CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar (PIA) – Fishery officials led by Director Juan Albaladejo gave free motor engines to members of the Calbayog, Almagro, Sto. Nino, Tagapul-an, Daram and Marapipi (CASTDM) Mayors’ Alliance in simple ceremonies on Aug 6 in Catbalogan.
The free motor engines were received by the local chief executives namely, Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino-CASTSDM Mayors’ Alliance Chairman, Almagro Municipal Mayor Kathleen S. Prudenciado, Mayor Lilia A. Conejos of Sto. Nino, Mayor Vicente F. Limpiado of Tagapul-an, Mayor Gemma P. Zosa of Sta. Margarita, Mayor Lucia L. Astorga of Daram, and new member-Mayor Eufemio Oliva of Gandara got their share.
Albaladejo said that Samar Sea is now considered in critical stage, but with CASTSDM Mayors’ Alliance now as their partners in its management, Samar Sea will be surely protected from today onwards. The group was pushing for a fishing moratorium for Samar Sea.
The BFAR official said that the P1-M project grant of BFAR Central Office for each of the six original members of the alliance has already been downloaded to their office and soon will be awarded to the same members of the alliance after submission of project proposals. These project proposals, he added, should conform to the needs of the LGU constituents especially on increasing the resiliency of fishing communities.
Fisheries Provincial Director Engr. Rolando Ay-ay stressed that as the alliance expands from seven-member to 12 including LGUs of Gandara, Tarangnan, Catbalogan, Pagsanghan and Zumarraga, the need to rename the group will be one of the agenda in the next regular meeting. (AJC/NBQ/PIA Samar with Aimee Catalan –Calbayog City Media Bureau)
