SIQUIJOR ISLAND – Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has awarded Macrohon, Southern Leyte as the grand winner of the search for the most outstanding coastal community under the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) program.
Piñol also turned over 130 fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) fishing boats to the marginal fishermen in Siquijor Island, Friday at the Siquijor Provincial Government Complex in Barangay Pulangyuta, Siquijor town.
The other winners were Alaminos, Pangasinan as first runner-up and Gigacuit, Surigao del Norte as second runner-up.
The MMK winners will receive P30-million, P18-million, and P10-million worth of fisheries livelihood projects in that order.
According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-7) regional director Alfeo Piloton, this is the first time that the award ceremony is held outside Malacanang.
After distributing the boats, Piñol said: “Food security is not merely about what we consume today. It is about planning for the future so that the next generation will have enough food to eat.”
Fisherman Derec Tamala, 60, of Barangay Tulapos, Enrique Villanueva said he’s happy about the new boat because it can bring them to as far as they want to.
Cirilo Maningo Angot, 59, another beneficiary, thanked Piñol for the assistance. (Minerva Newman)