Judith airs woes of local fishers

In his special report on Monday’s regular session, Councilor James K. Judith II aired the complaints of local fishermen particularly on the yearly registration of their fishing boats and other requirements imposed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the City Agriculture Office.

Judith said fishermen in the city are asking the city government for intervention specifically to address the tedious registration as required by the Registry System for Basic Sector (RSBS) in Agriculture.

He added they are also tired of maintaining a daily journal on the number and kind of fish catch, fish sold and consumed, among other data.

The councilor said these requisites have become physically tedious for them considering the kind of work they do every day. “Nasayod man siguro kitang tanan nga ang atong mga mananagat, pila ra na sila diri sa atong dakbayan, ang tawag sa ila “subsistence fishermen” nga ang una nilang katuyoan nganong nanagat sila kay aron makakaon ang ilang pamilya. Ikaduha ra dayon nga kung unsay surplus o sobra sa ilang gikaon mao pa dayon na ilang ibaligya sa ilang mga silingan ug sa pinakaduol na talipapa,” Judith pointed out.

The councilor fears the day when fishermen lose interest in fishing. “Makaya man gani nato na ang passport ug driver’s license 10 years (after pa ayha mag renew), ang kani pa hinuon registration sa atong mananagat kada tuig duha kabuok ilang registration, sa bangka ug sa ilang kaugalingon. Ang ila lang yangongo ug gipahungaw kanako na mapangitaan nato og pamaagi ug diskarte na kung mahimo dili nato sila bun-ogon sa mga rekisitos,” Judith further urged.

Vice Mayor Rodriguez referred the report to the committee on agriculture chaired by Councilor Jay R. Pascual for appropriate action.