BAGAC, Bataan– More than 700 fishermen in this mountain town adjacent to the West Philippines Sea have not gone out fishing for the fifth day, Wednesday, due to big waves induced by Ruby. Baltazar Mandocdoc, municipal agriculturist of Bagac, said the fishermen came from six coastal barangays. “Bukas, Thursday, pwede na sila dahil kailangan nila ng kabuhayan,” he said.
Ruby is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility Wednesday night via the West Philippines Sea. “Precautionary measure, for their safety, kaya hindi pumalaot ang mga mangingisda simula nang magbigay ng warning ang weather bureau,” Mandocdoc said.
Juanito Paulo, fisherman from Barangay Pagasa, Bagac, confirmed that they have not gone out fishing for five days. “Itinago namin ang aming mga bangka gawa ng bagyo. Bukas pa kami lalabas dahil malakas pa ang hangin sa laot,” he said. “Kung saan-saan kami kumukuha ng pagkain, nangungutang,”
Paulo said smiling when asked how their livelihood was. Isagani Tongala said he with other fishermen left their village Cabcaben, Mariveles, Bataan to fish in Bagac but were forced to stop for already five days because of Ruby. “Malalaki ang alon sa laot. Sa tabi indi masyado dahil itinutulak ng hanging amihan,” he said.
