Around 51 fishermen from the coastal town of Oras, Eastern Samar will soon own a fishing boat of their own thanks to government funding.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz recently released a cheque of P640,340 to fishermen who have banded together to enhance their occupation as fishermen and thus improve their income.
The 51 marginal fishermen of Oras will use the grant under the DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) to purchase wooden fishing boats, nets, and other fishing paraphernalia. Part of the grant will be spent on capacity-building training for the fishermen, Director Sarcauga said.
He added that the fishermen who are all based in Barangay Butnga, Oras, have found a means to increase their income and that is to pool their skills and resources to improve their fishing method and thus increase fish harvest.
Meanwhile, Secretary Baldoz expressed her optimism that through the DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program-Community Enterprise Development assistance, the 51 fishermen will be able to sustain their enterprise and contribute to the development of their community.
“This is the aim of the DILP-CED, to assist individual workers and community groups in developing sustainable livelihood activities that could improve their plight and economically energize their communities, Secretary Baldoz said.
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