NDRRMC: Losses from fish kill estimated at P115 million

The fish kill incidents in Pangasinan and Batangas provinces have caused at least P115.536 million in damage to fishpen operators so far, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC) said Thursday. In its Thursday update, the NDRRMC said the figure includes P74.826 million in four villages in Batangas province alone. "There were 164 ... fish cages (84 in Brgy Sampaloc, Talisay; 47 in Brgy Leviste, Laurel; one1 in Poblacion, San Nicolas; and 22 in Subic IIaya, Agoncillo which are owned by 23 fish cage operators. The estimated losses of bangus and tilapia fish kills in four barangays is 952.6 metric tons or P74.826 million," it said.

Municipal disaster management officials in Talisay in Batangas also distributed masks to the residents of the affected areas to help them cope with the stench of dead and rotting fish, the NDRRMC said. In Pangasinan, it said 108 fish cages and 39 fish cage operators were affected by fish kill in Culang and Catubig villages in Bolinao and Mal-ong, Awag, Siapar and Narra villages in Anda town. Losses from these areas were estimated at P40,710,300, the NDRRMC added. The NDRRMC said there were also other "contributory factors" to the situation such as animal wastes in the Balete area in Batangas. It also cited the non-implementation of an existing plan for good aquaculture practices such as observing a recommended depth of fish cages of five meters and proper feeding. On the other hand, the NDRRMC noted the fish kill incidents that started last May 29 may have stemmed from changes in the water as a result of the heavy downpour brought by typhoon "Chedeng" (Songda). — KBK, GMA News