(UPDATED) The municipality of Narra is set to distribute fiberglass boats to selected local fishermen, as beneficiaries of the cash received by the municipality for winning the “Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK)” award last year.
The Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) said 30 locally manufactured fiberglass boats will be ready for distribution to various coastal villages in October.
Orlando Acaylan, farm worker II and project-in-charge, said the distribution of fiberglass boats is one of the priority projects of Narra through MAO.
It is aimed at providing livelihood activities for fishermen, as well as for monitoring of illegal fishing.
“Isa ito sa mga priority ng Narra through the MAO kasi syempre sa panahon natin ngayon, talagang pinagbabawal na ang pamumutol ng kahoy para gawing bangka. Ginagamit din ito ng mga mangingisda kaya ang naging alternative namin ay ang paggawa ng fiber glass motorized bangka,” Acaylan said.
He said each barangay will be given two boats for livelihood and for monitoring.
The boats were designed and made by the MAO.
Acaylan said they hired two carpenters to attend a two-week seminar-workshop in Navotas, where they were taught the process of making the motorized fiberglass boats.
The project was funded by the cash prize that Narra received from the “Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK)” award last year.
Acaylan added that the boat-making process is not easy, but assured that they will last for more than 20 years.
“Actually, medyo mahaba ang proseso at medyo delikado kasi gumagamit tayo ng mga chemicals kagaya ng resin at fiber matte na pagdumikit sa balat ay masasaktan at maaari kang masugatan. Kapag nagawa na ‘yong bangka na ‘yon glass na talaga siya, hindi siya transparent pero glass siya umaabot din siya ng more than 20 years kaya kahit ka-apo-apohan maabotan pa ‘yan,” he said.
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