Lobregat backs labor drive amid sardine fishing ban

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Mayor Celso Lobregat extends full support to the livelihood drive for 30,000 workers in the sardine fishing sector displaced by a three-month moratorium.

The Department of Labor and Employment launched “SAGIP Tamban” or Sustained Availability through Genuine and Intensified Preservation of Tamban along with the Bureau of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries to ensure the contuinued supply of the raw material for canned and bottled sardines.

“SAGIP Tamban is an important program as it ensures the survival of the tamban species as well as the sardines industry and the livelihood of some 20,000 to 30,000 workers,” Lobregat said.

Vic Larato, of the City Information Office, said the bureau has imposed a ban starting last December 1 and stretching to March 1, 2012 on a 14,000 square kilometer fishing ground across East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait and Sibuguey Bay.

“The closed fishing season translates to the temporary loss of (workers) income, good thing the SAGIP Tamban was launched as it goes with it an alternative employment program for the sardines, fishing and canning industries in the Zamboanga Peninsula region,” he said.

Larato said “SAGIP Tamban” stakeholders including the Industrial Group of Zamboanga have pledged to extend “emergency employment, skills training and livelihood as alternative employment programs to the fishermen and the workers in the sardines, fishing and canning industries affected by the ongoing closed fishing season for tamban.”

Fishery experts said the ban covered the period from December to March when mature sardines reproduce. PIA, Jocelyn P. Alvarez