By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – As the greater Manila area and surrounding provinces continued to be buffeted by typhoons and monsoon rains, the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA-Pilipinas) urged the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to mobilize its reserved calamity funds.
“We direly need help in the form of relief and livelihood support. We are not able to conduct fishing activities for days now due to bad weather and rough seas,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA Chairperson said in a statement.
Pamalakaya reports that people living along the coastlines have been flooded due to overflowing of waters. Communities along or near the coastlines have also been flooded over the last few days. In the coastal areas of Bacoor, Cavite, Pamalakaya estimated that around 1,000 fishing families and urban poor who live along the shoreline have been affected by the flood.
Four dams in Luzon have been releasing water as of this writing, further worsening the flooding in various towns and farms. Reports are still pouring in but various towns in Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal have been flooded.
Given the succeeding natural calamities and disasters over the past few months, Hicap said now is high time for BFAR to utilize its calamity funds intended for the victims of the typhoon and other natural catastrophes. “Relief goods and livelihood support including boats and fishing gears are badly needed to help us keep the wheels of production on the go.”
Should the BFAR take action and help provide immediate aid, this can also help prevent the further decrease in fish production in the aftermath of the latest typhoon, Hicap added. 
