Infanta fishermen want free and total access
AGREEMENT ON SCARBOROUGH SHOAL
INFANTA—The town’s fishermen that have been fishing in the disputed Panatag or Scarborough Shoal rejoiced but with guarded optimism on hearing President Duterte say that an agreement will soon be reached that will allow them to fish again in the area.
Charlito Maniago, barangay captain of Cato said the fishermen in his village will be truly grateful if the agreement will allow them to fish “freely and totally” in Scarborough Shoal closely guarded by Chinese Coast Guard today.
He said any agreement to simply allow them to fish near the area is useless if they are not allowed to go inside the Shoal because it is there where fish abound.
“It would be the same thing if we can ony fish outside Scarborough Shoal,” he said.
He lamented that their livelihood has been severely affected for years since they were barred from fishing in the Panatag since they could only catch tambakol unlike in the past when they could catch lapu-lapu, maya maya and big danggit .
Cato Barangay Kagawad Jowe Legaspi, 46, in a separate interview, remained cynical about President Duterte’s announcement since it was only he (Duterte) who said it. “What about the Chinese government?” he asked.
He pointed out that Mr. Duterte only mentioned “only a possibility.”
He said two weeks ago, some fishermen went to the Shoal and were again sent away by Chinese Coast Guard.
Legaspi used to have eight motorized bancas that fish in Scarborough Shoal but he already sold all except one when he saw no hope to return to Panatag since they were always chased away by the Chinese Coast Guard in 2012.
When his small business in the public market failed, his wife opted to work in Hong Kong, leaving their seven children under his care. (Tita Roces)
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