Four fisherfolk associations with 634 members from the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands are beneficiaries of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ (BFAR) ongoing initiative to enhance fishing efficiency and uplift coastal communities.

This year, BFAR-13 (Caraga Region) allocated four 62-foot fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) handline fishing vessels, valued at over PHP45.7 million, to the four fisherfolk groups across the provinces.

The first FRP fishing vessel was turned over last week to a fisherfolk association in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur.

“This new FRP fishing vessel will allow us to venture into the deep sea for increased catch,” Armando Reyes, the chairperson of the Cagwait Fish Broker Association, said in an interview on Tuesday.

He also assured BFAR-13 that the association will fully comply with the memorandum of agreement and ensure the maintenance of the FRP fishing vessel.

Jessa Angoring, a member of the association, emphasized the advantage of deep-sea fishing and its benefits to the members.

“This new fishing vessel will allow us to stay out longer days in the deep sea and ensure an increased catch,” Anoring said.

Three other fisherfolk groups are set to receive the same FRP vessels in the coming months this year.

In 2025, two fisherfolk associations with 150 members from Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte were also beneficiaries of FRP fishing vessels valued at PHP20 million.

One of the recipients last year was the Wakat Barobo Commercial Fishing Association in Barobo, Surigao del Sur.

“I could no longer recall how many times our members have ventured into the areas of the Pacific Ocean using the FRP boat given by BFAR,” said Janese Monarese, a female member of the group, in a separate interview on Tuesday.

She also noted the difference in today’s catch compared to the time when the group relied only on small boats.

“Venturing into the high seas brings more opportunities to catch fish,” Monarese said as she thanked the BFAR for the FRP boat they received.

In 2024, 197 fisherfolk members from three associations in Agusan del Norte and Dinagat Islands also received their FRP fishing vessels worth PHP21.4 million.

In her message during the turnover of the first FRP fishing vessel in Surigao del Sur for this year, BFAR-13 Regional Director Omnia Olama recognized the recent decline in commercial fisheries production in the province from 7,243.22 metric tons (MT) in 2024 to 4,150.91 MT in 2025.

“With this intervention, may you be inspired to harness these resources sustainably and work together to restore the province’s standing as a top producer in commercial fisheries,” Olama said.

She also hoped the association would continue to grow and thrive, becoming a model of resilience and productivity not only in Cagwait but across the entire province of Surigao del Sur. (PNA)