Manila: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is set to launch a 'food boat' to further support the livelihood of Filipino fishers in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The food boat will provide both logistics support and direct market linkage, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directives to boost local productivity and help Filipino fishers in the country.

According to Philippines News Agency, the vessel will resemble the function of the newly launched joint project with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) dubbed 'Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (KBBM)' program in Palawan. In a phone interview on Thursday, BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera said over PHP20 million worth of food boats will be made available to Filipino fishers by the end of the year or in early 2026.

The BFAR's food boat will sail to the sea and has the capacity to provide ice on board, specifically slurry ice, to preserve the catch of the fishers. This initiative will also serve as a logistic support to fishers by delivering their fresh catch from sea to markets. The food boat has a carrying capacity of 20 metric tons (MT) each week, which would be helpful to Filipino fishing vessels, particularly during peak fishing season.

The newly launched KBBM will benefit nearly 1,000 fishers in the WPS as it covers operational costs, provides fuel and ice subsidies, and market linkage. Briguera said the KBBM, through the PCG's MV Mamalakaya, will transport fishers' fresh catch from the sea to major ports of Zambales, Navotas, and nearby areas of the WPS fishing grounds.

He mentioned that this is the first time the government is implementing such a strategy to boost the livelihood of Filipino fishers and help reduce post-harvest losses. The advantage of this strategy is that it will reduce the operational costs of the fishers as they won't need to return immediately to the shore to deliver their catch. Instead, through the PCG vessel, their produce may be bought directly.

The BFAR official highlighted that the WPS production accounts for 13 percent of the country's total annual production on average. The Department of Agriculture (DA) stated that the KBBM will be implemented in three phases until 2027, covering the Kalayaan Group of Islands, Bajo de Masinloc, and portions of Northern Luzon, particularly in the Benham Rise.