Fishermen ask for establishment of regulatory board

SAN SIMON - A group of fishermen here yesterday urged the provincial government to consider establishing Pampanga River Regulatory Board (PRRB).

Nestor Macapagal, a local leader of the fishermen said that PRRB  if establish will be a big help in bringing back the old glory by taking initiative  to  rehabilitate the river.

He suggested that the same will be tasked to monitor all human activities within the Pampanga River as well those people living in the nearby communities.

Macapagal explained that people in the various municipalities in the 4th district including Candaba, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit, Macabebe, Masantal and Minalin are dependent on the river for their livelihood.

"Marami po sa ating mga kababayan ang mangingisda at umaasa lamang sa ating kailugan kaya sana i-konsidera din nila ang paglikha ng Pampanga River Regulatory Board para ma monitor na mabuti ang ating ilog. Kung mayroon gumagamit ng chemical, kuryente at iba pa sa pangingisda ay sila na mismo ang magbabawal nito," he stated.

Reports have it, the biggest and longest dump site in Pampanga if not in whole Central Luzon is the Pampanga River wherein the families living  along the stretch of the river are dumping their domestic waste on it. 

These fishermen claimed that to much garbage in the river is now affecting source of livelihood.

"Konti na lang ang nakukuhang isda mula sa ilog. Hindi na tulad ng dati basta lumusong  sa Pampanga River pag uwi mo mayroon ng ititinda ang mga asawa at mayroon pang matitirang pagulam para sa pamilya," another fisherman stated.