By ALEX GALANG & CARRIE T. ASPA | Subic, Zambales

FISHERMEN in Subic town received a huge windfall on Sept. 1 when fishery officials and private groups joined hands with the municipal government to give them fishing boats, gears and equipment, post-harvest facilities, and other forms of assistance.

The event was highlighted by the inauguration and turnover of the Subic Municipal Fish Port at Barangay Baraca-Camachile here, and the launching of eco-tours, “paraw” tours, and coral reefs regeneration program by the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA).

The fish port, worth P25 million, was inaugurated by Mayor Jay Khonghun and 2nd District Congressman Jeffrey Khonghun, with guests Senator Cynthia Villar, DA Undersecretary for Fisheries Eduardo Gongona, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Undersecretary for Operations Ariel Cayanan, and officials of the PCGA 111th Squadron.

Some P27-million worth of fishing gears were also distributed to local fishermen. These  included 10 fishing boats, nets and floaters, and life vests. Meanwhile, some fish vendors also received tri-bike units with ice boxes as livelihood packages.

FOOD SECURITY

In her message, Sen. Villar, who is chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said there is a huge link between protection of the marine environment, and agriculture and food security.

She said that agriculture contributes over 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), while fisheries contributes from 15 to 18 percent of the agriculture sector share.

“So it is my priority to help farmers and fishermen and to contribute to the further development of the agriculture sector, including the fisheries,” Villar added.

Villar also emphasized the value of small fishermen, saying that fishery exports sourced from smallholder fishers have almost doubled from $634 million in 2010 to $1.156 billion in 2013.

Villar said that she is pushing for legislation that would “balance the need to increase marine life production and the need to protect the sustainability and biodiversity of our oceans or marine waters.”

“Experts have been warning us about overfishing, and I am alarmed with the prediction that our seas will become virtual deserts by 2050 if we don’t stop illegal fishing,” she added.

Villar said the law she is proposing will bring local fishing legislation at par with those in other countries, especially with regard to conservation measures regarding threatened aquatic species, highly migratory species, and other marine resources.

REEF & TOURISM

Meanwhile, the PCGA 111th Squadron donated 10 modules or 300 units of concrete artificial reefs and announced its partnership with the Subic government and the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce in promoting responsible tourism and creating sustainable livelihood programs for local people.

Zed Avecilla, deputy chief of staff for marine environment protection for the PCGA 111th Squadron, said they have adopted the Sampaloc Cove area at Sitio Kinabuksan in Barangay Cawag, Subic, to help establish an inclusive and sustainable ecotourism program for some 70 indigenous Ayta families there.

Avecilla, who is also executive director of the Lighthouse Legacy Foundation and Cleanup Philippines Movement, said the PCGA is working with Make A Difference Travel for a tourism program that will give livelihood to the community and attract more visitors to enjoy the local environment.

During the turnover of reef modules, BFAR Undersecretary Cayanan, who holds the rank of a captain at the PCGA, pointed out that the worst sufferers from environmental destruction are marginalized cultures and occupations.

“There cannot be proper economic and social development without a holistic understanding of society and nature,” Cayanan said.

“If we care for the poor, we cannot allow the Gross Nature Product to be destroyed any further. Conserving and recreating nature has to become our highest priority,” Cayanan added.