Kadiwa for fishers to ensure food security, boost WPS presence: Palace

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

Under the KBBM program of the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, M/V MAMAMALAKAYA was deployed to the waters near Bajo de Masinloc to directly purchase fresh catch from local fishermen. (File photo: Markus Tinner/Unsplash)

MANILA – The Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM) Program for Filipino fishermen would be sustained until the end of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s term to achieve food security and intensify presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Malacañang said on Friday.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said government-owned fish carrier M/V MAMAMALAKAYA has so far purchased around 20.3 tons of fresh fish catch from 120 local fishermen since the launching of the KBBM Program on May 9.

“Alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na isulong ang food security at maritime development sa West Philippine Sea, inilunsad ang Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda o KBBM Program (In accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to promote food security and maritime development in the West Philippine Sea, the Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda or KBBM Program was launched),” Castro told Palace reporters.

“Sa KBBM, sama-sama nating itinataas ang dangal ng mangingisdang Pilipino, habang pinangangalagaan ang yaman ng ating karagatan para sa kinabukasan ng buong bayan, para sa Bagong Pilipinas (With KBBM, we are together raising the dignity of Filipino fishermen, while preserving the resources of our oceans for the future of the entire nation, for the New Philippines).”

Under the KBBM program of the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, M/V MAMAMALAKAYA was deployed to the waters near Bajo de Masinloc to directly purchase fresh catch from local fishermen.

The vessel would also provide subsidies on crude oil and ice to help fishermen who are having difficulty with transportation and other expenses.

Castro said the newly-launched program would continue so long as the Filipino fishermen need assistance from the government.

“Para matugunan din po ang issue about food security. Talaga pong ito ay ipinag-utos ng Pangulo dahil tayo naman po ay may karapatan sa Bajo de Masinloc at dapat lang pong ma-exercise ng ating mga kababayan kung anong nararapat na mga karapatan po natin (This is also to also address the issue about food security. This was actually ordered by the President because we have rights over Bajo de Masinloc and our countrymen should be able to exercise our rights),” she said.