NAVOTAS CITY- Mussel farm owners in the city have expressed their support to the coastal development project of the local government.
Glicero de los Santos, one of the businessmen who own mussel farms in the city, said that the coastal development project would improve the transportation of their products.
“Nauunawaan namin na ang pananatili ng mga tahungan sa lugar ay makakasagabal sa isasagawang projekto ng Navotas. Maaasahan po ng mga konsyumer na hindi gaanong maapektuhan ang supply ng tahong at talaba, bagkus mas mapapabilis pa ang pagdadala ng produkto naming sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Pilipinas (We understand that the mussel farms in the area will hamper the implementation of the project of Navotas. Consumers can expect that the supply of mussels and oysters will not be severely affected, and that the delivery of our products to different places in the Philippines will improve),” said De los Santos.
He said that his group has already talked with the city government and its partner, the San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
They agreed to remove portions of their mussel farms that no longer have permits from the local government so the project will push through.
The group also said the project would widen the market and provide greater opportunities to the fisherfolk.
“Matagal na po naming pinakinabangan ang mga tahungan namin sa dagat. At dahil nga po sa mga tahungan, marami sa amin ay nakakariwasa at gumanda na ang buhay. Nagkaroon kami ng sasakyan, nakapagpatayo kami ng bahay, nakabili ng mga lupa, nakapagpatapos ng pag-aaral ng mga anak namin, kaya ngayong kakailanganin na ng gobyerno ang lugar, sino ba naman kami para hindi pumayag? Kaya't bukal sa loob kaming nakipag-usap sa mga kinatawan ng San Miguel Corporation (SMC) at maayos silang nakipag-usap sa amin na walang pamimiliit (For a long time, we have benefited from our mussel farms in the sea. Because of the farms, the lives of many of us have improved. We managed to buy cars, we were able to build houses, we were able to buy lands, we were able to finance our children's education, so now that the government needs the place, who are we to disagree? So, we willingly spoke with the representatives of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and they talked to us properly without pressure),” De los Santos said.
“Marami rin po sa ating mga kababayan na taga-Navotas na walang maayos na bahay ang mabibigyan ng bahay sa ilalim ng socialized housing program ng lungsod (Many of our fellow residents in Navotas who do not have proper houses will be given houses under the socialized housing program of the city)," he added.
De los Santos said further that even though parts of their mussel farms were removed, they can still harvest from the remaining portions of the farms in the waters of Navotas and Bulacan, which can sufficiently supply Luzon's seafood needs.
Navotas City, dubbed the "Fishing Capital of the Philippines," provides income to fisherfolk, including mussel farmers.
Each mussel farm owner in the city usually earns an average of P100,000 to 300,000 from their harvest, which are delivered mostly in parts Luzon.
The Navotas City government’s coastal development project involves the construction of an expressway from Navotas to Bulacan and a socialized housing community for underprivileged families. (Diann Ivy Calucin)