By Brian Campued
The government-owned fish carrier M/V MAMALAKAYA has so far bought around 20.3 tons of fresh fish catch from 120 fishermen and 11 fishing vessels since the launch of the Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM) Program on May 8-10, Malacañang announced Friday.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro assured that the KBBM Program would be sustained until the end of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s term to attain food security and foster maritime presence in the West Philippine Sea.
“Ito po ay magtutuloy-tuloy hangga’t marami silang nakikita’t namo-monitor na mga fishing vessels na maaaring nangingisda, at hanggang 2028 po ito ay ipapatupad,” Castro said.
Launched by the Philippine Coast Guard in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, M/V MAMALAKAYA was deployed near Bajo de Masinloc to directly purchase fresh catch from local fisherfolk and to supply additional ice and fuel subsidies.
“Para matugunan din po ang issue about food security, talaga pong ito ay ipinag-utos ng Pangulo,” Castro said.
“Tayo naman po ay may karapatan sa Bajo de Masinloc at dapat lang pong ma-exercise ng ating mga kababayan kung anong nararapat na mga karapatan po natin,” she added.
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