Over 4K fisherfolk elated on gov’t aid

DAVAO CITY — A total of 4,451 fisherfolk from five barangays here were happy and grateful to receive rice and cash assistance from the Office of Davao First District Representative Paolo Duterte.

The recipients came from barangays 21-C, 22-C, 23-C, 31-D, and 76-A Bucana received the assistance distributed by the lawmaker's son Rodrigo "Rigo" Duterte II at the Davao Coastal Road recently.

Rolet Gallego, a fisher dealer and president of a fisherfolk association at Sitio Malambuon in Barangay 76-A, said things have become even more difficult as they struggle with what to sell since the fish have been scarce lately.

"Our husbands cannot fish as frequently as they used to due to big waves and sudden heavy downpour. The help we received from the congressman is a blessing to us, which we are truly grateful," Gallego said.

Meantime, Ronald Paring, a fisherman from Barangay 76-A, narrated that in regular times, fishermen can go fishing three times a week, but when the wind is strong and the waves are big with sudden rains, they really cannot go fishing because it is too dangerous.

"If we get to fish, we still have to choose; sometimes, we catch less, and other times we catch more fish. It depends on the weather. Thank you very much, congressman, for the assistance," Paring said.

Meanwhile, Davao Federation of Fisherfolks Association president Johnny Toleran disclosed that they requested support for the 46 fisherfolk associations in Cluster 4 following the beneficiaries' call for help.

Toleran stressed that the strong winds, big waves and sudden heavy rainfalls affected all the beneficiaries' livelihoods.

Duterte has been giving importance to the fisherfolks significantly because they contributed to food security besides employment and trade, saying that the activity aims to enhance access to food for families affected by the rainy season.