In celebration of the Women’s Month this year, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), through the F/B Pagbabago Livelihood Development Program, has launched its first-ever exclusive training program for fisherfolk women—a pioneering initiative in the fisheries sector aimed at empowering women through technical and livelihood skills development.

Held in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) CAMANAVA and the City Government of Malabon, the 12-day training kicked off on March 17, 2025. The participants came from eight fisherfolk associations in Malabon City: Baritan, Bayan-Bayanan, Concepcion, Dampalit, Flores, Hulong-Duhat, Ibaba, and Muzon. This group of women now pioneers the batch of trainees under the exclusive all-women program focused on constructing, repairing, and maintaining fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) boats.

Through this initiative, BFAR and its partner agencies are helping reshape the role of women in the fisheries industry—one skill, one boat, and one empowered woman at a time. Beyond boat-making, the participants are trained in FRP roofing, polyester resin encapsulation, and FRP-reinforced styrofoam boxes—skills that can be applied to home-based manufacturing and small-scale enterprises.

To ensure the sustainability of these livelihood gains, the project also includes a financial literacy component. Through sessions on financial management including budgeting, saving, debt management, income generation, and financial consumer protection, the participants are equipped with practical tools to build long-term financial resilience.

At the end of the 12-day training, the group of participants is set to receive certificates and a support package that includes five 24-foot FRP boats, each fitted with a complete set of underwater fittings and a 7.5 HP marine gasoline engine. These assets are expected to strengthen community-based fisheries operations and provide additional sources of income for the associations.

This exclusive training is a first under BFAR’s Gender and Development (GAD) and F/B Pagbabago programs. This training aligns with the 2025 Women’s Month theme: “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Angat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas.” It affirms the government’s commitment to creating inclusive spaces in the fisheries industry, where women are not only participants—but also pioneers, builders, and leaders of change.

Through this first-of-its-kind initiative, the women of Malabon are setting a strong example for communities nationwide, proving that when women are given the tools and opportunities, they rise—and bring their communities with them.