For many fisherfolk across Bohol, the challenge of putting affordable fish on family tables has long been intertwined with the struggle to sustain their livelihood.
On June 2, that challenge was met with renewed hope as the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh), through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), turned over 130 units of motorized and non-motorized fabricated fiberglass boats and a Climate Change Intervention Package during a ceremony at the Bohol Organic Agriculture Technology Center (BOATEC) in Barangay Gabi, Ubay.
The assistance package included 10 non-motorized paddle boats, 5 30-foot motorized boats, and 115 22-foot motorized boats, distributed to fisherfolk associations from 33 local government units across the province.
Beyond the boats and equipment, the turnover represented something more significant for the beneficiaries—a continuing investment in food production, livelihood resilience, and community development.
For Jose Juneser Ursos, president of the San Miguel Tilapia Growers Association, government support has already translated into tangible gains.
His association was among the beneficiaries of the High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) fish cage project and tilapia fingerling stocking initiative at Bayongan Dam in August 2025. Since then, the group has successfully completed three production cycles.
“Among panghinaut nga ma-sustain. I-katulo na namo nga cropping karon ug nakita namo ang maayo nga resulta ug impact sa proyekto. Naa na mi income, gawas pa nga makatabang pud mi nga matubag ang kamahal sa isda pinaagi sa among production,” Ursos shared.
He described the support as among the fastest responses they have received from government institutions, noting that the assistance has strengthened both their livelihoods and their contribution to the local food supply.
“Ang among hangyo sa Provincial Government of Bohol, labi na kang Gov. Aris ug sa OPA ug sa BFAR, unta magpadayon ang ilang suporta sa mga fisherfolk,” he added.
In Candijay, the assistance is likewise seen as an opportunity to uplift fishing communities. Danilo Estorba, president of the Panadtaran Mangrove Planters Association Incorporated, said the intervention will provide both livelihood opportunities and economic relief to fisherfolk families.
“Dako ako’g pasalamat nga kining tabang para sa mga mananagat magpadayon aron magahatag ug kalamboan ug panginabuhi-an sa among mga kaubanan. Dako kaayo kini’g tabang,” Estorba said.
The same optimism was echoed by Danilo Boloron, barangay councilor of San Isidro, Dauis, and consultant of the San Isidro Fisherfolks Organization.
“Dako kaayo ni’g tabang sa among grupo nga makapauswag sa agriculture ug pangisda. Kay mahal-mahal jud ang presyo sa isda, at least makatabang mi sa among barangay,” Boloron said.
For Governor Aris Aumentado, the stories shared by the beneficiaries reflect the broader goal of the provincial government’s fisheries development initiatives, underscored with the Strategic Change Agenda of the provincial government.
Aumentado said the turnover forms part of the province’s continuing response to long-standing concerns over fish supply and affordability.
He emphasized that strengthening fisheries production at the community level is crucial to achieving food security, noting that sustainable food systems begin in local communities where producers are directly supported and empowered.
He likewise underscored the importance of organized fishing ventures through associations and cooperatives, saying that stronger collaboration between fisherfolk groups and government institutions can help increase local production, improve livelihoods, and contribute to a more stable supply of fish across the province.
Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog underscored the importance of collaboration among government agencies in strengthening the fisheries sector.
She acknowledged the continued partnership between the provincial government and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 7 in expanding aquaculture opportunities, including in landlocked municipalities.
Quirog said interventions such as tilapia production, crab hatchery development, and the propagation of fish roe are helping diversify local fish production while addressing rising market prices.
Also present during the turnover were BFAR-Bohol Provincial Officer Candido Samijon, Fisheries Division Head Mary Queen Atup, municipal agriculturists, and representatives of fisherfolk associations from across the province, a UNESCO Global Geopark.
As the boats prepare to sail to coastal and inland communities throughout Bohol, beneficiaries hope the assistance will not only improve their catch but also help secure a more stable food supply for future generations—one fishing community at a time. (PIMO/JFP)
