‘Handog ng Pangulo’ reaches Dinagat Islands seaweed farmers
By Renelle L. Escuadro
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands (PIA) —Handog ng Pangulo is for everyone, near or far, as the program reached the province of Dinagat Islands and benefitted the seaweed farmers from the town of Dinagat, this province.
The provincial government of Dinagat Islands led by Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr. through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) turned over 20 fiberglass boats to the seaweed farmers during the Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat on September 13 in Barangay Bagumbayan, Dinagat.
According to Provincial Agriculturist Rico B. Glainato, “Under the OPAg’s program on ‘Bangka ko, Gawa ko,’ which meant ‘I made my own boat,’ the beneficiaries were inspired to make their own resilient boats amounting to P26,800 each for 10 days to help boost the seaweed industry in the province and ensure sustainable livelihood of the seaweed farmers.”
The boats, made from durable and quality materials, were received by the members of the New Mabuhay Seaweeds Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (NMSFFA) and the Bagumbayan Seaweeds Growers Association (BASEGA), affirming the government’s continuous support to improve the agri-fishery sector in the province.
“Kini usa ka dako kaayong tabang sa among panginabuhian ug sa kalambuan sa among asosasyon. (This is a big help to our livelihood, as well as, it will improve our association),” said Salvador L. Ocay, chairperson of NMSFFA.
Teodoro P. Flores, chairperson of BASEGA, also said that these fiberglass boats motivate the Dinagat seaweed farmers to be passionate with their craft. “The new boats brought new hope to our members because this will result in better production and transportation of the seaweeds and other marine products to our market.”
Dinagat, serving as the historical mother town of the Province of Dinagat Islands, has established a vast and traditional livelihood on seaweed farming because of its natural abundance of seaweed. This also served as an economic diversification of the fisherfolk in the place during uncertainty.
Partnered with supportive government initiatives such as resilient infrastructure like solar dryer and storage facilities, essential facilities like the fiberglass boats, training programs on modern and efficient seaweed processing to create value-added productions, among others, the town of Dinagat will greatly contribute to the country’s supply of seaweeds to address both domestic and international high demand of this product.
Meanwhile, during the Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat, the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Agricultural Program Coordinating Office in the province brought the program on Benteng Bigas Meron Na to the venue where locals finally had the opportunity to buy the P20 kilo of rice.
It also benefitted the Dinagatnons through various services such as the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) job fair with 20 jobseekers who were hired on-the-spot; the release of P39 million livelihood assistance to proponents of the DOLE-Adjustment Measures Program, 16 parents of profiled child laborers and eight micro-establishments. Another P1.26 million was turned over to Ferdinand Multi-Purpose Cooperative (FMPC), an accredited co-partner to benefit more parents of child laborers.
The Dinagat Islands Provincial Legal Office also rendered free legal consultation and the simultaneous planting of 143 coconut seedlings facilitated by the Philippine Coconut Authority.
Key government agencies also participated in the activity to ensure essential services are made available to the Dinagatnons, including the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, Tabo sa Kapitolyo, free medical, dental and other healthcare services, among others.
The Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat is a sincere answer of the provincial government of Dinagat Islands and partner stakeholders to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s desire to dedicate his birthday celebration to the Filipino people. Bringing this engagement in the island province is a testament of ‘serbisyong ramdam ng bawat Pilipino.’ (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from the OPAg Dinagat Islands and PIO PDI)
