MANILA, Philippines – A fisherfolk organization urged the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Tuesday to mobilize their calamity funds to aid fishing communities hit by Typhoon Karding.
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas’ (Pamalakaya) also called on BFAR to assess Karding’s damage to fishing communities in Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila areas along Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay.
“We call on the BFAR to expedite assessing the damages in coastal communities and immediately extend all possible steps to assist the fisherfolk and coastal families severely affected by Typhoon Karding,” said Pamalakaya National Spokesperson Ronnel Arambulo.
According to a statement from Pamalakaya, fisherfolk in Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay have been unable to fish due to inclement weather and rough seas.
“Hindi lamang noong mismong araw na tumama ang bagyong Karding hindi nakapalaot ang mga mangingisda, kundi ilang araw pa bago ang landfall dahil sa walang-tigil na sama ng panahon,” Arambulo said.
(It was not only on the day of Typhoon Karding’s landfall that fisherfolk could not go out to sea, but it was also during the days before it made landfall because of non-stop bad weather.)
“Aside from extending relief aid to fisherfolk, livelihood support in a form of production subsidy is much needed to help our fishers recover from their losses,” Arambulo added.
RELATED STORIES
P15,000 cash aid for 1.1 million fisherfolk pushed
Inquirer relief drive: Help victims of Typhoon Karding