Leyte women’s group distributes 50 fishing boats

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 9 (PNA) -- The Palompon Women Workers Association (PWWA) has distributed recently 50 units of fishing boats to its fisherfolk members in Palompon, Leyte.

“The program is part of the National Greening Program (NGP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Region 8 where said women will make use of the boats initially for maintenance and monitoring of their planted mangrove in the seven barangays of Palompon,” according to PWWA president Warblitz Martinez.

Martinez said they had recently planted 135-hectare of mangroves “with the aim of protecting its coastal communities from any disasters that may be brought about by climate change.”

“As per inspection of DENR staff, it has indeed high survival rate,” Martinez s said.

Being duly authorized by the DENR to protect these planted mangrove forests, Martinez said that PWWA members “can run after unscrupulous fishermen who may destroy these newly-planted mangrove forests.”

“Illegal fishing is rampant nowadays including the municipality of Palompon. Some irresponsible fisherfolk use dynamites, air compressors in diving, and small-eye fishing nets to massively scrap off fishes and other marine resources to the detriment of the local environment,” she said.

Martinez added that their association is allowed to use the said boats for fishing in the municipal waters of Palompon coast.

“Such units therefore can help the fisherfolk, most especially the women, in providing foods and income for their respective families. The Rabbitfish or Danggit fish grows well in certain shores of Palompon,” Martinez said, adding that the boats can also be used for tourism activities.

“It can ferry tourists to their coastal communities for industrial tourism…some of the members are engaged in crafts and arts making, food processing and are ready for homestay program. The locals are trained by tourism officials in this type of program,” she added.

Accordingly, the 50 fishing boats are part of the reported “DMCI-assembled and donated boats” intended for the fishermen hit by super typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

After being briefed on the background and restrictions of the donated boats, Martinez was given a go signal for its distribution.

“PWWA beneficiaries are advised not to bring those boats to the deep seas as it is not fit for deep sea fishing,” Martinez said.

It was then learned that Martinez and her organization made some enhancement to the boats, “fortifying” its materials. (PNA)
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