Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (KMP) on Tuesday, Nov. 8, disclosed that several Filipino fishermen are still enduring the destruction that tropical cyclone Paeng left.
Paeng, the country’s 16th tropical cyclone in 2022 and the fourth in the month of October, left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Oct. 31. Latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed that 1,310,766 families from 74 Philippine provinces have been affected by the weather disturbance.
“Many fishers have yet to return to their fishing livelihood, as their fishing boats and gears have been shattered after being smashed by huge waves and debris,” said Pamalakaya National Spokesperson Ronnel Arambulo.
The group, according to Pamalakaya, has already conducted their own relief mission, but many members of the fisherfolk community are still in need.
With this, Pamalakaya urged the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to immediately mobilize calamity funds, reiterating that this would help alleviate the suffering of Filipino fishermen who were greatly affected by Paeng.
“We are calling for immediate rehabilitation of the livelihood of affected fishers who are unable to return to fishing for more than a week now. BFAR could conduct a boat and fishing equipment dispersal program to fishing communities,” said Arambulo.