100 fishermen from Mercedes receive boats worth P1.8-M

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Men construct a new boat just a few meters from the shoreline of the fishing village in Sabang, Calabanga.

One hundred fishermen from the town of Mercedes in Camarines Norte province received fishing boats worth P1,884,115.00 from the Department of Labot and Employment.

The beneficiaries came mostly from the coastal barangays of Catandunganon, Mandisok and Kulasi of said town.

The boats were made by a local craftsman which was funded through the grassroots participatory budgeting program.

DOLE Camarines Norte provincial field officer Jane Rolda said “.. the fishing boats are better, faster and smoother since it is made of the latest fiber glass technology and with a well planned aero dynamic design.”

Rolda noted that though there are few who have their own old boats, most of them are fisherfolks either renting boats or working on another operator’s boat.

Based on DOLE records in Camarines Norte a single beneficiary of the project yields an average of P2,500 income a month which now is projected to get some P7,000 to P8,000 a month.

DOLE Bicol director Nathaniel Lacambra said the project actually benefited the recipients of the boats and the local boat maker.

Lacambra also added that the municipal government of Mercedes has a prospect of increase in tax collections and license and permits issuances.

The P1.8M boat project was personally turned-over by Lacambra to Mercedes Mayor Alaexander Pajarillo last June 5th at the town hall.

Mercedes is an accredited co-partner for project and is tasked to monitor the implementation of the project.

But while the boats were already distributed, the benificiaries has to use the boats for their livelihood or face its confiscation if proven otherwise.

There was no specifics whether there was a bidding done for the supplier on the procurement of the boats.

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