These fisherfolks were lucky to be the chosen recipients of the pump boats and fishing paraphernalia from the DA-BFAR as part of the prize received by the City of Baybay for being one of the Top 100 Boat Registration (BoatR) Program’s Best Performing Cities and Municipalities. (Photo Credit: Roy Managbanag, City Mayor’s Office)
Baybay City: The only BoatR complied LGU in Leyte
The City of Baybay was the only Local Government Unit (LGU) in the Province of Leyte which was included in the Top 100 Boat Registration (BoatR) Program’s Best Performing Cities and Municipalities by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR).
As a reward, the city’s fisherfolks, through its Coastal Resources and Fishery Management Office (CRFMO), will receive two million pesos worth of fishing boats and fishing paraphernalia to be used in its various programs and projects, including on the rehabilitation of the marine sanctuaries in the city.
It could be recalled that the City of Baybay had established eleven (11) marine sanctuaries, many of which need rehabilitation. These said marine sanctuaries are in following coastal barangays: Barangay Bitanhuan, Barangay Plaridel, Barangay Punta, Barangay Gabas, Barangay Hilapnitan, Barangay Marcos, Barangay Palhi, Barangay Sta. Cruz, Barangay Maybog, and Barangay Pangasugan; while another marine sanctuary was established along the shoreline of the Visayas State University (VSU), the premier university for science and technology in the Visayas.
The ceremonial awarding of the Top 100 Boat Registration (BoatR) Program’s Best Performing Cities and Municipalities, with representatives from the DA-BDAR Regional Office, was held on June 4, 2017 at the Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte’s municipal grounds.
It can be recalled that Baybay City has a total number of 2,827 fisherfolks and all of them are registered in the Fish Registration System of DA-BFAR and all those with boats of 3 gross tonnage and below are also registered in the BoatR System.
Thus, during the 10th Charter Day of Baybay City, the City Fishery Officer, Mr. Ruben Mercado Jr. (5th from right), with Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari (beside Mr. Mercado) and Vice Mayor Michael L. Cari (beside the City Mayor), facilitated the ceremonial turnover of pump boats and fishing paraphernalia to pre-selected recipients from the coastal barangays of the city. And according to Mr. Mercado, they distributed 30 units of pump boats and fishing paraphernalia that day.
BoatR is a program of DA-BFAR which is designed to fast track the nationwide registration of municipal fishing vessels with three gross tonnage (GT) and below, as well as the municipal fishing gears. (Marisse Miguel Cano with reports from Jason Ybañez)
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