A group of fisherfolk on Tuesday, Sept. 27, asked the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to mobilize its disaster funds to rehabilitate and provide relief to fishing communities affected by Super Typhoon Karding.
In a statement, the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said BFAR should assess the typhoon's damage to fishing communities in Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila, which are located along Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay.
“We call on the BFAR to expedite assessing the damages in coastal communities and immediately extend all possible steps to assist the fisherfolk and coastal families severely affected by Typhoon Karding,” Ronnel Arambulo, Pamalakaya spokesperson, appealed.
The Pamalakaya, meanwhile, reiterated its call for a production subsidy in addition to disaster and emergency funds for agriculture and fishing.
The fisherfolk group has been pushing for a P15,000 production subsidy to cover a fisherfolk's fuel expenses for two months. The proposal has been reintroduced in Congress as House Bill 2024. The bill, reintroduced by the Makabayan bloc, stated that Filipinos employed in the fisheries and aquatic sectors would receive a direct payment of P15, 000 for production and livelihood expenses due to the inflation of fuel products and other basic commodities.
“Aside from extending relief aid to fisherfolk, livelihood support in a form of production subsidy is much needed to help our fishers recover from their losses,” said Arambulo.
In the Department of Agriculture’s (DA’s) Bulletin No. 3, the agriculture department said its Regional Field Offices (RFOs) are assessing damage and losses caused by Karding in the agri-fisheries sector.
The DA said affected fisherfolk will receive fingerlings and assistance from the BFAR.