GENERAL SANTOS CITY—The provincial government of South Cotabato has allotted some P3 million in commodity assistance for fish cage operators in Lake Sebu who were affected by major fish kills these past months.
Justina Navarrete, head of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, said Thursday the assistance was based on the provisions of Ordinance No. 30, series of 2017, approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The ordinance authorized South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes to enter into a deed of donation with affected fish cage operators. The funds would be drawn from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management fund, Navarete said.
The assistance would be utilized for the replacement of the traditional bamboo fish pens at the lake with permanent and durable plastic fish cages.
The provincial government, municipal government of Lake Sebu and selected fish cage operators have entered into a memorandum of agreement for inclusion into the "Convert Now, Pay Later" scheme implemented by the Provincial Environment Management Office.
The Provincial Environment Management Office introduced the use of the innovative plastic fish cages two years ago to help reduce the organic load and improve water circulation at the lake.
The use of plastic fish cages was seen to help address the deteriorating condition of the lake that has led to the perennial occurrence of kamahong, a phenomenon that is mainly caused by the sudden rise in the water’s temperature.
Kamahong, which usually occurs during the rainy season, triggers the rise of sulfuric acid in the lake’s waters that eventually caused the massive fish kill.
Several major fish kills have hit Lake Sebu this year, the latest only in October, that destroyed millions worth of tilapia.
In February, around P125 million worth of tilapia were destroyed during a two-week fish kill, the worst-ever that hit the area. (HST/PNA) NOVEMBER 2017
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Topic: Fish kill-hit cage operators in Lake Sebu get aid (Read 233 times)