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'Ban is worse than oil spill': Fisherfolk urge lifting of fishing ban in Cavite

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Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA – Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya on Sunday urged the government to lift the fishing ban in Cavite, saying oil from the sunken motor tanker in Manila Bay is not directly affecting fishing grounds in the province.</p><p>Pamalakaya Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said the indefinite fishing ban imposed in nine coastal towns in Cavite is more detrimental to the livelihood of the fisherfolk than the oil spill itself.</p><p>“Mas naperwisyo pa ang kabuhayan ng mga mangingisda sa naging tugon ng pamahalaan sa oil spill kaysa sa mismong oil spill. Habang isinailalim sa fishing ban ang lalawigan ng Cavite, wala namang regular na suportang natatanggap ang mga mangingisda,” Arambulo said.</p><p>(The livelihoods of fishermen have been more harmed by the government&#x27;s response to the oil spill than by the oil spill itself. While the province of Cavite is under a fishing ban, fishermen are not receiving any regular support.)</p><p>He said the oil from Motor Tanker Terranova is no longer directly affecting fishing areas in Cavite.</p><p>Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla on July 31 declared a state of calamity in the towns of Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon, and Ternate following the sinking of Philippine-flagged MTKR Terranova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel, in Manila Bay, approximately seven kilometers off Limay municipality in Bataan.</p><p>The incident created an oil spill and left a crew member dead.</p><p>The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) urged the public to avoid consuming fish caught in oil-spill affected areas, as they are deemed unfit for human consumption.</p><p>Sensory evaluations revealed that fish samples collected from the towns of Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite exhibited “some degree of tainting with petrochemicals.”</p><p>On the other hand, fish samples from Cavite City, Tanza, and Naic showed no signs of petrochemical contamination.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/5/owner-of-mtkr-terranova-denies-allegations-of-oil-smuggling-2101">READ: Owner of MTKR Terranova denies allegations of oil smuggling</a></div><div><strong>RELIEF TO FISHERS</strong></div><p>Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan (Balsa), a humanitarian arm led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Saturday distributed relief goods to more more than 1,000 fisherfolk affected the typhoon and fishing ban in Cavite.</p><p>According to Pamalakaya, there area round 30,000 fisherfolk and coastal residents who have been affected by Typhoon Carina and Habagat across Manila Bay. The affected coastal areas include Navotas City and several towns in Cavite province like Tanza, Rosario, and Bacoor City.</p><p>Pamalakaya said it will lead grassroots campaigns demanding appropriate and timely humanitarian action from the government. Government response should include people-centered disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation initiatives, the group said.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment distributed P6.125 million for the wages of 1,178 fisherfolk in Tanza, temporarily employed under Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program.</p><p>The TUPAD workers were primarily tasked to collect coconut husks and make oil spill booms, a well as help in the cleanup operations.</p><p>TUPAD program provides temporary wage employment to workers for 10 to 90 days of community work, particularly in times of disaster and calamities, enabling them to contribute to improving and rehabilitating their respective communities.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/8/10/p45m-allocated-for-temporary-jobs-of-oil-spill-affected-fisherfolk-in-bataan-1556">RELATED: P45M allocated for temporary jobs of oil spill-affected fisherfolk in Bataan</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gme4kEvNjyU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Pamalakaya Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said the indefinite fishing ban imposed in nine coastal towns in Cavite is more detrimental to the livelihood of the fisherfolk than the oil spill itself.</p>

Pamalakaya Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said the indefinite fishing ban imposed in nine coastal towns in Cavite is more detrimental to the livelihood of the fisherfolk than the oil spill itself.