Jeepney drivers try fishing for 'survival'

CAGAYAN DE ORO. With their livelihood affected by community quarantine due to Covid-19 threat, some jeepney drivers in Barangay Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City went into "small time" fishing on Tuesday morning, spreading nets from near the shoreline of Macajalar bay in the hope of catching a handful of so-called "isda sa bato" which is good for tinola. (Lynde Salgados)
CAGAYAN DE ORO. With their livelihood affected by community quarantine due to Covid-19 threat, some jeepney drivers in Barangay Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City went into "small time" fishing on Tuesday morning, spreading nets from near the shoreline of Macajalar bay in the hope of catching a handful of so-called "isda sa bato" which is good for tinola. (Lynde Salgados)

IF YOU come to Macajalar bay one sunny, if not cloudy morning and see a group of people in desperate attempt to catch fishes from near the shoreline -- don't be surprised anymore.

It's called "survival mode" after City Mayor Oscar Moreno placed Cagayan de Oro under community quarantine to minimize the possible spread of the pandemic Coronavirus, otherwise known as Covid-19 that is wreaking havoc across the globe.

Even jeepney drivers and ordinary housewives were seen on Tuesday morning combing the seashores of Barangay Bonbon with gullible fishing nets on hand in the hope of a fresh catch of so-called "isda sa bato," which is good for tinola.

"Maayo na lang pang sud-an maskin gamay ra kuha kay pasmo ang panagat karon sa kadalanan," said jeepney driver Ariel Ladao, who's not trusting life to fate even that his wife is running a sari-sari store.

"Wala ta kabalo asa taman kining krisis karon maong paningkamot batok paninguha samtang aduna pa kitay mahimo," an elderly woman, who admitted this is just her first time in recent years to go on fishing with neighbors, told SunStar Cagayan de Oro.

Known for its tamban-nipa resources, Barangay Bonbon, however, experienced a scarcity of its main fish produce nowadays that left local fishermen in great worry.

"Nihit na kaayong tamban sa lagyo nga dagat na 'mi mapaingon niabot pa gyod kining pandamay nga Covid," another fisherman, Cocoy Baal, said.

Still, the fishing stalls by the bay in Bonbon have still tamban fishes to offer for kinilaw dishes to visitors who come in bicycles or on four wheels everyday in the morning.

"Bisan walay kuha, mag initiate na lang ang uban maka kompra og tamban sa Bulua fish landing aron naa gihapon madalit sa mga bisita," one resident said.

But Barangay Bonbon chairman Allan "Bobong" Mabalacad seemed not happy at all even as he already ordered the temporary closure of a number of beach resorts in the barangay for the purpose, including the covered courts and even padlocking of the makeshift basketball courts.

Giving him the most headache is the implementation of the "social distancing" policy.

"Dili kami mga super heroes kon ang uban nga mga residente wala gyoy pag-cooperate nga mag desiplina ug padayon ang tapok-tapok," was the meat of Mabalacad's rant on his Facebook account.

After the shores are cleared of local folks hunting fishes for meals, the barangay's errand boy Lucas Baal had noted that even foreigners would desperately make an effort to explore Bonbon waters for swimming.

"Kadtong duha ka Russians among gi advise nga mobalik lang una sa Carmen where they came from samtang gi implement pa atong community quarantine dire sa Bonbon. Ang taga dinhe lang usa ang makaligo uban ba kaha sa ilang pamilya providing nga dili lang mag tapok-tapok," added kagawad Sara Jimenez.

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