PILI, CAMARINES SUR - This year’s “Mangingisdang Direktor” for the Bicol region is Nestor H. Plofino of Pasacao, Camarines Sur.

Caption: BFAR Bicol Dir. de la Vega inducts the oath-taking of Regional Fisherfolk Director, Nestor Plofino. Witnessing are (from left) 2006 Fisherfolk Director Moises Baral, Mrs. Leonisa Plofino and Regional FARMC Coordinator Noemi Lanzuela.

        Held every month of May, the “Mangingisdang Direktor” program is now on its third year of implementation by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) giving due recognition and tribute to fisherfolk.

        BFAR Bicol regional director Jaime de la Vega led Plofino’s oath-taking on May 2, 2007 at the BFAR Bicol regional office here.

        De la Vega said the BFAR implements the Fisherfolk Director Program to sustain fisherfolk empowerment by delegating the national and regional fisherfolk leaders to act as Fisherfolk Director at the national and regional levels, respectively, for the month of May.

        Through the program BFAR provides the fisherfolk leaders a glimpse of the government’s regular operations by trading places with BFAR national and regional directors. Under the program, the “Mangingisdang Direktor” will perform all the routinary functions of the regional director, except those involving financial and policy-related matters while the latter is enjoined to undertake immersion in the coastal communities.

        Nestor Plofino better known as Ka Toy’s is currently the chairman of the Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (IFARMC) of Ragay Gulf and the alternate provincial fisherfolk representative for Region 5 which paved the way for him to be chosen as “Mangingisdang Direktor” of BFAR Bicol Regional Office.

        He is also an active member of the Small Fisherfolk Council to the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), the Regional Vice President of Maliliit na Mangingisda para Magpaunlad ng Yaman sa Nayon (MAMAMAYAN), the Regional Executive Committee Member of Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA), and president of Fisherfolk Unity in the Entire Ragay Gulf Shoreline Association (FUERSA).

        Ka Toy’s areas of competencies are in community organizing and resource mobilization, cooperative development and organizational management, federation building, adult educational extension, linkage to finance institution/fund accessing, marketing and promotion. (RCanabe, BFAR/PIA)