Habagat’s strong winds and pounding waves along the coasts of Zambales, Cavite, and Batangas has been preventing tens of thousands of fisherfork from fishing. Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya, or National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organizations in the Philippines) called on the Department of Agriculture to act immediately and provide disaster assistance to affected fishers.

Pamalakaya data show that Habagat (southwest monsoon) disrupted 27,000 fishers and residents in Zambales, 30,000 in Cavite, and 47,000 in Batangas. “Strong waves have kept fisherfolk’s small fishing boats docked for nearly two weeks,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said.

The fisherfolk leader said Habagat made operating small boats dangerous, so they opt to temporarily stop fishing. “Even when that means losing daily earnings,” he added.

In Batangas, Pamalakaya-Haligi ng Batanguenong Anakdagat (Habagat, or Foundation of Batangas Fisherfolk) reported that Balayan Bay fishers are securing and tying their boats because of the large waves. The group said they will again endure the disaster’s effects for more than four months. “Local government support is elusive despite this calamity’s annual expectancy,” Pamalakaya-Habagat member Jean Viana said.

A boat capsizing had been reported in Zambales. The fisher was about to go farther to sea when his boat overturned sweeping his fishing gear away. “This is the concrete impact of the Habagat on small fishers,” Hilda Reyes, president of San Miguel Fish Vendors, Inc. in the town of San Antonio, said.

Hicap said government neglect often worsens calamity damage to the fisheries sector. “Government agencies should be battered into immediately using their allocated funds to address the calamity’s grave effects,” he said.