30/09/2026
๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐ธ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฎ๐๐, ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ๐
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands โ Fifty fisherfolk from the seven municipalities of Dinagat Islands received new boats, engines, and fishing gear as the province marked its 20th founding anniversary with an Agri-Fishery Trade Fair on Monday, September 28.
The livelihood assistance, provided by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) in partnership with the provincial government, aims to help beneficiaries resume fishing activities and rebuild livelihood assets damaged by disasters.
DA-BFAR national director Elizer Salilig and Caraga regional director Omnia Olama joined local officials, farmers, fisherfolk, producers, and partner agencies during the opening of the trade fair at the Capitol Grounds.
The activity also provided a venue for showcasing locally produced agricultural and fishery products and strengthening partnerships supporting the province's food security and livelihood development.
Provincial agriculturist Rico Galinato welcomed participants and partner institutions, recognizing their continued support for the province's agriculture and fisheries sectors.
โAng agri sector, kusog sa atoang probinsya, ang usa sa pinakaimportante nga mga miyembro sa atoang katilingban, ug ang atong activity karon usa lamang ka pruweba nga bisan pa og daghang pagsulay, ang resilience sa atong mga Dinagatnon farmers, fisherfolk, ug businessmen dili basta-basta,โ Galinato said.
๐๐-๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐ธ
In his message, Salilig recognized the provincial government's continued support for agriculture and fisheries, particularly its efforts to provide a venue where farmers and fisherfolk can raise concerns and connect with government assistance.
โHappy kaayo ko sa inyong provincial government sa inyong suporta kay yearly gyud mo naga-celebrate sa inyong agri-fishery sector, ug salamat Governor kay at least ang atoang mga igsoon nga mangunguma ug mangingisda, ma-raise nila ilang mga problema, ug kung wala ang initiative ni Governor, dili nato ni ma-address,โ he said.
He said local government initiatives are important in ensuring that the concerns of farmers and fisherfolk are identified and addressed through appropriate government programs.
Provincial Gov. Nilo Demerey, meanwhile, formally opened the trade fair and underscored the importance of agriculture and fisheries in the provinceโs development.
โAng atoang center of development importante ang fisheries ug agriculture, mao nga naa ta karon sa agri-fishery trade fair,โ Gov. Demerey said.
๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ณ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐ธ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, DA-BFAR and the provincial government led the turnover of 50 fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) boats equipped with engines and complete fishing gear.
The assistance consists of 39 units measuring 32 feet, valued at Php 92,063 each, and 11 units measuring 27 feet, valued at Php 84,185 each, for a total assistance amount of Php 4.5 million.
The beneficiaries came from all seven municipalities: 10 from San Jose, 24 from Libjo, one from Dinagat, one from Tubajon, one from Loreto, six from Cagdianao, and seven from Basilisa.
The boats and fishing equipment are intended to help beneficiaries resume regular fishing activities, access fishing grounds, and strengthen their capacity to support their families through fishing.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ง๐๐ฝ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐ป ๐ข๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ
The assistance comes as many fisherfolk continue to rebuild livelihoods affected by Typhoon Odette, which struck Dinagat Islands in 2021 and damaged boats, fishing gear, homes, and other livelihood assets across affected communities.
For fisherfolk who lost essential fishing equipment during the disaster, the provision of new boats and gear offers a means to restore their fishing operations and gradually recover livelihood assets lost during the typhoon.
Beyond immediate livelihood recovery, the assistance offers coastal households with productive assets that can support their economic activities while they continue adapting to changing weather and sea conditions.
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฅ๐ฃ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ
ND Salilig said Dinagat Islands received the highest number of FRP boats with complete fishing gear among the provinces in the Caraga Region, reflecting the scale of livelihood assistance extended to its fishing communities.
National focal of FB Pagbabago Program Pierre Easter Velasco and Dinagat Islands provincial fishery officer Bernard Baclayo witnessed the turnover following the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement.
The beneficiaries formally received the assistance with a commitment to use the boats and fishing gear responsibly and productively while observing fisheries laws and sustainable fishing practices.
๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Proper use and maintenance of the livelihood assets, together with compliance with fisheries regulations, will be important in ensuring that the assistance continues to benefit the recipients beyond the initial distribution.
Continued coordination among DA-BFAR, the provincial government, and fishing communities can further support productive fishing activities while promoting the responsible use and protection of Dinagat Islandsโ marine resources.
As the province marks its 20th founding anniversary, the support extended to its farmers and fisherfolk reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen livelihoods while sustaining the natural resources that communities depend on. #
