TO BOOST the Misamis Oriental Provincial Government’s efforts in providing livelihood opportunities to fisher folks, Senator Sonny Angara donated ten fiber glass fishing boats with corresponding gear and fishing stalls to 24 selected fishermen in Baluarte village, municipality of Tagoloan on Thursday, March 30.
Angara's donation, which amounted to P526,060, consisted of ten units of 23-footer fiber glass boats, ten units of 16-horsepower gasoline operated marine engines, ten sets of bottom set gill nets, and four units of fish stalls. The ten boats will have two owners each.
The Regional Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Asuncion Maputol explained that the donated fiber glass boats are sturdier than the usual wooden boats.
Maputol added that these boats will be named FB Pagbabago as they represent a change in the livelihood of the fisher folks of Tagoloan.
"Mao nang magpasalamat jud ta nga sa kadaghan ay kita pa jud ang napili nga mahatagan ug fiber glass boats ni Senator Sonny Angara. (This is why we have to express our gratitude because out of the many, we were chosen as the receivers of the fiber glass boats by Senator Sonny Angara)," Maputol said.
For his part, Angara said he was grateful for being able to bring change and development to the fisher folk and to the Tagoloan community.
"Hindi ko alam na ako lang pala ang isa sa mga senador na bumalik uli dito sa Tagoloan at naghatid ng tulong para sa inyo pero ikinagagalak ko na makahatid nito (I didn't know that I was the only one among the senators who returned here and gave help to you but I am happy for it)," Angara said.
Tagoloan Mayor Heckert Hernando Jude Emano said the fisher folks should be grateful for the help given to them by the national official and advised the fishermen to take care of the boats as they would take care of themselves.
Femar Navales, one of the fishermen who were granted the fishing boats, said the fiber glass boat will go a long way for him and his family.
"Makatabang jud ni sa akong pamilya kay pobre ra man mi ug murag lisod para sa amo nga makapalit ug bangka na pud. (This will be a great help to me and my family because we are only poor and it is hard of us to afford another boat again)," Navales said.