Shellfish farmers affected by red tide get P2,000 aid

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Hundreds of registered shellfish farmers and vendors from the coastal villages of Roxas City received P2,000 each in financial aid from the city government and the office of Sen. Lawrence Christopher Bong Go.

The 760 beneficiaries from 900 shellfish farmers were recipients of the cash assistance for fisherfolks of Roxas City affected by the harmful algal bloom or red tide.

Most of the beneficiaries were oyster and mussel growers, shellfish vendors, traders, or gleaners.

According to city agriculturist Mary Ann Baria, the recipients passed the qualification processes and were encoded in the database set of the Department of Agriculture.

The cash aid was distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The recipients are registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and are residents of barangays Barra, Dayao, Talon, Balijuagan, Cagay, Culajao, Baybay, Mongpong and Punta Cogon.

She said the recipients will also receive food packs in the coming days.

But some shellfish farmers and vendors from Brgy. Barra were dismayed after their names were not on the list of recipients even if they claimed to have registered with the RSBSA.

Roxas City is one of the coastal areas in the province of Capiz affected by the red tide.

The provincial government through Gov. Fredenil “Oto” Castro issued an advisory asking the public to refrain from harvesting, transporting, selling and eating shellfish because of red tide.