Fisherfolk month culminates

Friday 1st of June 2012

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, June 1(PIA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources finally closes the 2012 Farmers/Fisherfolk Month celebration on June 4, this year, with a special tribute to the designated Fisherfolk Director.

BFAR 2 Director Jovita Ayson 2012 Fisherfolk Director Cesar Vincent Veracruz of Batanes is expected to deliver his farewell message not only to BFAR staff and officials but likewise to the Cagayan Valley’s fisherfolk and other stakeholders.

The agency for the last few years has designated progressive fisherfolk in the country to act as Regional Fisherfolk Director for a month, as a tribute to the contribution of the agriculture stakeholders in the development of the industry.

Veracruz, in an interview, during his stint said he has learned a lot from the experience and now fully understand the ways of the government in the promotion of progress and development to the people most especially the marginal sectors of Philippine society.

In a full length feature on him by the Philippine Information Agency releases to local newspapers in the region, Veracruz said his stint brought him new sights and challenges in his continuing advocacy to protect the water resources of his home province of Batanes and beyond.

Veracruz said he missed his families and relatives back home in Basco as he has been in the regional capital a week before he was to be designated as Fisherfolk Director.

"It has been such an experience to work with those wonderful people of BFAR," he added.

He will resume his job at the Batanes Development Foundation based in Basco and said he will go back to his being an angler at its port the soonest possible time.

In a separate interview, BFAR Director said Veracruz did very well in accomplishing his job as Fisherfolk Director.

Meanwhile, a press conference has been scheduled to present to the media the month-long accomplishment of the first Ivatan Fisherfolk Director. (BSY/PIA2)