In a continued support for the city's fishing sector, City Mayor Coefredo "Tekwa" Uy will be giving away fishing boat engines in an effort to help improve the livelihood of this group.

In a recent visit to Brgy. Payao, ten boat engines were given away while there are also plans to give 20 more in Brgy. Burac and 15 in Brgy. Guinsorongan.

Also present during the activity in Payao were City Agriculturist Ruth Dasal, Mr. Daniel Daguman, also of the Office of the City Agriculturist and Brgy. Chairperson Nilda Bachao.

The said session took place just several weeks after the city mayor gave away fishing boats to 22 fisher folks from Canlapwas. Prior to this, 10 boats have been given away in Brgy. Cabugawan, 10 in Basiao and 20 in Payao, putting the total number of fishing boats given this year at 62.

The mayor also gives extra fishing paraphernalia like gillnets (pamanti), long line (kitang) and squid jigger (sanit). These are usually given to members of the Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (BFARMC) and the Barangay Agriculture and Fisheries Council (BAFC).

This livelihood assistance program was started in 2005 out of the knowledge that inadequacy in resources and equipments are the common reasons preventing fisher folks from improving their livelihood as well as their economic situation.

Though many in number, the city's fishing sector still remains to be one of the most impoverished. Since it was started, more than 400 fisher folks have already benefited from this program.