Roxas Turn Over GPS Fish Finders to Dagupan Fisherfolks

BOY PICK-UP. DILG Secretary Mar Roxas alias Boy Pick-Up strikes again in Dagupan City when he made various consultations with different sectors of the city. His visits coincided with the city’s Bangus Fiesta. In photo, the presidential hopeful is seen on his signature pose behind the wheel of a sports utility vehicle after he spoke to a group of religious sector at the Archbishop Palace. Woman talking with Roxas was an indigent asking for alms that he favorably reciprocated. MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas handed over brand new fish nets and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) powered Fish Finders to the fisherfolk of Dagupan on Friday to increase their catch, cut costs and drive up their incomes.

The nets and GPS Fish Finders—electronic devices to detect the presence of fish in the bottom of the sea, were funded by the Bottom-Up-Budgeting (BUB) program of the government that empowers local communities to determine their own needs in terms of essential support services. 

The BUB also enables grassroots communities to create their own sustainable development plans through a participatory and demand-driven budget process.

"Nagpunta po ako dito (Dagupan) dahil sa BUB program. Gusto kong makita ang mga beneficiaries at kamustahin ang status ng mga programa. Focus dito ang mga fisherfolk at mga regional and provincial partners namin sa BUB," Roxas said in an interview.

Roxas joined 400 fisherfolk-benficiaries of the BUB funded GPS Fish Finders and nets.

Roxas, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) also awarded a motorized boat to another BUB beneficiary, in addition to the previous 19 motorized boats given to the fisherfolk of  Dagupan.

Roxas also commended the multi-sectoral groups in Pangasinan who participated in the identification and implementation of BUB projects in their province.

“Higit sa pictures at sa mga report, ang mga taong nakinabang sa BUB ang nasabi kanina na it does make a difference. Hindi ito drawing lang. That’s why I’m in public service. Salamat at binigyan ninyo ako ng pagkakataong malaman ito,” Roxas said.

Pangasinan is the most active province under the BUB Program nationwide, with a total of 659 projects worth P636.7 million.

"Ang BUB ay kasama sa deliberate, programmatic, at sustainable approach ng pamahalaan sa paglutas ng mga problema na nakakaharap ng bayan. Walang naiiwan dito, ito ay dulot ng tuwid na daan," Roxas said. #