P90-M calamity fund sought for small fishers affected by fishkill

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines—The militant fishers alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas, and its chapters in Batangas are asking the provincial government for the immediate release of its P90 million calamity fund to give immediate economic relief to the small fisherfolk affected by the massive fishkill that hit the province.

Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya chairperson, made the appeal a day after 20 more tons of bangus (milkfish) and tilapia died in Taal Lake, this time in previously unaffected areas in the town of Mataas na Kahoy and Lipa City; and about a ton of endemic fish varieties in the town of Cuenca, the town least affected by the initial fishkill reported last week.

The figure was in addition to the estimated 2,000 MT of fishes, primarily bangus and tilapia valued at P142 million, have already been lost due to the fishkill that earlier hit the seven towns of Talisay, Laurel, San Nicolas, Agoncillo, Teresita, Alitagtag and Cuenca.

“The promise of immediate economic relief from Governor Vi (Vilma Santos-Recto) has yet to translate into concrete actions. We have a real economic and environmental disaster here,” said Isabelo Alicaya, chairperson of the Haligi ng Batangueñong Anakdagat (Habagat), a provincial chapter of Pamalakaya.

Habagat and Pamalakaya-Timog Katagalugan have asked for food packages and school supplies as the ongoing fishkill which, according the Bureau of Food and Aquatic Resources, could last until the end of June.

The groups asked for alternative livelihood to help them cope, lamenting that the main focus of government aid and attention were the operators of large-scale fish pens.

Alicaya said the government should also launch a massive information campaign on the real cause of the fishkill.

He said Habagat and Pamalakaya-TK will conduct a fact finding mission involving 50 fisherfolk leaders and environmental advocates in affected areas, mainly Talisay and Laurel, to determine the socio-economic impact of the fishkill.

The groups will present their findings to the provincial government and the four congressmen in the province, he added.

They have urged the province’s four congressmen—Representatives Tomas Apacible (1st district), Hermilando Mandanas (2nd district), Nelson Collantes (3rd district) and Mark Mendoza (4th district)—to share part, or at least P25 million each, of their yearly P70-million pork barrel fund.

The group earlier proposed a P5,000 to P 10,000 cash assistance and a sack of rice to every fisherfolk family in Taal Lake affected by the fishkill.

Pamalakaya also recommended the dismantling of large-scale fish pens in Taal Lake to avoid future overcrowding,and to allow a natural healing process for the polluted lake.

Vice Gov. Jose Antonio Leviste II, reached for comment, said they would welcome an investigation by Pamalakaya, and said they would consider their recommendations as the province maps out measures to help the affected fishers, and solutions to avert a repeat of the fishkill.

Leviste said the province will also start dismantling the some 1,000 illegal fish cages in Taal lake on June 8 to address the overcrowding of fish pens in Taal Lake.

However, releasing all of the province’s calamity fund to aid Taal fisherfolk would not be possible, he said.

“It is only June but the typhoons come in September and October. The calamity fund is not only for the fishers, or the fishkill tragedy,” he said.

He added the province is also preparing for the typhoons, and possible eruptions of the restive Taal Volcano.