Pinol delivers fishery projects for Pangasinan and La Union folk

By Philippine Information Agency

SUAL –  Agriculture Secretary Manny  Pinol  came to Pangasinan Thursday to personally turn- over fishery projects to fisher folk as part of the Duterte administration’s promise to make life better for Filipinos.

PRO-DUTERTE. Pangasinan politicians including former Five- Time House Speaker Jose de Venecia
show President Rodrigo Duterte's  signature fist symbol during the visit at the Sual Wharf
in Sual, Pangasinan of Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol (with dark sunglasses).
Pinol distributed fishing equipment to marginalized fishermen like the initial
part of the 700 fiber glass made fishing boats. PHOTO: MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Pinol, who belongs to a farmer’s family,   said part of his visit’s goal is to hold a consultation dialogue with farmers and fisher folk to know their concerns and to know what programs and projects will best benefit the sector.

“Our power emanates from the people… kaya gusto ng Pangulo na mabago at mapaganda ang buhay ng mga Pilipino,” Pinol said during the turn-over ceremony held at the wharf and causeway of  Sual town.

The Secretary said the Department of Agriculture  (DA) has a long history of corruption which is why  his first message to Pangasinenses is his assurance to stop corruption.

 “We will stop corruption in agriculture and fisheries.  I will not allow it. I will not tolerate it. Yan ang aking unang pangako,” Pinol added.

Pinol  also bared other programs of DA that could help farmers and fisherfolk like access to credit , development of Penneus Vannamei (a  shrimp specie), solar-powered irrigation system   and  encouragement of more  investors to visit the Philippines and tour them in various fishery  areas, among others.

By 2018, DA and the  Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) would be investing on agricultural equipment and post-harvest facilities like cold storage. He said the country is losing at least 60 percent of production due to the lack of post harvest facilities.

He encouraged the DA officials and Mayors present in the ceremony   to plan a short-term and long-term  roadmap for  fisheries development  which will be  supported by the department  and BFAR.

Secretary Pinol being introduced by radio commentator Mortz Ortigoza
 (2nd from right
and Pinol's town mate in M'lang , Cotabato Province) to Pangasinan
 Governor Amado
Espino III (extreme left) and Sual Mayor Roberto Arcinue. 

Fisherfolk beneficiaries from Pangasinan and La Union received on that ceremony their respective certificates of  the new  community landing centers (CLCs)  and fishing gears.

 At least 70 fishing boats or motorized bancas measuring 12-feet and 20-feet were also turned-over  to 14 coastal  towns of the two provinces.

Pinol  came with Undersecretary for Fisheries and  BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona and were welcomed by Gov. Amado I.  Espino III, Congressmen Leopoldo Bataoil and  Kristoffer De Venecia, former House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Jr,  Sual Mayor  Roberto Arcinue and mayors of the LGU-recipients, DA Regional Director Valentin Perdido and BFAR Regional Director Nestor Domenden. (VHS/PIA-Pangasinan)