TACLOBAN CITY – Around 60 fisherfolk from Dawahon Island, Bato town, Leyte have traded in their destructive fishing gear for sustainable alternatives under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ (BFAR) ‘Palit-Lambat’ Program.
BFAR-8 distributed fish-pot fabrication materials worth P300,000 to beneficiaries, many of whom previously relied on dynamite fishing. The program aims to promote passive, eco-friendly fishing methods while protecting marine ecosystems and sustaining livelihoods.
Dawahon Island, known for its seaweed production and rich fishing grounds teeming with high-value species, has long struggled with illegal fishing practices such as dynamite fishing.
“Through the Palit-Lambat Program, BFAR 8 not only provides alternative livelihood tools but also empowers former illegal fishers to restore marine habitats, rebuild fish populations, and create a more sustainable future for their community,” the agency said in a statement.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
