FARMERS and fishermen in Central Luzon who were affected by Typhoon Fabian and monsoon rains are asking for help from the government.

The long heavy rains destroyed agriculture and fisheries in Central Luzon and small fishers and farmers are demanding livelihood subsidies and direct compensation for the loss of their income.

This was learned from the national fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday, July 30, 2021.

Citing the data of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Pamalakaya said losses on the fishery and agriculture sectors are at P100.8 million and P157 million, respectively.

Bobby Roldan, Pamalakaya vice-chairperson for Luzon who is a fisherman from Zambales province, said small fishers in the province are unable to do fishing activities for more than two weeks now due to monsoon rains.

They were forced to look for alternative sources of income, which are not enough to sustain their daily needs, according to him.

“Dalawang linggo na kaming hindi makapalaot. Hindi kaya ng mga maliliit naming bangka ang malalakas na hampas ng alon na dulot ng walang patid na pag-ulan sa loob ng dalawang linggo. Marami sa mga mangingisda ang napupwersang maghanap ng ibang pagkakakitaan tulad ng pagsasaka na hindi rin naman sumasapat dahil maging ang kabukiran ay apektado rin ng malalakas na pag-ulan,” Roldan lamented.

Pamalakaya and militant farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas have been seeking a P15,000 production subsidy for the rural sectors to cushion the devastating socio-economic impacts of the pandemic.

The production subsidy proposal was already filed by the Makabayan bloc in Congress under House Bill 9192.

“Ngayong mayroong mga mapaminsalang kalamidad sa gitna ng mapanalasa nang pandemya, mas lalo naming iginigiit sa pamahalaan ang agarang subsidyo sa produksyon na nararapat sa aming mga tinaguriang food security frontliners," Roldan said.

"Dapat ay natuto na ang gobyerno na ang pag-abandona sa mga lumilikha ng pagkain sa gitna ng isang krisis pangkalusugan ay magbubunga nang mas malaki pang krisis pang-ekonomya tulad ng malawakang kagutuman,” he added.