by Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY, (PIA 9) – The City gives it full commitment to Labor and Employment’s Sustained Availability thru Genuine and Intensified Preservation of Tamban or “SAGIP Tamban” Program recently launched here said Vic Larato, of the City Information Office (CIO).
The Program is aimed at preserving the supply of “tamban,” a fish species used as the primary raw material in the manufacture of canned and bottled sardines in Zamboanga City.
Larato said, “Mayor Celso Lobregat during the launching said the SAGIP Tamban is an important program as it ensures the survival of the tamban species as well as sardines industry and the livelihood of some 20,000 to 30,000 workers.”
He said the implementation of the close fishing season continuous to be a huge worry for everyone affected especially the workers as the close fishing season translates to the temporary loss of their income, good thing the SAGIP Tamban was launched as it goes with it an alternative employment program for the sardines, fishing and canning industries in the Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamboPen) region.
Larato informed, during the launching of the “SAGIP Tamban,” stake holders like the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Industrial Group of Zamboanga signed a pledge of commitment “where the signatories collectively pledged to enroll the various programs on emergency employment, skills training and livelihood as alternative employment programs to the fishermen and the workers in the sardines, fishing and canning industries in the ZamboPen region who are affected by the ongoing closed fishing season for tamban.”
Larato explained “the signatories to the pledge of commitment also vowed to work with various sectors in the community to ensure successful ans sustainable implementation of the projects.
It can be recalled, BFAR started implementing the closed fishing season on sardines starting December 1 this year until March 1, 2012.
During the three-month closed fishing season, there will be no catching of sardines on the specified months.
Any person, association or corporation caught catching sardines in the conservation area will be subject to fines and penalty.
Conservation areas include East Sulu, Basilan Straight and Sibugury Bay
The imposition of a closed fishing season is to allow the fish species to spawn.
BFAR said December to March are the months when mature sardines reproduce. (JPA/CIO/ PIA9)