A total of 50 fishermen from Atimonan, Quezon Province received fiberglass boats upon completion of their fiberglass boat fabrication skills training under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The fiberglass boats, which were awarded to the beneficiaries last August 1 in a turn-over ceremony, were made by the fishermen themselves as part of their 15-day training under the SLP.

The SLP is one of the core poverty reduction programs of the DSWD that provides income-generating opportunities to help improve the economic sufficiency of poor individuals and families. The Skills Training is one of the modalities of the SLP that helps enhance the skills of program participants for higher productivity and profitability, which they can use for microenterprise or employment.

The said fishermen are among the first batch of beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program who completed the skills training in partnership with the local government unit of Atimonan.

Nelson Embile, 51, one of the beneficiaries of the SLP who received the skills training and fiberglass boat, shared that this opportunity will greatly help his family.

“Malaking bagay ito dahil kahit papaano, may sarili na kaming bangka. Mas malaki ang aming kikitain kumpara sa dati naming ginagawa na sumasama kami sa malalaking bangka para makapangisda,” said Embile, a resident of Brgy. Angeles.

Felix Lasquety Jr., 61, another beneficiary, is grateful for the opportunity.

“Bukod sa pangngisda, magagamit ko rin ang aking natutunan kapag may nagpapagawa ng bangka,” said Lasquety, a resident of Brgy. Villa Ilaya.

Atimonan Mayor Rustico Mendoza, during the turnover ceremony, shared that the local government will continue supporting the fishermen and the DSWD in providing livelihood opportunities.

Quezon Provincial Coordinator of the SLP, Jennifer Lascano, encouraged all the beneficiaries to use the skills training and the boats to help improve the lives of their respective families.

“Hindi matatapos sa pagbibigay sa inyo ng training at ng mga bangka, sana ay gamitin ninyo ito para mas maiangat pa ang pamumuhay ng mga mangingisda,” Lascano shared in her message to the beneficiaries.

She further announced that some of the beneficiaries can be tapped by the DSWD to act as resource persons in similar skills training in other municipalities in the province.

During the turnover ceremony, 10 beneficiaries have been given recognition for their potential to become fiberglass boat fabrication resource persons.

To date, there are 50 other fishermen who are undergoing the same kind of training in the municipality.#