ABUCAY, Bataan — The shellfish ban imposed in Bataan since November 2021 due to the presence of red tide has affected the livelihood of fishermen and those involved in the selling of shellfish, especially tahong and talaba.
Fisherman Generoso Santos, trader Bert Bibas, and barangay chairman Rodolfo Guanzon, Jr. of Barangay Wawa, Abucay on Tuesday called on concerned agencies to speed-up the results of laboratory test of shellfish samples in the coastal areas of Bataan.
“Apektado ang hanapbuhay namin sa dagat, lumalabas kami pero wala kaming mahuling isda. Wala na ngang mahuli, matumal pa. Sana madaliin pagte-test at panay-panayin ang pagkuha nila ng sample sa dagat para malaman kung negative o positive,” Santos said.
He said that red tide has been four months already and some fishermen have resorted to gathering plastics to earn a living.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has raised the shellfish ban in the towns of Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles, Bagac and Morong and Balanga City last November 2021 and again in February 2022.
“Ang nangyayari utang dito utang doon dahil walang kabuhayan. May nag-ayuda nga ng tatlong kilong bigas pero saan makakarating ‘yon. Sana kung iaalis na ang red tide ban, makakaginhawa na sa mga tao dahil kahit papaano makakatulong sa kabuhayan,” shellfish trader Bert Bibas said.
“Katulad niyan, maraming pinapakain wala nang pagkukunan. ‘Yon lang idinadaing namin, masolusyunan sana ang kabuhayan namin,” Bibas added.
Guanzon said many fishermen in Abucay and other areas who were affected by the red tide are waiting for assistance from government but so far, they have received only three kilos of rice that he said will not last for four months.
“Ang nais namin iparating, ang madaliin ang pagbaba ng red tide ban. Ang sabi maghintay pa pero hindi namin alam kung hanggang kailan kami mag-aantay. Saan kami kukuha ng kakainin dito?” the barangay chairman lamented.
