At 11:20 am, the Vice President attended the Negros Occidental Small Fishers Alliance (NOSFA) 5thProvincial Congress in Bacolod Business Inn, Bacolod, Negros Occidental. NOSFA was founded in 2013 with the goal of building the strengths and advancing the sectoral struggles and advocacies of the small fisherfolk and fish workers in Negros Occidental. It is now composed of 15 LGU alliances spread in more than 90 people’s organizations from the north and south areas of Negros Occidental. The Congress served as an avenue for members of fisherfolk communities to gather and hear about not only NOSFA’s programs but also those of other government agencies on fisheries and other basic sectors.

In her message, the Vice President talked about her various visits to the different provinces across the country to reach out to all kinds of sectors who are in need of help through the Angat Buhay program. “Pero gusto naming tumulong sa mahihirap, kaya’t naisip namin na gawin, iyong opisina naming, gawing parang tulay, ano. Tulay papunta doon sa mga communities na nangangailangan ng tulong papunta rin doon sa mga organisasyon—mga pribadong organisasyon—na gustong tumulong. So iyong Angat Buhay, ganoon. Iyong mga programang ginagawa namin, karamihan ng pondo, galing sa private…Ako po, kulang man iyong mandato ng aming opisiona, sa kaunting resources na makukuha namin through Angat Buhay, nandito po kami parati para tumulong sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan.”