The local government of Laurel, Batangas, on Thursday said it is considering declaring a state of calamity amid the sharp decline in fish sales following the allegations linked to the case of missing cockfighting enthusiasts.
Municipal Administrator Bienvinido Mayuga said the economic shock comes after whistleblower Julie Patidongan, also known as “Alyas Totoy,” claimed that the disappeared cockfighting enthusiasts were killed and their remains were dumped in Taal Lake, which stoked fears among consumers and drastically affected the local fishing industry.
“As of now, ay pinag-aaralan kung idedeklara ang state of calamity sa lokal na pamahalaan… Dahil sa nagaganap na pagbaba ng sale ng isdang ating mga tilapia at bangus dito sa ating bayan,” said Mayuga.
Since the statement made headlines, vendors report that buyers have become hesitant, driving down prices and leaving stocks unsold. From the usual P140 per kilo, some fishfolk say buyers now offer as low as P50.
“Dati po ‘yung P50 kilos kikita ka po doon ng mga P1,500, P1,000. Sa ngayon po, hindi na po ganoon gawa po ng binabarat na po ang produkto namin,” said one fisherfolk, lamenting the sharp decline in earnings.
Mayuga confirmed that the controversial claim has dealt a significant blow to their local fishing industry, already struggling from past calamities.
“Isa po ito sa bukod po sa naapektuhan sila noong bagyo ay isa ito sa malaking dagok para sa kanila,” said Mayuga.
“Kaya umaasa po sila na isang positibo na paghahatid sa ating mga kababayan na ligtas naman siyang gamitin,” he added.
He added that while fishers previously sold 50 to 100 kilos of fish daily, they now struggle to sell even 20 kilos as buyers fear contamination from the lake.
They also said that customers are backing away from lake-sourced products, believing they may be unsafe, despite repeated assurances from local officials and fish farmers that their catch remains clean and safe to eat.
To address public concern, Mayuga and local fishers clarified that the tilapia and bangus being sold are safe to eat, as they are bred in enclosed fish cages, far from open waters.
“Malinis naman ang tilapia dahil ang pinanggagalingan naman ng tilapia namin nakakulong naman sa parang nakalagay sa fish-cage hindi naman po sa alpas,” one fisher explained.
“Sa mga nag-aalangan po na bumili, huwag na po kayo mag-alangan dahil po kami kinakain namin dito araw-araw halos tilapia… ‘yong mga tilapia namin nakakulong, nasa cage po iyan, nasa fish pond kaya hindi po siya makakagala sa labas,” another fishfolk appealed to the public.
The town, which depends heavily on aquaculture and fisheries, has seen prices of fish like tawilis, tilapia drop drastically, with sales becoming harder by the day.
Officials warned that unless consumer confidence is restored, the livelihood of hundreds of families remains at risk.
Mayuga added that the state of calamity declaration, if finalized, would allow them to mobilize emergency resources and support affected fisherfolk.
Authorities emphasized the importance of supporting local livelihoods and clearing misinformation, reminding the public that Taal Lake fish remains safe for consumption.
