THE OUTRIGGERS of a fishing boat that Supertyphoon Yolanda destroyed turn into a clothesline for a community that the storm rendered homeless in Tacloban City. RAFFY LERMA
ILOILO CITY, Philippines—At least 15,000 more fishing boats are still needed to replace those destroyed by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” 100 days after the storm devastated fishing communities in the Visayas, the head of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said.
In a media briefing, lawyer Asis Perez, BFAR national director, said at least 15,000 boats had been donated and given by BFAR to fishermen who lost their boats to the storm.
But the number is less than half of the 31,655 boats that are needed in the four regions that Yolanda devastated on Nov. 8.
Based on its listing, BFAR said 18,904 boats are needed in the Eastern Visayas region. At least 2,792 boats are needed in Central Visayas and 215 boats are needed in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan).
Perez was here for the regional launching of BFAR’s Municipal Fisherfolk Registration program.
Perez said the storm affected 146,748 fishermen in the entire Visayas.
At least 21 of 72 provinces that rely on fishing as a form of livelihood for their people have been severely affected by the storm, Perez said.
BFAR, according to Perez, raised at least P4 million in donations to purchase 1,184 boats as of this month. Private groups and individuals donated at least 5,000 boats directly to fishermen, said Perez.
Lack of materials and boat builders have delayed the donation of boats, according to Perez.
He said those who have received fishing boats from private donors are likely to be given by the government fishing gear or boat engines if they lack these.
The devastation wrought by Yolanda on the fishery sector resulted in a 10-percent drop in nationwide fish production and a 5 to 10-percent increase in prices especially in the first two months after Yolanda, said Perez.
Prices of fish, however, have started to normalize, he added.
According to Perez, the Municipal Fisherfolk Registration Program seeks to build a database for the fishery sector to help in crafting policy or putting together projects to help fishermen.
At least 488,032 fishermen have registered out of more than a million fishermen in the country.
The registration program, Perez said, seeks to have workers in fishing ports, fishing boat crewmen and fish vendors registered, too.