(Strong waves at the portion of the West Philippines Sea in Bagac, Bataan prevent 250 fishermen from the mountain town to go out fishing. Photo by Ernie Esconde)
BAGAC, Bataan — Roaring big and turbulent waves blocked fishermen along the West Philippines Sea here from fishing for the twelfth day Monday.
Nick Ancheta, municipal administrator, said about 250 fishermen have not been able to go out of the sea since the start of the bad weather last week of July until this August.
The affected fishermen came from the coastal barangays of Paysawan, Binuangan, Saysain and mostly from Pag-asa.
“Lahat hindi nakakalabas hanggang ngayon. Pansamantala nagre-revert sila sa ibang kabuhayan tulad ng farming o pinagkakasya ang nakareserbang pagkain,” the municipal administrator said.
Ancheta said the municipal government under the leadership of Mayor Ramil del Rosario assisted the fishermen in the form of basic goods. He said that they will be procuring additional goods in case the bad weather continues.
“Walang landslide. Yan nga ang ikinatakot namin kaya pina-evacuate namin ang nasa landslide-prone area noong kasagsagan ng ulan na 10 pamilya na binubuo ng 36 na tao,” he said.
Ancheta also said that Bagac is not a flood-prone area but there are some areas near the river that are affected by flash floods.
Fisherman Reynaldo Agisa said they were not able to fish for already 12 days.
“Kung saan-saan kami nangunguha ng pagkakakitaan para mabuhay tulad ng trabaho sa construction, nagpapaupa sa bukid sa halagang P250,” he said.
Fishing boats were placed on high ground away from the strong waves. Some were covered with canvas.
“Kapag kumalma ang alon, doon lang kami lalabas. Kapag malaki ang alon hindi makaporma,” Agisa said.
Meanwhile, Armando Fajardo, president of the Bagac Beach Resorts Association, said 20 beach resorts have been affected by the strong waves for already three days.
“Sa ngayon halos tatlong araw nang walang bisita dahil sa malalaking alon at maraming sukal na kahoy na dinala ng alon dito na galing sa bundok,” he said.
Fajardo said they need another three days to clean the debris before admitting visitors.
He said they were happy that Mayor Del Rosario and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have ordered the clearing up of unwanted structures along the beaches.
