Fisherfolks Attend Panaghugpong sa Gagmay’ng Mananagat; Financial Assistance Awards Distributed
6/14/2012
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Fisherfolks coming from the 16 coastal baranggays of the City of Mati gathered at Brgy. Tamisan to attend the Panaghugpong sa Gagmay’ng Mananagat last June
14, 2012. The activity was the first of a string of awareness campaigns that are a part of the 9th Pujada Bay Festival celebration.
Hon. Mayor Michelle Rabat said that the gathering was a very significant event because it showed how the different government agencies supported groups of
fishermen from the Dahican Peninsula in terms of trainings and finances.
Also present during the activity were the department heads of the different sectors of the City Government, the Philippine National Police, the Bantay
Dagat, the DENR, the BFAR and the CFARMC.
BFAR Unveiled Livelihood Projects for Coastal and Upland Baranggays
Mrs. Erlinda Ali of BFAR presented the new projects implemented by the agency for the benefit of both the coastal and upland baranggays. Some of these
include trainings in seaweed culture and the possibility of rearing fruit-bearing trees in coastal baranggays. Ali also reports that funding was extended
to the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology for further studies on the viability of projects and their effect on communities.
Commendable Communities Received Awards
Additional financial assistance was also given to communities and organizations that have done exemplary work in their own fields. Among these was the Mati
City Lapagan Development Cooperation, which received funding for improved vegetable production and marketing support. The Libudon Famers for Environmental
Development Association received funding for their native poultry chicken production.
Meanwhile, funding was also awarded to the Luban Farmers and Fisherfolks Association for Banagan production. The Mati Mango Growers and Marketing
Cooperative received additional finances for Mango Production and Marketing. The DEL Farmers Association also received financial support for their cattle
production.
Certificates of award were also given to the Amihan sa Dahican Surf and Skim Fisherfolks Association for the work that they have done as stewards of Mati’s
living treasures. TAMPAFAS also received a check from the City Government to be used for the acquisition of a patrol boat.
For the other participants, 50 fishing gears were raffled off.
Mayor Michelle Rabat and Mr. Gregorio Lagura of PENRO signed the memorandum of agreement for the co-management if the Guang-Guang Mangrove Reserve during
the gathering too. The co-management allows for the faster implementation of projects since the local government now has direct access to the mangrove
reserve. However, implementation will still be done in consortium to the DENR.
Two new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) were also launched during the Panaghugpong sa Gagmay’ng Mananagat. These are the Lanca MPA and the Luban MPA. This
was followed by the oath taking of the new members of the CFLETS.
The gathering ended with all attendees pledging to protect the marine life by stopping illegal fishing. This was done by signing on the prepared signature
wall.
The Panaghugpong sa Gagmay’ng Mananagat ended up as a huge success. The theme of the festival, which is “Siyudad sa Mati atong Palamboon, Pujada Bay atong
Palanggaon” has been fully realized.
By: TEI
City Tourism Division