By Ruben A.Veloria
IBA, Zambales, Philippunes – The Zambales Maritime Development Council (ZMDC), the umbrella council of all association of fishermen in the province gets three brand new motorized fishing vessels to augment the province’s fishing industry.
Concurrent ZDMC Chairman, Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. led in a simple ceremony for the naming of the two fishing vessels,and a maritime boat held at Philippine Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) ground in Sitio Balintabog, Bgy. Amungan, Iba, Zambales.
ZMDC, a province-approved people’s organization, was organized by the office of the Governor which seeks of helping its members to have a bountiful harvest, and develop the fishing industry of the province through modern equipment.
According to Gov. Ebdane, two of the three boats are 45-footer fishing boats named F/V Zambales III and F/V Zambales IV, both have 125 horsepower Hyundai engine delivering a maximum speed of 18 knots. Each costs P5-Million.
While the third boat was named: MB The Province of Zambales, which will be used in patroling the vicinity of the fishing ground usually visited by poachers.
The body of the boats were made of one-inch fiber glass, which is stronger than the usual plyboards, and could withstand strong waves, like those of the standard deep sea fishing vessels abroad.
The governor said, two more vessels are scheduled to be delivered by March 2026, which are bigger 92-footer and 100-footer fishing boats.
The bigger boat will serve as “Mother fishing vessel” where all the harvested fish will be stored before going to the markets, while the smaller one will be used as hauler that collects the catch from each “payao” or artificial fish shades, then bring them to the Mother Boat.
Gov. Ebdane said the purchase of the new fishing boats is one of the four projects of the Province of Zambales that are being implemented to give the fishermen a long lasting means of improved fishing methods.
The other three methods are deep sea fishing, use of payao, and inland fishing, which already are taking place.
Ebdane said that with the assistance of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Office of the Governor was able to purchase 20 units of payao and anchored them to identified fishing areas, to invite more fish to the area, as payao serves as their shades and playing areas.
Meanwhile, Marlene Ong, the CEO of the Cavite-based boat manufacturer Stoneworks Specialist Int’l. Corp., described the event as “a milestone for fishing industry; a new era for the Zambales fishing industry.”
Ong described the newly delivered boats as safe, fuel efficient and ideal for productive fishing, providing reliable fishing vessel.
She also mentioned that the massive 100-footer fishing vessel to be delivered soon is powered by 500 HP Korean engine, with massive storage tanks and ice maker to keep the fish fresh for weeks while in the sea. It is also equipped with sonar to locate fish even kilometers away.
“These upcoming additions will further strengthen the province’s fleet and solidify Zambales as leader in modern fishing practices,” Ong said.
For his part, Gov. Ebdane noted, “This is just the beginning of our modernization program.” As he urge each fishermen organization to organize thier own harvester group to improve their catch and to provide more jobs to the members.
