A Filipino fishing vessel ventures into the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. (File photo / REM ZAMORA)
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Wednesday said that additional floating assets will be deployed to the West Philippine Sea this year.
BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera said it is important that fisherfolks in the West Philippine Sea receive the necessary government support.
“Magkakaroon tayo ng additional floating assets for the West Philippine Sea. And kung hindi ako nagkakamali, may schedule tayo na maglayag din diyan sa may Scarborough Shoal, malapit diyan, para po magkaroon ng onboard livelihood training sa ating mga mangingisda na nangingisda po diyan sa West Philippine Sea,” said Briguera in the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.
(We will have additional floating assets in the West Philippine Sea. And if I am not mistaken, we have a scheduled trip to Scarborough Shoal, so we can have an onboard livelihood training for fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.)
Briguera said that there are a some 385,000 fishermen who depend on the West Philippine Sea for their livelihood.
The BFAR is also implementing the Livelihood Activities to Enhance Fisheries Yields and Economic Gains from the West Philippine Sea, which aims to expand livelihood activities in the disputed waters.
The project has a budget of P80 million said Briguera.