Office, spearheaded the awarding of new fiberglass boats, fishing nets, and other fishing paraphernalia, amounting to P1.38 million.
GOVERNMENT assistance reached a remote fishing community in Masbate where a number of residents are now the owners of new fiberglass boats provided by the labor department as part of its livelihood support program for informal workers.
At least 66 beneficiaries are fishermen from the town of Dimasalang, a typhoon-prone area in the Bicol Region and a community where almost one-third of its population is dependent on fishing as livelihood. Livelihood of residents is adversely affected not only by the typhoons but also by risks from the Covid health crisis.
The labor department thru its Masbate Provincial Field Office, spearheaded the awarding of new fiberglass boats, fishing nets, and other fishing paraphernalia, amounting to P1.38 million.
“Small-scale fisheries continue to make a significant contribution to countryside development in the country. Rest assured that the department will continue to provide livelihood support to our fishermen especially now that uncertainties from the Covid pandemic continue to persist,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.
Regional Director Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita said that the new boats will provide immediate relief to affected fishermen and to help them sustain their livelihood.
“Tuloy-tuloy po ang suporta at ayuda ng DOLE Bicol sa ating mga manggawang naapektuhan ng bagyo, ganon din po sa mga dumaranas ng malaking pagsubok dulot ng pandemya upang bigyan sila ng bagong pag-asang makabangong muli,” Campita emphasized.
One of the beneficiaries is 68-year-old Mario Camtemprate Jr, resident of Brgy. Magcaraguig. He started his journey as a fisherman when he was just a grade four student. However, a strong typhoon that hit Masbate last year adversely affected his livelihood. He was beyond grateful to receive a new fishing boat from DOLE.
“Dako na pasalamat ko sa DOLE kay kinahanglan ko gayud ini na mga Bangka tag gamit sa paglawod kay nasira na ang akon dati na Bangka san nag kaigwa san bagyo,” he said.
Another beneficiary as grateful is Sha-Sha Alforte, a single mother of two children. “Damo-damo po na salamat sa DOLE sa ginhatag po sa amon na starter kit. Dako po ini na bulig lalo na saakon na tanging pangingisda la ang gina kuhaon ko san pambakal pagkaon namon san duwa ko na anak,” Alforte said.
Dimasalang Mayor Atty. Michael Demph D. Naga also expressed his appreciation to DOLE-Masbate. “Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa DOLE – Masbate sa kanilang tiwala at patuloy na suporta sa LGU – Dimasalang. Sana mag-continue pa ang ating partnership,” he said.
