spot_img
28.1 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

Zambales gov’t backs fisherfolk’s damage claim vs. HK cargo vessel

- Advertisement -

Iba, Zambales—The Zambales provincial government has picked up the cudgels for local fishermen who lost income when a Hong Kong-based cargo ship recently hit their fishing device (FAD) called payao.

Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said a government legal team will represent the Masinloc fishermen who are seeking to collect damages from the management of the bulk carrier HC Glory which was enroute to deliver coal to the Masinloc Coal-Fired Thermal Plant when the incident occurred on January 17.

“We will definitely back up our people in their quest for justice,” Ebdane said. “I have already instructed our legal team to represent the fishermen, and the matter has also been referred to the agriculture and legal committees of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to see what further assistance we can render.”

Members of the New Masinloc Fishermen’s Association (NMFA), owner of the damaged payao, are seeking P900,000 in damages from HC Glory owned by the Hong Kong Haichang Holdings Group, Ltd.

NMFA president Leonardo Cuaresma said they damage claim consisted of P150,000 for the cost of the payao; P360,000 in unearned income due to the incident, P390,000 for supposed earnings from hook-and-line fishing by the 36 NMFA members involved in the incident.

- Advertisement -

Cuaresma said around 30 fishing boats were at the vicinity of the payao that day when the ship plowed though the fishing equipment.

He said his group has already filed a complaint with authorities who had met with the ship master when HC Glory unloaded its cargo at the Masinloc coal plant.

However, while the ship master acknowledged the incident, he denied in a formal declaration that the vessel damaged the payao. HC Glory had since left port after completing delivery of its coal cargo in Masinloc.

Ebdane noted that aside from claims on destroyed property and income losses, the incident also highlighted the need for safety measures for local fishermen looking for livelihood in the open sea.

“There have been several reports of incidents like this, only undocumented. So, we have a lot to learn and assess and evaluate from this incident,” Ebdane said.

“The payao project in this case has also been funded by a government loan, so we are taking a special interest on this,” he added.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles