IBA, Zambales — The provincial government of Zambales is set to launch a modernization program featuring advanced fishing technology and training for fisherfolk to strengthen the local fishing industry amid continuing challenges in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the initiative, led by the Zambales Maritime Development Council (ZMDC), will include the acquisition of a 96-foot automated harvester vessel, along with two reinforced fiberglass lightboats, and one service boat to be built by Stoneworks Specialist International Corp. in General Trias, Cavite.
“These vessels are a vital part of our modernization efforts. Learning new technology and developing new skills is necessary for our fishermen to be competitive. They need to adapt in order to survive and thrive,” he said.
The boats will be operated by members of the Zambales Provincial Fishery Association, a federation composed of various local fisherfolk groups.
The program includes a training component on modern fishing vessel operation, to be conducted at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in San Narciso.
Two clusters of fishers have already completed initial training, with more groups scheduled to follow before the vessel’s deployment later this year.
This initiative builds on previous ZMDC efforts, including last year’s distribution of P5 million worth of fish aggregating devices (payaos) to 26 fisherfolk groups.
An additional P5.6 million in payaos will be distributed this year under the same livelihood support program.
Ebdane, who spearheaded the formation of the ZMDC last year, said the long-term goal is to improve the competitiveness of local fishers facing limited access to traditional fishing grounds due to increased foreign presence in the WPS.
“The procurement of a modern harvester boat and ancillary vessels is the logical next step in pursuit of a long-term solution to the WPS problem by giving local fishers a significant fighting chance,” he added.
Leonardo Cuaresma, president of the New Masinloc Fishermen’s Association,
welcomed the program, noting its potential to ease the burden on small-scale fishers.
“Bago sa amin ‘yan—wala pang bakal na bangkang pangisda dito sa Zambales, at pati ang mga instrumento ay computerized na. Kaya kailangan talagang pag-aralan namin kung paano gamitin ito (This is something new for us. There has never been a steel fishing boat in Zambales, and now the instruments are even computerized, That’s why we really need to learn how to operate the, properly),” he said.
Cuaresma added that this effort will help reduce operating cost for fisherfolk by allowing them to operate the boats instead of paying private boat owners for access to the sea. (MJSC/RGP, PIA Region 3-Zambales)