The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has provided more than P14 million in fisheries and aquaculture assistance to boost coastal communities in Sorsogon.
On Friday, BFAR said in a statement the interventions include fish cages, fiberglass boats, and seaweed-processing equipment.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said these interventions aim to address production and postharvest needs while helping coastal families build more sustainable livelihoods.
‘We are moving beyond quick fixes by pairing modern mariculture and sturdy vessels with critical postharvest assets to lift our coastal families out of vulnerability permanently,’ Tiu Laurel said.
BFAR provided the Triple B Fisherfolk Association in Bacon District with three high-density polyethylene (HDPE) marine fish cages, feeds and fingerlings, a floating house, and a fiberglass banca, amounting to P2.99 million.
These fish cages, situated in a 588-hectare mariculture zone in the area, will yield 18 metric tons of milkfish each year.
Through the FB Pagbabago Program, the Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed 20 36-foot fiberglass boats worth P4.02 million to registered fishers in Sorsogon City, Pilar, Castilla, Magallanes, Donsol, Casiguran, and Bulan. Postharvest facilities were provided as well.
The agency projects that fiberglass boats will yield approximately 88 metric tons (MT) of fish catch annually and will provide fisherfolk with larger vessels for their fishing operations.
Under the Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program, the Samahang Mandaragat ng Barangay San Fernando in Prieto Diaz received a P1.03-million floating dryer designed to improve seaweed processing.
Meanwhile, the government awarded four 20-by-20-meter HDPE seaweed cages worth P5.96 million to the Bogña Self Help Group to support commercial seaweed production.
Sorsogon produced 32,643.37 MT of fish in 2025, a 28 percent decrease compared to a year ago, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).