Some 7,000 ordinary but concerned individuals in Masbate have joined forces and elected their president who said his first order of business would be to share the meager resources of some members with poorer colleagues who depend on fishing and farming for their living.
“It’s a good symbol of fishermen helping other fishermen and farmers helping other farmers,:” said Pio Burdeos, founding president of TIFFAI or the Ticao Island Farmers and Fishermen Association, Inc. which claims membership of about 7,000 people from various municipalities of the island.
Burdeos said in an interview that the group would also take decisive action against illegal fishing in the coastal waters of the island.
He also said that the association would also review and fight bad policies that have marginalized hundreds of small farmers in the province.
To do this, former DYME broadcaster Antonio R. Mendoza who was elected TIFFAI secretary called on the masses in Masbate to join the group and raise their voices.
Others elected were Lito Clemente, external vice president; Benjamin Burdeos, Sr., Internal vice president; and Percival Burdeos Sr., treasurer.
(EADelgado, PIA)
