Two fishing associations in Occidental Mindoro are set to benefit from a P20 million government program to boost Mindoro’s fishing industry and improving livelihoods in the island.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will provide each association with a 62-foot fiberglass fishing vessel equipped with electronic communication devices and six accompanying smaller boats, under its F/B Pagbabago Livelihood Development Program.

Mindoro has long relied on fishing as a cornerstone of its economy, with thousands of families dependent on the industry for their daily income. However, local fisherfolks have historically struggled with outdated equipment and limited access to larger fishing grounds.

“This intervention aims to increase earnings for our fishermen,” said BFAR National Director Elizer S. Salilig, speaking at a Fisherfolk Congress in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

The government project addresses a common economic obstacle in the fishing industry. Currently, most fishermen work on vessels owned by others, with profits typically split three ways: 20% to the captain, 40% to the boat owner, and the remaining 40% divided among crew members.

“With your own commercial fishing boat, you start with 100% of the catch value. After the captain’s 20% share, the remaining 80% goes directly to the crew, effectively doubling your earnings,” Salilig explained to the attending fisherfolk.

The program began last year with vessels allocated to associations in Sablayan and Mamburao.

BFAR has committed to expand the program further, with additional boats promised for associations in San Jose and Paluan towns under the 2025 funding cycle.

Roberto Abrera, BFAR Regional Director for MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), noted that beneficiaries must be properly registered associations.

He encouraged unregistered fisherfolk to formalize their status through their Municipal Agriculture Office with support from local government and the Department of Labor and Employment.

The announcement came during last week’s two-day Fisherfolk Congress attended by 150 participants from across the province. The event, organized by the National Security Council alongside other government agencies, focused on maritime security awareness and promoting sustainable fisheries in the contested West Philippine Sea.

Fishing remains vital to Mindoro’s economy, but the industry faces problems including declining fish stocks, climate change impacts, and territorial disputes in nearby West Philippine Sea.

File photo: courtesy of BFAR (for illustration purposes only)