FISHERMEN in Taal Lake are facing economic hardship despite a significant drop in the price of tawilis, a local fish, due to public fear stemming from reports of discarded bodies of missing cockfight enthusiasts in the lake.
According to the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), the retail price of tawilis has plummeted to ₱100 per kilogram, down from the usual ₱250 per kilogram, following reports of bodies being dumped in Taal Lake.
Pamalakaya reported on Sunday, July 13, that this “all-time low” price has been observed in several areas of Cavite, indicating that the price drop is even more severe for fishermen in Taal itself, leading to significant losses.
Fishermen have previously voiced concerns about the public’s fear of consuming fish from Taal Lake due to the reports.
While the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has assured the public that the fish, especially tawilis, are safe for consumption, the negative perception persists, impacting sales and prices.
Pamalakaya’s National Chairperson, Fernando Hicap, stated that fishermen are struggling to cope with these losses, particularly as they are already dealing with the impact of the southwest monsoon (“habagat”), which has hindered fishing activities for several months.
Hicap urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) and BFAR to intervene by assisting in the distribution of tawilis to other markets at fair prices and encouraging public consumption.
