By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Fisherman Protacio Cabuenas of Barangay Pilar of the municipality of Bauang challenged the different government agencies and officials to walk their talk in helping the fisher folk and other poor sectors in their struggle for life amidst the changing climate that affects the economic as well as social life in the province.

During the multi stakeholders dialogue on the impacts of climate change in coastal parts of La Union sponsored by the Regional Development Center-Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan (RDC-Kaduami) held at the provincial capitol in San Fernando City, community leaders and representatives of fisher folk as well as women took their chance to voice out their situations and concerns to government agencies and officials.

According to Cabuenas, the fisher folk are among the poorest sector not only in the second district but the whole province f La Union. He said that their situation is even worsened by the abnormal seawater movement. He added that Pilar is already a critical area because of its vanishing seashores.

He described how the sea water is already reaching their houses. “Isu ti mangik-ikkaten kadagiti balbalay mi, saan laengen a tattatao ti mangwar-warwar ti balbalay,” (It [seawater] is already dismantling our homes, people are no longer the only ones destroying houses) said Cabuenas. He said this happens every high tide and worse when there are strong typhoons or simply just heavy rains.

He said it is of great to them relief that the provincial government banned magnetite mining in La Union. This he said they hope will save the remaining shore lines at the moment.

According to Dianne Orquilla, representative of Governor Manoling Ortega the governor is firm on implementing the ban on black sand extraction. She said there are many companies applying for mining in the coastal areas of the province but were turned down by Ortega.

According to the fisherman who is also a member of the barangay council of his place, one of their problems is their access to potable water. He said they have no source for safe potable water for drinking or cooking for their children. He said a water system for domestic use should be constructed through the help of the municipal government.

According to Bauang municipal environment and natural resources officer (MENRO) Samuel Caluza, they cannot just provide a water system even if there is funding without the approval of proper agencies of the government.

Aside from that, Cabuenas mentioned the absence of a school in their barangay. He said their children have to go to other barangays to attend school. The poor situation of the road going to their community also adds up to their problem, he said. He said the children have to walk long distances as few vehicles can manage to traverse their road.

Another problem according to Cabuenas is the presence of large commercial fishing vessels. Some bulibuli or trawlers he said encroached on their fishing areas amassing large volumes of fishes. “Manmano garuden ti makalapen ket umay da pay laeng nga ibusen dagiti lames ket resulta ket kaasi dagiti mangngalap a pagraranudan dagiti kasla tedtedda,” he continued.

Cabuenas asked the municipal as well as the provincial government to apprehend the owners of the large commercial fishing vessels. “Ibaga da lang ta tumulong kami a babassit a mangngalap a mangpapanaw kadagita,” (They can ask our help as small fisher folks to drive away the trawlers) he said.

According to Caluza, the municipal government has apprehended a number of large commercial vessels. But he admitted that cases to be filed against them did not prosper due to technicalities. He also said that there are sea patrols in the area and the municipal governments is also providing trainings to barangay official and other residents on this matter.

Cabuenas also said that residents of his barangay just like in other areas of La Union are suffering from hunger because of the absence of other sources of income. He said that amidst their growing population, the people have no additional livelihood as their life as fishermen is getting harder and harder. He said the government should initiate at giving trainings and skills enhancement and other assistance to them as it also is its duty to look after its constituents.

Caluza said there are programs and trainings for alternative livelihood that the municipal government is giving. He admitted that although there are organizations that can be the proper channels for livelihood assistance, they did not notice such. He said they were surprised by the reports of the people during the dialogue on their problems. He said they thought they were doing well in addressing the needs of the people but according to the complaints of the people, their actions are falling short.

“Isu nga agyaman kami ta adda kakastoy a maiyararamid tapno mangngegan mi ti usto a mapaspasamak ket ammo min nu kas-ano a tulongan dakayo,” (We are grateful that there are dialogues like this so that we will know the actual situations and we will know how to help you) said Caluza to the Bauang people.

Cabuenas said that while the government has different programs for the people, it is better that these programs do not just remain as plans. # nordis.net