IBA, Zambales — The provincial government of Zambales expects to deliver a 96-foot steel-hulled fishing vessel to local fishermen by early 2027, completing a five-vessel package to jumpstart the modernization of the local fishing industry and sustain fisherfolk’s livelihood.

Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the vessel, named FV Zambales II, is in the final construction stage at a boatyard in Cavite and is set for delivery next February.

“It’s already 80 percent complete, and what remains to be done are the finishing touches,” Ebdane said after inspecting the ongoing construction on Thursday, November 12.

“We want to have the boat ready for the start of the summer fishing season, so we’re checking up on the construction to ensure that the specifications and the timetable are met,” he added.

FV Zambales II is designed to be the harvester or “mother boat” for the payao fishing project the provincial government set up in late 2024 under the Zambales Maritime Development Council (ZMDC).

Three other fishing boats under the ZMDC project, the fiberglass-hulled 45-footer FV Zambales III and FV Zambales IV and the 62-footer harvester boat FV Zambales I, have been delivered early this year. Another vessel, the MV Province of Zambales, was delivered last January for use in patrol operations in waters off the province.

Ebdane said the ZMDC project directly addresses the plight of local fishermen who increasingly face hazards in eking out a livelihood in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid bullying by the Chinese militia.

“This project seeks to provide small-scale fishermen with a competitive edge, so that they can safely go out in the WPS, have a better harvest, and provide more for their family and the community,” he added.

Engr. Domingo Mariano, who heads the ZMDC Technical Working Group, said FV Zambales II was designed with technical input from local fishermen belonging to the Zambales Provincial Fishermen’s Association (ZPFA), a federation of 10 fisherfolk groups.

He said the harvester vessel has two diesel engines to ensure a reliable power supply. It will be equipped with an ice maker and a desalination system, and will have adequate storage holds for weeklong fishing forays normally undertaken by payao fishers.

The 45-foot fishing boats, meanwhile, will serve as ancillary vessels to gather catch from “payaos,” which are fish-aggregating devices (FADs) anchored in open sea, Mariano added.

The Zambales payao fishing project also includes a training program for members of the ZPFA who would be crewing the fishing vessels, Ebdane said.

The training is necessary, as the vessels will be registered with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), he added.

Ebdane also encouraged the ZPFA to formally form a fisherfolk cooperative so it can avail of government capacity-building training on managing and operating the fishing business. (Taktikom Press Release)

TOP 📸 || FV Zambales II undergoes final construction at the Stoneworks Specialist International Corp.’s boatyard in Gen. Trias, Cavite (ZFTP photo)