‘Kadiwa’ designed for WPS fisherfolk comes to Palawan
The government on Wednesday launched a second “Kadiwa” program designed to benefit fishermen venturing into the West Philippine Sea (WPS), this time in Palawan province.
The Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM) officially kicked off at Bulilluyan port and was led by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
It involves sending a government-owned vessel to the area that will buy the local fishermen’s catch, assuring them of a steady market. A subcomponent of the project provides them with fuel subsidies.
Fuel subsidies, ice supply
“This Kadiwa program aims to streamline the selling process for fishermen by subsidizing the procurement of their fresh catch directly at sea, which effectively lowers their operational costs,” said Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson on the WPS.
The Kadiwa launch in Palawan came almost a month after the May 9 opening of the pilot project at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off the province of Zambales.
“Additionally, the program supports fishermen’s livelihoods not only by providing a fast and direct selling method but also through fuel subsidies and ice provisions to extend their fishing ventures in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
One mission per month
In a message to the Inquirer, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria Guevarra said the KBBM hopes to cover fishermen in the Kalayaan Group of Islands, also in Palawan, this year.
The initiative also hopes to carry out “one mission’’ to the target areas per month, she said.
The KBBM seeks to encourage fishermen to keep going their traditional fishing grounds in the WPS—with PCG vessels offering them security—despite the presence of China Coast Guard vessels and maritime militia boats.
