Some nine units of fiberglass reinforce plastic (FRP) boats and a hand tractor with accessories were turned over to the fisherfolk and farmer associations in Daanbantayan, Cebu last week.
The FRP boats were funded by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR7), while the hand tractor from the Department of Agriculture- Central Visayas (DA7).
BFAR representative Joel Clapano (Provincial Fishery Officer-Cebu) and DA7 representative Lorelie Acha (Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer-Cebu), respectively handed the FRP and hand tractor to Mayor Sun Shimura, which the mayor turned over to the recipients. Also, in witness were Vice Mayor Elver Ali Abucay and OIC-Municipal Agricultural Officer Henry Rondina.
Recipients of 2 units FRP were Bantay Dagat, Lambaklad and Vilma Ynot, the 2021 Regional Rural Woman Awardee; while a unit each for the Barangay Bateria, Nagkahiusang Mananagat sa Bateria (NAMABA), and San Vicente Kauswagan Suba Anonang Fisherfolk Association (SAKASA). For the hand tractor, the recipient was the Panagsama Farmers Association.
Luciana Briones, the president of the Panagsama FA, in an interview, said the hand tractor they received will greatly helped in the land preparation for their vegetable gardens, compared to doing it manually (by hand). He also shared that their association was a recipient of a tractor from DA, which helped plow their 5-hectare farmland.
“Daku ra sad kaayo ang tractor nga maoy gamiton namo sa among ginagmay nga utanonan, so kini hand tractor mas bintaha kaayo”, said Briones.
The activity, held at the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) inside the TESDA Compound.