Senator Grace Poe (Photo by Tudla Productions)
TAGUM CITY—Independent presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe wanted to include small fisherfolks and coastal communities in the list of sectors to benefit from the government’s conditional cash transfer (CCT).
As one of the poorest basic sectors in the country, Poe said that she would also push for the increase of the fisher folks’ membership in the National Health Insurance Program and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities with the help of local government units and the private sector.
“It is ironic that in an archipelagic country where fishing communities dominate all islands, people are so poor and are unable to get essential government services,” Poe said.
“My platform of inclusive growth and my promise that the poor must not be left behind makes the plight of our fishing communities a centerpiece concern of my presidential campaign.”
The Makabayan Coalition backed presidential aspirant has called the University of the Philippines and other State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) “to help improve access to fisheries education by opening up additional courses and offering scholarships to the fisherfolks or their children.”
Poe claims that under her administration, P300 billion would be set aside from the national budget every year for the agriculture sector, which includes the fisheries sector.
She stressed that resources should also be poured in educating coastal communities on the practice of sustainable fishing to help them adapt to climate change.
Poe said that UP Visayas, particularly its Miagao campus is the leading fisheries school in the country and its linkages with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource (BFAR) and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) located in Iloilo makes it a key academic institution that can promote fisheries development through teaching, research and extension programs.
She also said that Central Luzon State University, Mindanao State University (Naawan campus), and Pangasinan State University (Binmaley campus) also have very strong fisheries programs and have been designated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as Centers of Excellence or Centers of Development in recognition of their expertise.
“Despite the presence of very good schools and the archipelagic nature of the country, fisheries education is underfunded and government has not been encouraging students to enrol in fisheries courses,” Poe said.
The camp of Poe claims that Philippines is the world’s 3rd largest producer of aquatic plants (including seaweeds), with production of 1.56 million MT contributing 5.78% of the total world production.
“Sadly, our more than 1.4 million fisherfolks remain mired in poverty and unable to get the benefits of our economic growth. The next administration should do something to end their miseries and give them better lives,” Poe said. (davaotoday.com)
