BALON DAGUPAN NEWS

IN support of marginal fisher folks, various programs and projects had been undertaken by the city government to boost their fish catch that enabled them to earn more so that they can sustain the needs of their families.

Mayor Belen T. Fernandez initially implemented a massive clean-up drive along the rivers through the program “Sa Ilog Ko, May Pagbabago”.

Fernandez said the river rightfully belongs to the marginal fisher folks who have long been deprived of the benefits from their bounties.
After four years of hard work following numerous consultations as well as the adoption of the “no kotong” and corruption policy, the water in the rivers is cleaner today compared to its previous condition.

The city’s campaign against illegal structures also yielded positive results. There are now at least 99 hectares of the city’s rivers available as open spaces for the city’s marginal fisher folks to be able to operate fish cages, fish traps as well as oyster beds after the city dismantled more than 900 illegal fish pens.

With this development, Fernandez discussed the implementation of 7×10 fish cage provided for in the amended fishing ordinance of the city with the Pederasyon ng mga Mangingisda sa Dagupan City

From mere caretakers of fish pens, the city’s marginalized fisher folks are now new entrepreneurs operating their respective fish cages legalized by a business permit from the city, an Aqua Lease Agreement with the City Agriculture Office and payment of corresponding fee.

The city has adopted a strict “no ALA, no permit, and no fish cage” policy.

Operators of fish cages without permits will be meted. P5,000 penalty and one-year imprisonment while the caretakers will be fined P2,500 and six-months imprisonment.

To bring the government closer to the people, Mayor Fernandez, along with the City Agriculture Office and the One-Stop Business Center, conducted a mobile registration to accommodate applicants for ALA and for business permit.

Initially, 53 were allowed by the city to operate their own fish cages.

In addition, the city also provided the fisher folks various fishing materials like nets, ropes, floaters, sinkers and bamboos for operating a ”batikwas”, skylab, floating cages, oyster beds and hangings, ”surewin”, and ”skyblue”.

Other fisher folks received ‘baloto’, bamboo rafts or “lamo”, floating oyster rafts, fry collector nets and motorized fishing boats with fish finder gadgets.

The PedManDaCi also received beach seine project funded by the Department of Labor and Employment while their wives were provided with trainings and capacity buildings on fish processing, in coordination with the different national government agencies, like the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Pangasinan State University, DOLE and the Department of Trade and Industry.

The association producing the “Maria Endang” dried fish and the housewives of fishermen in Bonuan Gueset and Pantal were assisted by the city and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources while those from Bonuan Boquig, Bonuan Binloc and Mangin were assisted through the city’s Gender and Development program.

Adolfo Sandoval of Sitio Tococ, Lucao disclosed that his harvests after less than three months, he’s bee able to sell oysters at P400 per tin can.

According to Sandoval, if his good fortune will continue, his family will be able to send his three children up to college.

Meanwhile, Jesus Purugganan, also of Tococ, Lucao also attested that the oyster industry is now a good source of income after fish pens had been removed by the city from the rivers.

Both Sandoval and Purugganan are among the 15 oyster growers in the area who received livelihood assistance from the city in the form of bamboos and rubber strips for their oyster farm.

Dagupan bangus now commands a better price. A kilo of bangus now sells at P120 per kilo on wholesale, and P140 per kilo on retail.

Mayor Fernandez promised that no fisherman, as long as he is industrious and forward-looking, will not be left behind in Dagupan. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO)

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