Pangilinan: Filipino fisherfolk suffer low selling price and no ice during Covid lockdown

AS THE Philippines faces a surge in Covid-19 cases, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan wants government to provide health kits and financial assistance to the country's almost 1.5 million fisherfolk, who are suffering from low selling price due to checkpoints and access to ice for their catch.

"Wag po nating kalimutan ang ating mga mangingisda dahil sila ay mga front-liners din. Mahilig pa naman tayo sa isda. Importanteng meron silang health kits habang patuloy ang kanilang pagpapakain sa bayan. Tulungan din silang makabangon agad at bigyan ng ayudang pinansyal," Pangilinan said.

On Wednesday Ruperto "Ka Uper" Aleroza, Poverty Commission's Vice Chairman for Basic Sectors, met with Panglinan's staff and said that fisherfolk were among those hard hit due to limitations in movement during the pandemic.

"Naapektuhan kami ng pandemic na ito dahil limitado ang movement. Halimbawa, sa maraming karanasan nating natanggap, iyong isda ay hindi naibenta sa tamang presyo kasi hindi nakalampas sa mga checkpoint. Ang mga yelo ay hindi na-provide dahil nagsara. So ang daming naging problema," he said.

According to Aleroza, while fisherfolk were already identified as the poorest of the poor, some were still not included in the list of beneficiaries for the government's social amelioration programs.

"Kaya ang sabi namin, ano ba ang recovery kapag kami ang tatanungin? Paano makaka-recover ang mga mangingisda dito sa pandemic na ito? Dapat ang gobyerno, partikular na ang DA at BFAR, maglaan ng sapat pondo para magprovide ng mga health kits: swab test, face shield, face mask, at medicines," Aleroza said.

"Pero ang pinakamahalaga para sa amin, para sa pangmatagalang solusyon ay iyon pa ring pangunanahing pagsuporta sa pangangalaga ng ating pangisdaan dahil diyan ang buhay ng mga mangingisda," he added.

Reiterating an earlier call to prioritize farmers and fisherfolk in the government's Covid-19 vaccination plan, Pangilinan stressed that fisherfolk are essential workers and thus should also be given immediate aid.

"Paano pa kaya ngayong nasa gitna pa rin tayo ng pandemya at maraming limitasyon sa galaw at byahe mula sa mga pangisdaan? Limitado ang kita ng ating mga mangingisda. Wala na nga silang kita, sa sariling bulsa pa nila manggagaling ang pambili ng pamproteksyon sa sarili upang kumita. Bare minimum ang pagbigay sa kanila ng health kits," Pangilinan said.

As of March 17, the Philippines has recorded 635,698 Covid-19 cases, with a high positivity rate of 14%.

Data from the National Anti-Poverty Commission show that a Filipino in fishing and aquaculture only earns P195 a day. Citing 2012 numbers, 39 of 100 fisherfolk are poor.

"Dapat ay may mas pangmalawakang suporta sa sektor ng pangisdaan upang makarecover ang sektor mula sa pandemya" Pangilinan added.

The Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development is set to convene the 2021 National Fisheries Summit on March 26. Part of its objectives is to strengthen multi-stakeholder support for the establishment of a Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR).

The National Fisheries Summit is expected to pass a resolution urging Congress to approve the proposed legislative measures to create the DFAR.