Fisherfolk to get P15-M assistance

As winners of the competition, the five associations also received prizes in the form of technology demonstration

TACLOBAN CITY — Five fisherfolk associations in Eastern Samar that demonstrated outstanding implementation of marine protected areas project will receive P3 million each of assistance from the World Bank funded Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) through its Global Environmental Facility.

The five associations were winners in a local search for most outstanding MPA organized by the Alliance of Seven Municipalities (A7) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Dr. Jenny Lyn Almeria, Deputy Project Director of the PRDP, says the five associations were able to shows good practices in conservation and preservation of coastal areas.

“Each of the five associations will receive more or less three million pesos worth of MPA assistance,” she said.

The five associations are the Maybay Fish Sanctuary of Guiuan town, which was adjudged the Most Outstanding MPA; the Bolusao Fisherfolks Multipurpose Association from Lawaan; San Antonio de Padua Farmers and Fisherfolks Association from Quinapondan; and Maliwaliw Multipurpose Association from Salcedo town; and fisherfolk association of Mercedes town.

As winners of the competition, the five associations also received prizes in the form of technology demonstration. The Maybay Fish Sanctuary received P10,000 worth of techno demo fund for seaweeds while the four others were given P5,000 for institutional activities.

The Alliance of Seven Municipalities is composed of coastal municipalities in the southern part of Eastern Samar that were the most devastated by typhoon “Yolanda” in November 2013.

“These recognitions highlight the performance of our different fisherfolk associations through their Marine Protected Area,” Almeria says.

A number of municipalities in Eastern Samar have been earlier identified as possible beneficiaries of PRDP funds but were not able to take off when the provincial government could not provide the equity needed for the funds to be released.

Almeria said that in August, the provincial government committed to release funds for the equity so that the different farmers and fisherfolk associations will now be able to implement their respective projects through the PRDP funds.

“Finally, the assistance they have long been waiting is now coming to reality. The funds will be downloaded to these five municipalities,” she said.