LIMASAWA, Southern Leyte – The local government unit of this island municipality and the Diocese of Maasin marked the 502nd First Easter Sunday Mass in Asia on March 31 this year in a simple rites.

The first Easter Sunday mass that happened on this island on March 31, 1521 that paved the way for the coming of Christianity in the country.

The 502nd First Easter Mass celebration started with the procession of Sr. Santo Niño de Cebu from Maasin port to Limasawa port in Barangay Magallanes.

This was followed by a mass celebrated by Bishop Precioso Cantillas attended by about 2,500 lay ministers, pilgrims, priests, nuns, youth, government officials, and residents of the island town.

“We must remember this every year. I am thankful for your sacrifice of coming here to thank the Lord for this blessing that He gives to us, of the life that He blessed us,” Bishop Cantillas said.

He added that this historical event should not only be remembered by residents of Limasawa and of Eastern Visayas but by all Filipinos.

During the program, Mayor Melchor Petracorta expressed his gratitude to the people who continue supporting the local government in the yearly celebration of the First Easter Mass.
He also expressed his gratitude to the people and organizations that help the municipality in their continuing recovery stage from the devastation of super typhoon ‘Odette’ which hit the town last December 2021.

Tourism Secretary Cristina Garcia-Fresco, whose message was read by Rodel Balierbare of the regional tourism office, she commended the Diocese of Maasin, the local government of Limasawa, and the provincial government of Leyte for keeping the memories of history, religiosity, and heritage fresh in the minds of the young to continually be etched in the consciousness of the people.

She added that Limasawa is not just a place of religious and historical importance, but also a stunning natural wonder.

“With its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush forests, Limasawa holds a significant place in our nation’s story and I believe it has a lot to offer in tourism,” Garcia-Fresco said.

“More than its physical and historical attributes, Limasawa Island’s culture and traditions are also worth exploring, from its delicious cuisine to its colorful festivals. This place holds enormous economic potential to the island and its people if we could only learn how to innovate and properly utilize its natural attributes coupled with a certain amount of sustainable tourism entrepreneurship. This effort can create job opportunities, generate income, and improve the standard of living for the local community when done right,” she added.

Also present during the simple program were Governor Damian Mercado, Vice Gov. Rosa Emilia Mercado,Rep. Luz Mercado(1st district), Philippine Coast Guard Eastern Visayas chief Commodore Romeo Pulido Jr., Philippine National Police Regional Director B/Gen Rommel Francis Marbil, Marina Regional Director Eusebia Cadlum-Boco, and Commission on Higher Education Regional Director Maximo Aljibe.

The celebration was highlighted by the festival competition with the continents from the villages of Triana and Cabulihan bagged the first place winning P80,000, villages of Magallanes and Lugsongan in 2nd place with a cash prize of P70,000,and the villages of San Agustin and San Bernardo in 3rd place with a P60,000) cash prize.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has turned over a P39 million worth fishing vessel to the members of the Northern Samar Pacific Towns Fishermen’s Cooperative (NSPTFC).

The turnover, held last March 29 in Mapanas town, was graced by Mayors Ronn Michael Tejano of Mapanas, Florencio Batula of Palapag, and Hector Ong of Laoang; Vice Mayor Clarita Gomba of Gamay and BFAR 8 Regional Director Dr. Hannibal Chavez.

Said vessel was given through the “Capacitating Municipal Fisherfolk Program” of BFAR which aims to capacitate fishermen through the acquisition and allocation of bigger and better-equipped fishing boats for them to fish efficiently and contribute significantly not only to the region but to the country’s annual tuna production.

Fishermen from these areas are having difficulties in catching more tuna due to their lack of fishing equipment.

NSPTFC members are residents of the Pacific towns of Mapanas, Palapag, Lapinig, Laoang, and Gamay which are within the tuna conservation management zone (TCMZ) which is rich in tuna species like tambakol/ bariles, Eastern little tuna or bonito, frigate tuna or tulingan, skipjack (gulyasan) and yellowfin tuna or ‘tambakol/bariles.

Felipe Saulon, who is the chairman of the NSPTFC, said that they are happy to receive the boat and vowed to make it not just useful but ensure the success of the program itself.
Northern Samar has almost 1,000 tuna fishers who mostly rely on traditional fishing methods when catching tuna within the Pacific Ocean, according to the data of BFAR-8.

Through this program, the bureau foresees at least a 5.4% or 180-200 MT increase in tuna production in Northern Samar being provided with the state-of-the-art steel-hulled purse fishing vessel which can store at most 5,000 kilograms of fish catch.

In 2022, the province contributed 13% of Eastern Visayas’ total fisheries production and recorded the second-highest yield of tuna production in the region.

Mayor Tejano expressed his confidence in the project saying it will open a new and promising opportunity in the towns covered and boost the tuna industry in the process.
BFAR-8 Regional Director Chavez, in his message, said that the agency fully supports the fishermen.

“(And we) believe in the ability and determination of our fishermen here, especially the Northern Samar Pacific Towns Fishermen’s Cooperative who have actively joined and continue to join our capacity-building initiatives to be ready for a new, bright, hopeful, and improved future not only themselves but also the tuna industry of Eastern Visayas,” he said.

The BFAR and the municipal governments of Mapanas, Palapag, Lapinig, Laoang, and Gamay made a pact to support the NSPTFC in their future fishing operations through capacity-building initiatives, operation and management mentorship, overall programmatic functions, periodic monitoring and evaluation and other measures necessary for the effective, sustainable and efficient implementation of this program initially launched in Eastern Visayas.

The NSPTFC is set to conduct its first fishing activity within this month beyond their municipal waters where units of fish aggregating device (FAD) from the BFAR have been previously installed. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)