GENERAL SANTOS CITY— Some 150 fish-cage operators in Lake Sebu are set to receive around P3 million in loan grants from the provincial government of South Cotabato for the replacement of their fish pens.
Loida Villa, environment management specialist of the Provincial Environment Management Office (Pemo), said the move is in line with the “convert now, pay later” scheme introduced by the local government for fish- cage operators in Lake Sebu.
She said the initiative mainly focuses on the replacement of the existing bamboo fish cages at the lake with the permanent and more durable plastic fish pens.
Villa said 150 fish-cage operators have, so far, applied to avail themselves of the program, which is being implemented by Pemo.
Under the program, she said each operator will get a soft loan from the provincial government to facilitate the replacement of their fish cages.
The loan amount will cover for the cost of labor and materials, which is set at P20,000 for each fish cage operator, or a total cost of P3 million, for the 150 beneficiaries, she said.
The delivery of the constructed or assembled fish pens will be made by Pemo to the recipients within the second to the third quarter of the year, she said.
Villa said the recipients are obliged to pay back their loans in easy 18-month installment plans covering two phases.
“We will sign memorandums of agreement with the recipients and the municipal government of Lake Sebu to ensure the proper repayment of the loans,” she said in a statement.
Villa said they have set a penalty of 3 percent monthly in case a recipient fail to complete the repayment of the loan after 18 months. They will also face possible nonrenewal of their business permits as additional consequence, she said.
“This program will really benefit our fisher folk a lot, as they are assured of long-term use and minimal maintenance with the plastic fish pens,” Villa added.
Pemo introduced the scheme to help address the deteriorating condition of the lake that has led to the perennial occurrence of kamahong—a phenomenon that is mainly caused by the sudden rise in the water’s temperature.
Kamahong, which usually occurs during the rainy season, triggers the rise of sulfuric acid in the lake’s waters that eventually caused the massive fish kill.
Villa said the plastic fish cages that they introduced were designed to help reduce the organic load and improve water circulation at the lake.
PNA