Fish shortage feared due to NoKor rocket launch

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines  – Fears of a fish shortage were raised in the region as the national government declared a no-fishing zone over coastal areas here in preparation for the launching of a North Korean rocket sometime from April 13 to 16.

Such fears began last Holy Week when prices of fish suddenly increased in Cagayan due to reported fish shortage amid the anticipated rocket launch, which trajectory is to brush the northern coast.

Disaster officials in Cagayan province, however, said that there is enough supply of fish.

“There has been no decrease in fish supply. The price of fish had increased because of the Lenten season and has nothing to do with the reported rocket launch,” Bonifacio Cuarteros, officer-in-charge of the Cagayan provincial disaster office said.

Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy III, for his part, said that they are ready to assist fishermen who cannot venture out to sea because of the possible danger of falling debris from the North Korean rocket.

Dy said the fishermen’s income loss will be significant. “We have to give them some support to replace the losses,” he said.

Reports of fish shortage in Cagayan Valley came amid the reported declaration of no-fishing zone in the region, especially in Cagayan and in Isabela’s coastal towns.

Reports said that the rocket launch could create fallen debris as big as a car or refrigerator, and may even be contaminated with deadly chemicals.

Cuarteros admitted that although the provincial government is ready for any eventuality, there is a limit to what they could do.

“We are not a big country, so we cannot make any precautionary measures against the North Korean rocket. We cannot shoot it down,” Cuarteros said.

Cuarteros meanwhile said that the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council has coordinated with municipal officials and other government agencies in preparation for the satellite launch.

The regional disaster risk reduction and management council (RDRRMC) in a recent meeting ironed out coordinated plans in preparation for the launch.

RDRRMC’s Restie Vargas said all concerned agencies, including the Navy, Maritime Police and the Coast Guard, as well as all local government units have been given their own roles and responsibilities in preparation for any falling debris from the rocket.

“The weather bureau monitoring center in Aparri (Cagayan) will provide information of the possible locations of the falling debris through its Doppler radar,” he added.

Meanwhile, the provincial government in Isabela, thru the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started distributing food packs and provisions among families affected by the fishing ban in the four coastal towns of the province declared by Gov. Dy as a precautionary measure against the possible debris from the North Korean rocket launch.

The governor added that at least 500 truck sets were already deployed for every coastal towns in the Pacific seaboard, namely Maconacon, Palanan, Divilacan and Dinapigue.

Dy noted that more provisions are under way to be delivered to Dinapigue and the rest of the coastal areas for fisher folk in seaside barangays who will not be allowed to venture out during the crucial dates.

Earlier, the RDRRMC ruled out conducting preemptive evacuation because the North Korean rocket’s path is in the vicinity of the high seas. – With Raymund Catindig