“Kapalit po ng pagsisikap ng ating gobyerno, ang amin pong Kooperatiba ay magtitiyaga pong maging matagumpay ang programang ito,”

MAPANAS, NORTHERN SAMAR- “Kapalit po ng pagsisikap ng ating gobyerno, ang amin pong Kooperatiba ay magtitiyaga pong maging matagumpay ang programang ito,” exclaimed by Mr. Felipe I. Saulon, the Chairman of Northern Samar Pacific Towns Fishermen’s Cooperative (NSPTFC) during the Onsite Launching and Turnover of the F/V DA-BFAR 2102 (Purse Seine) in Mapanas, Northern Samar on March 29, 2023. (In exchange for the efforts of our government, our Cooperative will persevere to make this program successful.)

He along with the 15 hardworking members of the newly formed NSPTFC formally received the 39M worth Purse Seine fishing vessel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in coordination with the Northern Samar Pacific Towns’ Local Government Units (LGUs) of Mapanas, Palapag, Lapinig, Laoang, and Gamay. Said vessel was given through the “Capacitating Municipal Fisherfolk Program” which aims to capacitate municipal fisherfolks through the acquisition and allocation of bigger and better-equipped fishing boats. This endeavor will enable municipal fisherfolks of the five (5) Northern Samar Pacific Towns to fish efficiently and contribute significantly not only to the region but as well as to the country’s annual tuna production.

The said province has almost 1,000 tuna fishers who mostly rely on traditional fishing methods when catching tuna within the Pacific Ocean. Through this program, the Bureau foresees at least a 5.4% or 180-200 MT increase in Tuna Production in Northern Samar being provided with the state-of-the-art Steel-hulled Purse Fishing Vessel which can store at most 5,000 kilograms of fish catch. In 2022, the province contributed 13% of the region’s total fisheries production and recorded the second-highest yield of Tuna Production in the region. Tuna species frequently caught in its fishing areas are Bigeye tuna (Tambakol/ Bariles), Eastern little tuna (Bonito), Frigate tuna (Tulingan), Skipjack (Gulyasan) and Yellowfin tuna (Tambakol/Bariles). The Pacific towns of the province and a number of municipalities in Eastern Samar are within the Tuna Conservation Management Zone (TCMZ) which is rich in pelagic fish such as tuna species. Municipal fisherfolks within these areas experience a challenge in maximizing their daily fish catch because of the limited capacity and efficiency of their small fishing boats and other traditional and simple fishing gears.

LGU Mapanas Mayor Ronn Michael Tejano expressed his high hopes for the project as it opens a new and promising opportunity to boost the tuna industry of the Northern Samar Pacific Towns considering the abundant fishery resources of its major fishing ground and the spirit of hard work of their fisherfolks communities.

“Let us embrace it as if this is the only one we have”, exclaimed by Former Philippine Ambassador to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea Bienvenido Tejano to the Local Chief Executives of Mapanas and Palapag, and LCE representatives of Lapinig, Laoang, and Gamay, in a bid to unify and strengthen their efforts for the effective implementation of the project. He also encouraged the beneficiaries to embody the essence of sharing and camaraderie for the sustainability of the intervention granted to them. “Dapat dumating sa ating punto that we will have the opportunity to share, instead of asking we give,” he added. (It should come to our point that we will have the opportunity to share, instead of asking we give.)

“We fully support and believe in the ability and determination of our fishermen here, especially the Northern Samar Pacific Towns Fishermen’s Cooperative who have actively joined and continue to join our capacity-building initiatives to be ready for a new, bright, hopeful, and improved future not only themselves but also the tuna industry of Eastern Visayas.” These were the words of aspiration of BFAR 8 Regional Director Dr. Hannibal M. Chavez as he delivered his message preceding the formal signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the NSPTFC and five (5) Pacific Town-LGUs.

The activity was formally concluded with a communal blessing from various religious sectors in the locality to ensure the safety of the crew and a bountiful harvest while fishing within the Pacific Ocean and other major fishing grounds in the country where it is allowed to conduct its operation. Furthermore, the said association is set to conduct its first fishing activity in April 2023 beyond their municipal waters where units of Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) from the Bureau have been previously installed.

The BFAR and LGUs of Mapanas, Palapag, Lapinig, Laoang, and Gamay made a pact to support the NSPTFC in their future fishing operations through capacity-building initiatives, operation and management mentorship, overall programmatic functions, periodic monitoring and evaluation and other measures necessary for the effective, sustainable and efficient implementation of this program initially launched in Eastern Visayas.