Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya - A total of 10 motorized bancas were distributed to 30 fisherfolk-beneficiaries from this far-flung town in an awarding held earlier today. 

Each motorized banca costs P90,000, complete with fiberglass material and a built-in motor, and a total amount of P900,000 utilized for the said bancas. Each banca shall be owned and managed by three beneficiaries. 

The awarding is the first batch of beneficiaries to be given bancas for CY 2022, this after a total of 324 motorboats were awarded to fisherfolk beneficiaries from Cagayan Province in 2020 and 2021. 

The motorboats come from the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), designed to assist beneficiaries’ livelihood endeavors through materials to enhance their income-earning potential. 

The awarding was attended by DOLE-Nueva Vizcaya Field Office (NVFO) OIC-Chief Elizabeth Martinez and Executive Assistant V, Sunshine Mondoñedo, representing Regional Director Joel M. Gonzales and Assistant Regional Director Jesus Elpidio B. Atal, Jr. Atty. Lambert Galima, representing Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos Padilla, Municipal Administrator Elizalde Rios and PESO Manager Prescilla V. Libunao, representing Mayor Wilson M. Capia-ao, also attended the said event.

“Kahit anong unos ang dumating, andito ang DOLE upang tulungang mapa-angat ang inyong kabuhayan,” Chief Martinez said in her speech. 

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 02 through OIC-Regional Director Angel B. Encarnacion also provided the beneficiaries with fingerlings and fishnets as additional aid for their livelihood. ###