After a 3-month long classes on-air, a total of 100 fisherfolk finally received their certificate of completion in a simple graduation ceremony held here recently.
Thirty-three (33) of the graduates came from Zamboanga Sibugay, 33 from Zamboanga Del Sur and 34 from Zamboanga City. The fisherfolk student-graduates underwent a three-month duration of classes, held every Saturday from 12:30pm to 1:00pm over the flagship government AM radio station Radyo Pilipinas where they completed a short course on Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) School-on-Air (SOA) radio program of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The MMK SOA radio show is a platform used to promote and educate fisheries stakeholders on the various livelihood technologies available for them and the ongoing MMK campaign.
“It serves as the primary information operation directed towards fisherfolk communities and local government units in far-flung areas to mobilize them towards a responsible management of their marine resources,” said BFAR Regional Director Isidro M. Velayo, Jr.
Top 10 performing fisherfolk-students were awarded each with a 13HP marine engine worth Php11,000 during the graduation ceremony.
The participating fisherfolk-beneficiaries were identified by the Provincial and City Fishery Officers in coordination with the LGUs in the area.