National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organizations in the Philippines
“Sa pagpasok ng mga imported na isda, hinahatak nito pababa ang presyo ng produkto ng mga maliliit na mangingisda. Relatibong mas mura kasi ang imported na isda dahil sa katangian nitong bilasa at mababang kalidad. Kung ang kasalukuyang presyo ng galunggong ng mga maliliit na mangingisda sa Palawan ay nasa P60-P70 kada kilo, mas babagsak pa ito para tapatan ang mababang presyo ng mga papasok na inangkat na isda,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
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In a statement, the fishers’ group said the regulation is “unjust and anti-fisherfolk” as it would take away the livelihood of around 15, 000 fisherfolks and coastal residents in the affected towns who directly depend on Manila Bay by culturing mussels and oysters. Most of them are employed in aquaculture farms who are engaged in managing, maintaining, and harvesting of cultured shellfish in fish pen structures.
PAMALAKAYA also chided the DENR for reproaching the bamboo poles washed into the shores over the recent monsoon rains, to justify the dismantling order.
“Why make a fuss on the bamboo poles washed along the shore when in the first place, these are not pollutants that can cause damage to the marine ecosystem unlike plastic and other solid wastes? It’s a common sense that disposed bamboos will naturally submerge in water and eventually decompose,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
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Manila, Philippines — “Tinanggap nga niya ang nominasyon, ang tanong, tanggap pa ba siya ng mga mangingisda? Nakatitiyak kaming hindi[…]
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In a statement, PAMALAKAYA cited the data of marine scientists and environmentalists based in Dumaguete City that the P23-billion reclamation project threatens 60% of the coral reefs covering 36 hectares. Also affected would be 65% of the seagrass ecosystem of the city and at least 20 types of mangroves which serve as fish habitat and crucial in maintaining the ecological balance. Furthermore, the reclamation would affect four marine protected areas (MPA) covering 104 hectares of the coastal waters.
“How could it be a smart city when the project will replace the pristine marine environment and productive fishing grounds with a foreign-operated business and commercial empire? There is nothing smart with wiping out coral reefs and seagrasses that shelter at least 200 fish species including those considered as ecological importance and are indicators of a healthy marine life. Moreover, this smart city will never bring any development and benefits to the people of Dumaguete but permanent devastation to their livelihood and environment,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
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In a statement, PAMALAKAYA said that along with rural-based progressive groups, they have been seeking a P15, 000 subsidy intended for livelihood and production expenses to “pump-prime the wheels of production” of the marginalized fisherfolks and farmers amid the onslaught of the pandemic accompanied with burdensome quarantine restrictions.
The fishers’ group said that the agricultural production subsidy for fishers will be apportioned mostly for fuel expenses which eat up almost 80% of a regular fishing trip.
“The production subsidy that the we have been seeking could have stimulated the production of more than 600, 000 rural-based food producers. This also means that unstable food supply and prices in the market could have been avoided if only the government heeded the demand of the country’s food security front liners for livelihood subsidy and aid,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
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“The unspent funds could have addressed the worsening plight of our rural sectors enduring the onslaught of the pandemic since last year. The budget is very crucial to the rural sectors especially this was the year when aside from the government’s burdening pandemic response, natural calamities including typhoons devastated fishing and farming communities. Furthermore, farmers and fishers bear the brunt of the government’s neglect as they have limited to no access to health services and production subsidies,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
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