Bataan fishers decry low farmgate prices of catch after Manila Bay oil spill | ABS-CBN
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Bataan fishers decry low farmgate prices of catch after Manila Bay oil spill
Bataan fishers decry low farmgate prices of catch after Manila Bay oil spill
People look at oil-stained trash washed up on the shoreline of Barangay Amaya 5, Tanza in Cavite on July 30, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
People look at oil-stained trash washed up on the shoreline of Barangay Amaya 5, Tanza in Cavite on July 30, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — The farmgate price of fish in Bataan province has dropped after the oil spill in Manila Bay, fishers' group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said on Sunday.
MANILA — The farmgate price of fish in Bataan province has dropped after the oil spill in Manila Bay, fishers' group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said on Sunday.
In a statement, Pamalakaya said the farm gate price of alubaybay (sardinella albella) fish is now P50 per kilogram, a 58.33-percent decrease from P120 per kilogram before the oil spill.
In a statement, Pamalakaya said the farm gate price of alubaybay (sardinella albella) fish is now P50 per kilogram, a 58.33-percent decrease from P120 per kilogram before the oil spill.
Philippine-flagged tanker MTKR Terranova, carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel, sank in Manila Bay on July 25 after being battered by waves whipped up by Typhoon Carina, and a seasonal monsoon east of Lamao Point.
Philippine-flagged tanker MTKR Terranova, carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel, sank in Manila Bay on July 25 after being battered by waves whipped up by Typhoon Carina, and a seasonal monsoon east of Lamao Point.
"Kahit hindi direktang kontaminado at malayo naman sa tumatagas na barko ang pinanggalingan ng mga huli naming isda, labis-labis kami kung baratin ng mga komersyante kaya higit ang pagbagsak ng aming kinikita," Pamalakaya chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said.
"Kahit hindi direktang kontaminado at malayo naman sa tumatagas na barko ang pinanggalingan ng mga huli naming isda, labis-labis kami kung baratin ng mga komersyante kaya higit ang pagbagsak ng aming kinikita," Pamalakaya chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said.
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(Even though our catch is not directly contaminated and caught far from the leaking ship, traders still greatly undervalue our fish, causing a significant drop in our income.)
(Even though our catch is not directly contaminated and caught far from the leaking ship, traders still greatly undervalue our fish, causing a significant drop in our income.)
"Bukod sa mababang presyo ng farm gate price, problema na rin ng mga mangingisda ang pagkawala ng karaniwang nahuhuli naming isda tulad ng bisugo," he added.
"Bukod sa mababang presyo ng farm gate price, problema na rin ng mga mangingisda ang pagkawala ng karaniwang nahuhuli naming isda tulad ng bisugo," he added.
(Apart from the low farm gate prices, the fishers are also facing the problem of the disappearance of common catches like bisugo or threadfish bream.)
(Apart from the low farm gate prices, the fishers are also facing the problem of the disappearance of common catches like bisugo or threadfish bream.)
The fishers' group urged the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to officially adopt a measure to directly procure agri-fishery products from local producers at reasonable farmgate prices.
The fishers' group urged the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to officially adopt a measure to directly procure agri-fishery products from local producers at reasonable farmgate prices.
They also called on the agencies to remove the many layers of middlemen that they said manipulate the farmgate and retail prices to unreasonable rates.
They also called on the agencies to remove the many layers of middlemen that they said manipulate the farmgate and retail prices to unreasonable rates.
The fishermen were also seeking a P15,000 monthly economic subsidy to help fishing families recover the loss of their daily income due to calamities.
The fishermen were also seeking a P15,000 monthly economic subsidy to help fishing families recover the loss of their daily income due to calamities.
According to Pamalakaya, around 9,000 fisherfolk in Bataan have been directly affected by the oil spill and the fishing ban in Limay town.
According to Pamalakaya, around 9,000 fisherfolk in Bataan have been directly affected by the oil spill and the fishing ban in Limay town.
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