The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Bicol (BFAR-5) is now preparing to distribute the second tranche of livelihood assistance to fishermen in the form of 10,000 “bangus” (milkfish) fingerlings, cages, and set of fish feeds worth a total of PHP1 million to a fisherfolk group in Camarines Norte.

In an interview on Tuesday, Rowena Briones, BFAR-5 information office chief, said the livelihood support for the Samahan ng Maliit na Mangingisda ng Barangay Osmeña (SMMBO) of Jose Panganiban town is part of the PHP12-million Climate-Resilient Technology Demonstration and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Marine Fish Cage project that aims to provide supplemental livelihood and increase bangus production in the region.

“For this project, 10 sets of livelihood assistance are now being prepared to be awarded to qualified beneficiaries. Each will receive PHP1 million worth of assistance. We already awarded last week to the Culasi-Calintaan-Calayuan Poropandan Association of Matnog Sorsogon and for the next week for the SMMBO,” Briones said.

To qualify as beneficiaries, fisherfolk groups must be a registered association or cooperative with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and accredited by the local government unit (LGU).

The members must be registered fisherfolk and they must be endorsed by their LGU and municipal agriculture office (MAO). They must not have previously availed of the same project from BFAR.

Briones said after four months of culture, the bangus stocking is expected to generate PHP290,000 in revenue with a projected harvest of 2,000 kilos.

The remaining 10 fisherfolk associations to receive livelihood aid are one each for Tabaco City, Rapu-Rapu and Libon, all in Albay; two in Sangay Camarines Sur; one in Mercedes in Camarines Norte; one in Viga, Catanduanes; two in Cataingan, Masbate and one in Bacon, Sorsogon.

“We are fast-tracking this project to boost fish production in different areas in Bicol. Eight areas are now with ongoing procurement of fish feeds and the rest are already for installation of fish cage,” Briones said. (PNA)