NEARLY 100 boatmen in Cordova town on Mactan Island are expected to benefit from the free fishing permit and boat registration offered by the municipality and the Maritime Industry Authority in Central Visayas (Marina 7).
This was revealed by Cordova Mayor Cesar "Didoy" Suan on Friday, November 11, 2022, to help the people of Cordova who lost their livelihood due to the destruction of their fixed and floating cottages.
Suan said the boatmen can save around P32,000 since the municipality and Marina waived their fees.
Suan said the fishing permit would last up to three years before this would expire.
"Ang tanang mga boat owners ato silang gi free ang ilang pump boat for three years nga wala na silay bayad. Unya first time nahitabo nga narehistro sila as boatmen, ato silang giparehistro nga free di lang sa munisipyo but also in Marina 7," Suan said.
(All boat owners, we gave them free registration for their pump boats valid for three years. This is also the first time that they were registered as boatmen for free not only in the municipality but also in Marina 7.)
"More or less, they will spend P15,000 to become a licensed boatman and another P17,000 for their pump boat’s registration. We asked the Marina to waive the registration fee," Suan added.
Suan said the registered boatmen can now fish in Cordova waters and pick up passengers without getting apprehended.
Suan said they also gave assistance to those who were affected by the stoppage of operations of fixed and floating cottages, such as rice and cash.
In August, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia ordered owners of floating and fixed cottages in Cordova to stop their operations after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Central Visayas found high levels of fecal coliform in the town’s waters. (PAC, TPT)