TACLOBAN CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) awarded commercial fishing vessels to four fisherfolk associations in Northern Samar on Friday, 22 May 2026, to support tuna fishing operations in the Pacific Ocean.

The package, worth a total of P42.7 million, included a 62-foot fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) handline fishing boat to serve as the mother boat, along with smaller auxiliary boats and fishing gear for each association.

“These are not just motorboats, they are the symbol of hope for a brighter future,” said Paul Jerec Endriano, president of the Barangay Talolora CFLC Fisherfolks Association of Palapag, during the turnover ceremony.

Other beneficiaries included the Mapanas Pacific Town Fisherfolk Association, the Lapinig Deep Sea Fishing Association, and the Barangay Mualbual Bangkulis Fisherfolk Association of Laoang.

BFAR regional director Dominador Maputol said the distribution of the grants was made possible through BFAR’s Tuna Development Program and Capacitating Municipal Fisherfolks Program.

Maputol urged the beneficiaries to properly maintain the fishing boats and emphasized the importance of unity and responsible use of the project to ensure long-term benefits for fisherfolk communities.

The Pacific towns of Palapag, Mapanas, Laoang, and Lapinig are known for their abundant tuna resources and are considered major hotspots for yellowfin and skipjack tuna, where catches exceeding 250 kilograms for a single fish have reportedly been recorded in the past.

The ocean waters along the eastern seaboard of Northern and Eastern Samar are estimated to yield around 600 tons of tuna annually.