by Rollin Dave M. Elloren

MAGSAYSAY, Misamis Oriental (Nov. 5) – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 10 (BFAR-10) officially turned over a 62-footer Bag Net Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Boat to the local government unit (LGU) of this municipality.

BFAR-10 Regional Director Edward B Yasay handed the certificate of turnover worth P6 million to Mayor Charlie B Buhisan and the San Roque Fisherfolk Association (SFA) chair Virgilio K Ratilla.

Dir. Yasay said that the provision of this fishing vessel aims to improve the capacity and the production efficiency of municipal fisherfolk. 

“This FRP boat provided by BFAR, is a significant investment and an opportunity to help the fishermen become more successful and resilient in their livelihoods,” he said.

The 62-footer FRP bag net fishing boat, powered by a 170-horsepower diesel engine, with a gross tonnage of 19.43 tons, features a 5.9-feet breadth and 4.9-feet depth, and has a 3-ton fish-holding capacity, making it ideal for small-scale fishing operations.

In addition to its size and capacity, the boat is also equipped with specialized bag net fishing gear and includes navigation and communication tools, such as a chart plotter, Very High Frequency (VHF) radio, echo sounder, and magnetic compass, to ensure safe navigation, effective communication, and efficient operations of the fisherfolk.

Further, Dir. Yasay pinned his hope for a strengthened collaboration between the LGU and the fisherfolk to ensure the sustainability of the project and its long-term impact on the local fishing community.

Mayor Buhisan, in response, reaffirmed his commitment to the ongoing collaboration, ensuring that the resources provided would be carefully managed.

“Rest assured that we will take good care of what you’ve provided, and we will continue our partnership because I truly believe in the power of collaboration to achieve our goals, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals for the people of Magsaysay,” Mayor Buhisan stated.
The project initiative is a key component of the Capacitating Municipal Fisherfolk Program (CMFP) to enhance the fishing capacity of municipal fishers who operate with limited resources and inputs, resulting in lower catch and income.(RDME//BFAR-10)