Over 50,000 fisherfolk losing income due to bad weather – Pamalakaya

(Composite image from INQUIRER file photos)

MANILA, Philippines — As the rainy season persists in the country, over 50,000 fisherfolk in Zambales and Cavite are “reeling from the loss of daily income.”

This situation was relayed by the fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) in a statement on Wednesday.

Based on Pamalakaya’s initial monitoring, the livelihood of more than 27,000 registered fisherfolk in Zambales and 30,000 in Cavite has been affected by the bad weather.

“Also known in coastal communities as sigwada, small fisherfolk are forced to suspend fishing activities due to bigger-than-normal waves and strong winds which usually last from the last week of May to September,” Pamalakaya said.

According to Rocky Quilon, a member of Pamalakaya-affiliated Samahang Magsasaka at Mangingisda ng Barangay Taltal, many fisherfolk now fear that they cannot have other sources of income.

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“Fisherfolk have been forced to stop fishing due to the precarious situation at sea. Many fishermen now fear that they have no other source of livelihood than the sea,” Quilon said.

The group reiterated their call for the Department of Agriculture (DA) to use portions of its P1-billion calamity fund to assist the fishing communities in the country.

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On May 29, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration officially declared the rainy season in the country.

It added that “the high chance of La Niña conditions to develop by the July-August-September period increases the likelihood of above-normal rainfall conditions in some areas of the country, especially towards the end of the year.” /apl