SUAL, Pangasinan—Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, accompanied by Governor Amado I. Espino III and other local officials, turned over 70 fiberglass-reinforced boats and fishery projects worth P5.4 million during a dialogue with fisherfolk from Pangasinan and La Union here.
Piñol said the 70 boats are the initial delivery of 700 boats intended for the 14 coastal municipalities in Pangasinan, aside from the 381 pieces of fishing gear distributed to 500 fisherfolk beneficiaries from the two provinces.
Joining Piñol were Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Rep. Toff de Venecia, Sual Mayor Roberto Arcinue, DA Regional Director Valentino Perdido, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Director Nestor Domenden, and other officials.
Governor Espino told Piñol Pangasinan needs more farms-to-market road projects along with important farming equipment and facilities.
“We need your help. We have pending requests under your department, FMRs under TPR-DB program, post-harvest facilities for our farmers and other important farming equipment,” the governor pleaded.
Espino also mentioned Pangasinan’s winning the Corn Achievers Award for the third time in November last year and the Pagasa Award conferred upon the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist to recognize its meritorious implementation of the provincial rice program last December.
“Your coming here to our province is an assurance of your care for the welfare of our farmers and fisherfolk,” the governor told the secretary.
Piñol responded that the national government has P39 billion intended for FMRs all over the country.
“All you have to do is provide a 10-percent counterpart from your LGU funds,” Piñol said, noting that the World Bank-funded project is part of the Philippine Rural Development Program.
Piñol also distributed checks to fund the construction of four community fish landing centers, the municipal wharf for Infanta, maintenance of marine protected area and fish sanctuary project for Anda, P2 million worth of projects for Agno and Bani, and some 250 units of handline fishing gills.
He stressed that Pangasinan bangus is succulent and very in-demand even in other countries, thus the province should prepare to supply the huge fishg requirements of Metro Manila.
Pinol noted that illegal fishpens in Laguna Lake, which produce 36 percent of the bangus requirement of Metro Manila are set to be dismantled.
He also pledged to provide community coolers for the catch of Pangasinan and La Union fisherfolk, pegged at P3 million each.