Talisay's poor in need of help

CEBU, Philippines -  While the Talisay City government spends millions of pesos for city hall’s security and upkeep, several of its people are starving, and hoping that one day officials would help them.

Felimon Lucero, 42, a trisikad driver in sitio Letmon, barangay Dumlog, said he earns about P50 each day from driving a trisikad, which is not enough to feed his family.

Felimon has a four-year-old daughter from his second wife.

His first wife, who bore him four children, left him because of poverty.

Felimon was a fisherman three years ago and earned enough if he worked hard, but his boat was destroyed by big waves during a typhoon.

With his small frame, Felimon now drives a rented trisikad everyday to feed his second family.

The P50 he earns from driving can buy only porridge for his family everyday, and if he earns P100, which is seldom, they can have rice and dried fish.

Felimon hopes none of them gets sick, since he can not afford to buy medicine.

“Mag-ampo lang pirmi nga di masakit,” Felimon said.

Felimon’s family lives in a shack that can have room only for a single bed. A haphazardly cut green cloth serves as a door.

Across Felimon’s house is a bigger shanty owned by Ramon Sabequil, 50, a fisherman.

Although Ramon’s house is bigger than Felimon’s, it could collapse any moment, since its posts have seen better days.

“Katumbahon na gani ni among bay. Gamayng hangin, matumba na gyud ni simbako,” said Ramon.

For the last 15 years since it was erected, Ramon’s house, which is made of wood, has been through several floods, being right at the beachfront of Letmon.

Ramon dreams of building a new one but to realize it he has to get a better job.

“Maglisud na gani mi og palit og bugas, kahoy pa kaha,” he said.

“Maayo unta nga makahatag og programa para namong mangingisda ang mayor kay kuwangon ra gyud among kita kada adlaw,” he said.

Ramon’s average catch per day would be about two kilos, which he sells to neighbors to buy rice.

“Bahala’g way sud-an basta naay bugas. Mag-imagine lang gud nga nay isda sa atubangan,” he joked.

The 50-year-old fisherman has five children, two of whom are married, and two grandchildren live with him.

On a bad day, he goes home with only half a kilo of fish which means on this particular day, he has to drive a trisikad to earn some more to be able to buy rice, he said.

Ramon, who has been a fisherman since his teens, recalled the early years when fish in the seawaters of Talisay was abundant.

He blames illegal fishing for his dismal catch, and is now appealing to Mayor Socrates Fernandez to put a stop to it, so that local fishermen will once again enjoy the bounty of the sea.

For his part, Fernandez, in a separate interview, said Felimon and Ramon can visit the City Social Welfare Office to be assessed of their situation.

Fernandez said the city can provide skills training like sewing, culinary, or cosmetology for its jobless residents.

As to the problems of Ramon and Felimon, Fernandez said they have to check with the CSWO which will study their concerns “if they (CSWO) can give something” for them or for their wives.

And then the mayor quickly alerted the Fishermen Sea Ecological Care (FISECA) with a memorandum saying it has to remain vigilant against illegal fishing.

Under the city’s 2012 budget, there is no specific category for livelihood programs.

What is clear in the city’s P470 million disposable income, however, is the mayor’s P10 million fund disguised as “donations,” which is reportedly used as dole-outs to indigents.

While there is no exact amount for the likes of Ramon and Felimon, the city has set aside P4 million for the mayor’s son’s “Mananga Task Force,” P1.5 million for city hall’s janitorial services, and P6 million for city hall’s security.