Bangus industry loses P1.1 B due to ‘Emong’
PANGASINAN’ s bangus industry suffered staggering losses estimated at P491 million from the destruction caused by Typhoon Emong on May 7, particularly in the worst-hit towns of Anda, Bolinao, Sual, and Alaminos City.
Combined with the damages in the bangus-producing areas in La Union, total losses are estimated to reach P502 million, according to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 1 Director Nestor Domenden.
A final report of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council before deadline stated that Pangasinan suffered P1.12 Billion damages on fishery alone.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Domenden said the regular bangus supply in the market will be severely affected after some 6,000 metric tons of bangus were released to the sea as a result of the destruction of fish pens and fish cages by the typhoon.
Anda Mayor Nestor Pulido earlier told The PUNCH about 95 percent of the fish pens, fish cages and other fish traps in his town used in raising bangus in the sea were destroyed.
Pulido estimated the damages at P1.1 billion and Domenden said this number is possible if they count all the fish farming structures, including those that can still be repaired.
Anda and Bolinao alone were expected to contribute 3.7 percent of the annual target production this year in the country.
“This is of national interest because Sual, Anda and Bolinao normally supply up to 62 percent of the bangus sold in Navotas and Malabon trading centers, the sources of markets in Luzon,” Domenden said.
Domenden has again recommended to the government that it helps in the rehabilitation of the bangus industry by providing 50 percent of the fry requirements of the affected bangus growers, free.
The same mode of assistance was adopted last year when Typhoon Cosme inflicted heavy damage on the bangus-producing areas in the second and fourth districts of Pangasinan.
Domenden also proposed that fish farmers be provided with a 50% financial subsidy for the purchase of nets and ropes needed to reconstruct the damaged fishing structures.#
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