Some 28,000 fisherfolk and their families residing along Manila Bay were impacted by the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon or Habagat, fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said Thursday.
Initial monitoring and assessment of PAMALAKAYA showed that of the figure, at least 8,000 fisherfolk and coastal residents from two villages in Tanza, Cavite were affected.
They were evacuated due to the heavy rains while houses of around 30 fishers were destroyed by the strong winds and rough waves.
More than 5,000 fisherfolk suffered from severe flooding in their coastal villages in Rosario, Cavite, while around 3,000 small fisherfolk and mussel farmers (magtatahong) endured the heavy rains and intense flooding since July 23 in Bacoor.
In Navotas City, over 12,000 houses of fisherfolk were submerged in floods.
“Marami sa mga mangingisda sa lalawigan ng Cavite ang mahigit dalawang buwan nang hindi makalaot dahil sa Habagat na pinalalakas pa ng mga nagdaang bagyo,” said PAMALAKAYA vice chairperson Ronnel Arambulo.
(Many fishers in Cavite have stopped fishing for almost two months due to the Habagat, which was enhanced by the recent storm.)
“Higit na kailangan ng mga mangingisda at maralita sa baybayin ang maagap at konkretong tugon ng pamahalaan, para maiwasan ang mas malaki at pangmatagalan pang pinsala ng Bagyong Carina,” he added.
(Fisherfolk and the poor along coastal communities need fast and concrete measures from the government to avoid widespread and lasting effects due to Carina.)
PAMALAKAYA urged the government to “make use of a portion” of the P31 billion Calamity Fund, as well as the Department of Agriculture’s P1 billion Quick Response Fund (QRF), for the economic aid and livelihood assistance to small fisherfolk and coastal residents in Manila Bay.
Several areas in Metro Manila remain flooded Thursday as Typhoon Carina exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
However, the tropical cyclone will continue to enhance Habagat, bringing moderate to intense rains over the western section of Luzon.
The National Capital Region (NCR) and several provinces are under a state of calamity due to the onslaught of the typhoon and Habagat.
Also on Thursday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that there were 14 fatalities due to the impact of Habagat as well as Tropical Cyclones Carina and Butchoy. Of the figures, eight were confirmed dead.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), however, reported 21 deaths in Luzon amid the Habagat and Carina. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Leave a Comment