MAO Virginia: The fiberglass motorboats were given to them for free. BFAR provided the materials and even got paid in the construction of their own boats. The upkeep and maintenance of such should now be shouldered by the fisherfolk- recipient. Some even sold these motorboats in wanton disregard of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that they had signed prior to the turn-over of these boats. 6. Service Providers’ Response to KIIs Recommendations ● DA or TESDA to conduct skills training MAO Virginia: The barangays conduct Training Needs Assessment among the women fisherfolks but they do not make their suggestions on this. Most do not attend meetings or dialogs. Many prefer piggery as livelihood program but this seems impractical. ● Minimize red tape or politics in projects MAO Virginia: That is a general recommendation. But with regard to fisherfolks projects such as MMK, there was politics. The proposed projects for MMK were not approved. Each time the Mayor enters a MOA with an NGO, he seeks the authority of the Sanguniang Bayan but the SB disapproves such MOA. Moreover, these fisherfolks do not fully understand the dynamics of accounting. But rest assured that these proposed projects are now given green lights. ● Financial Assistance through loans be made available to eradicate loan sharks or 5-6 MAO Virginia: It is the lending institutions that approve their loan applications. Approvals are pending or deferred probably because of lacking or unaccomplished requirement. As of this report, no loans to fisherfolks have been released. ● Community Fish Landings be made functional. MAO Virginia: Claveria Fishermen Cooperative was set to have a MOA with an NGO. The CFC was advised by the MFARMC to get accreditation. The resolution of the SB authorizing the Mayor to engage in a MOA with them was postponed due to failure to get accreditation from the SB. ● Information drive be made regularly and for concerned unit to sanction be imposed for failure to attend dialogs or meetings ● Women fisherfolks be pro-active and not reactive or passive. ● Women be empowered by providing additional source of income and given more responsibilities in the coastal community. MAO Virginia: Each time we call for a coastal clean-up drive, very few women fisherfolks respond. ● Vigilance of VAWC in the community 8 | Page