SP backs MOA with BFAR for FRP boats

THE 19th City Council during its regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy enacted an ordinance authorizing the City Mayor to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 10 (BFAR-10), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-10 Provincial Fisheries Office (PFO) of Misamis Oriental and the Federation Coastal Barangay Fisherfolk Association (FEDCOBAFAC).

The MOA covers the provision of Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Boats to the fisherfolk-beneficiaries of the Pagbabago Livelihood Development Program under the Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation in the Fishery Sector (TARGET) Program.

This is pursuant to RA 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, as amended by RA 10654, mandating BFAR to provide fishery livelihood projects assistance with the aim of providing support to marginal fisherfolk in the exercise of their preferential rights to benefit from the country’s fisheries resources, especially in the municipal waters.

Furthermore, RA 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 mandates the local government units (LGUs) to provide its constituents extension facilities related to agriculture and fishery activities which include water and soil resource utilization and conservation projects and enforcement of fishery laws in municipal waters.

Under the MOA, the city shall identify and recommend potential/qualified registered fisherfolk beneficiaries, assist in the awarding and distribution of FRP boats to the identified municipal fisherfolk beneficiaries, provide logistic support to the beneficiaries during awarding and distribution of FRP boats from fabrication site(s) to the residence of fisherfolk beneficiaries, among others.

For its part, the beneficiaries is expected to assist in the transport of the FRP boats during awarding ceremonies, provide labor materials for the installation of outriggers (katig), operate FRP boats for fishing purposes responsibly in accordance with fishery laws, rules and regulations.

The beneficiaries shall likewise perform regular repair and maintenance of the FRP boat to ensure a safe travel during fishing operations, register/secure license or permit of the FRP boats and fishing gears from City Agriculture Office, among others.

The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the committees on fisheries and acquatic resources and on laws and rules chaired respectively by Councilors Zaldy O. Ocon and Ian Mark Q. Nacaya.