LINGAYEN–Fish cage operators in western Pangasinan badly affected by the fury of typhoon “Emong” last May 7 have been assured of a P25 million funding by the Department of Agriculture (DA) for rehabilitation work.

The amount was pledged by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap when he visited Bolinao on May 16 to assess the damage to western Pangasinan’s multi-million fishery industry.

Yap announced the financial assistance during a meeting with Governor Amado Espino Jr. and Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste to discuss the need to fast track the rehabilitation of fishery structures and forestall a serious shortage in supply that would result in increase in fish prices.

Raising bangus to marketable size requires at least six to seven months, thus the urgency to start the rehabilitation immediately.

Yap said there is also a need to address the issues on food security and the livelihood of the affected marginal fish cage operators while the rehabilitation is being carried out.

An estimated more than half a billion pesos worth of bangus, or 6,000 metric tons, in the towns of Anda, Bolinao, Bani, Agno and Alaminos City were lost to the sea when “Emong” destroyed majority of the fish cages.

Bolinao and Anda, as well as their neighboring areas, supply 120 metric tons of bangus to the national capital.

With the extensive damage caused by the typhoon, bangus supply in Metro Manila is expected to be short by 80 tons daily.

Espino, for his part, said an immediate identification of fisherfolk beneficiaries under a selection criteria set by the DA will be undertaken to fast track the rehabilitation project.—LM

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