CORTES, Bohol, March 19 (PIA) -- Faced with mounting rental on fishpond leases, plus permits and licenses, fish producers in Bohol has asked the governor to mediate between them and the Department of Agriculture  (DA) for a three-year moratorium on payments.

This, they think, should allow them enough time and resources to rehabilitate and fix their fishponds and production facilities damaged by typhoon Odette. 

But for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) led by Vice Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite, a five-year moratorium would be fitting to allow the fishers to fully recover and stabilize the local fish supply.

In a letter to Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Bohol Fish Producers’ Cooperative through its secretary Crestito Garcia asked the governor to represent them to the secretary of the DA.

According to Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry Pamugas, Odette damaged a total of 996 hectares of fishponds, fish cages, and fish production facilities including the cooperated fish cages in Bohol, most of them in coastal areas.

The fishers group is asking for a three-year moratorium on the payment of monthly rentals on their fishpond and fish production facilities starting January 2022, or immediately after the typhoon wreaked havoc in Bohol, overflowing fishponds, or bringing in storm surges that washed out ponds, toppled dikes and freed breeders and stocks, causing million in damages and triggering fish supply depletion in Bohol markets.

“The moratorium and rental fees condonation should assist Bohol fish farmers and fishpond owners and operators in their recovery efforts,” according to a letter from the governor to the Bohol SP seeking for an endorsement of the letter to the secretary of the DA and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The governor also sees that the endorsement could carry the reiteration of the request to condone the Fishpond Lease Agreement (FLA) rentals and licenses, permits, and fees related to the damaged fishponds, fish cages, and fish production facilities. 

Under Section 6 of the Republic Act No. 8550 or the “Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998,” the DA is tasked to prescribe and collect rental on fishpond leases and charges/licenses/permits for fish production facilities.

It may be recalled that as early as Jan. 26, 2022, the Bohol Fish Producers’ Cooperative passed Resolution No. 2022-01-03 requesting then DA Secretary William Dar for a moratorium on Fishpond Lease Agreement (FLA) rentals for a period of three years for their specific purpose. 

The fish producers coop has not heard any reply from the DA, thus they asked the governor to intercede for them.

Through Board Member Tomas Abapo, the fishermen asked the governor to help them push for the moratorium by reiterating to the incumbent DA secretary and President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., of their intentions.

Pamugas, on his part, attested that the fishing industry in Bohol has not fully recovered from the Bohol earthquake in 2013, and that the moratorium can greatly help the fish producers in Bohol focus on rehabilitation and recovery. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)