Lacson vows to prioritize welfare of local fishermen over ‘foreigners who steal Filipinos’ livelihood’

Presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday vowed to prioritize the welfare of local fisherfolk over foreigners who “steal the livelihood” from Filipinos.

Speaking before fishermen and boat operators at Dalahican Port in Lucena City in Quezon, Lacson mentioned anew that there are 1,500 fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) who lost their livelihood.

“Asahan ninyo, kami, ang aming tinitingnan lagi ‘yung kapakanan ng nakakaraming Pilipino, hindi and kapakanan ng dayuhan na umaagaw sa ating hanapbuhay,” he added.

(You can be assured that we will always prioritize the welfare of the majority of the Filipinos, not the welfare of foreigners who steal our livelihood.)

When asked to expound this, Lacson, in an ambush interview, said some of the 1,500 fishermen were already afraid to fish in the WPS as some of their colleagues went missing after alleged attacks from Chinese Coast Guards.

“Out of the 1,500, may mga bilang doon at hindi natin alam ngayon kasi walang official report, na kaya hindi na nakabalik ay natatakot na sa kanilang buhay kasi ‘yung iba sa kasamahan nila ay nalubog na sa dagat dahil inatake ng Chinese Coast Guard,” Lacson mentioned.

(Out of the 1,500 fishermen, there are some who are already afraid to go back to WPS because some of their colleagues disappeared after being attacked by the Chinese Coast Guard.)

“‘Yun ang information. Whether it’s factual or not, we have to verify,” he added.

(That is our information. Whether it’s factual or not, we have to verify.)

Lacson once again slammed the Department of Agriculture (DA) over the approval of importation of around 60,000 metric tons of fish into the country.

“Nakakapagtaka bakit pinayagan ng DA na magbigay ng kota na 60,000 metric tons, ibig sabihin no’n, 60 million kilos ang papsok sa ating bansa. Lalong mamatay ang ating mga mangingisda. ‘Yon ang ating titingnan at bibgiyan ng pansin,” Lacson told the fishermen.

(We are wondering why the DA has allowed to import 60,000 metric tons of fish in our country. Our local industry will die. That’s what we are going to address.)

He echoed vice presidential candidate and Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s stand that those who regulate these importations are getting commissions.

“Naging import-dependent tayo masyado na kapag kinapos na sa halip tulungan ang mangingisda at magsasaka, importation kaagad ang iniisip,” he said in the same ambush interview.

(We have become import-dependent that when we have shortage in some of our goods, we immediately resort to importation instead of helping our local fishermen and fisherfolk.)

“Sabi nga ni Senate President [Sotto], kapag may importation, may commission. Inuna pa ang kapakanan ng ibang bansa dahil may pakinabang kung sinomang nag-re-regulate ng pag-iimport. Dapat unahin nating tutukan, unahin ang mga lokal na magsasaka at tsaka mangingisda. ‘Yung government intervention, napaka-importante. Pero positive ang intervention, hindi negative,” he added.

(Like what the Senate president said, if there is importation, there is always a commission. Those who regulate importation are prioritizing the welfare of other country,. We should focus and prioritize our local farmers and fisherfolks. Government intervention is also very important but we need positive intervention not negative intervention.)

Apart from local fisherfolks, Lacson and Sotto visited other parts of Lucena City, Quezon to meet various sectors and local government officials.

They are also scheduled to hold a caravan in Sariaya, Candelaria and Tiaong.

Based on Commission on Elections’ data, there are 1.424 million registered voters in Quezon. Of the said number, 183,412 are from Lucena, 96,447 are from Sariaya, 81,374 are from Candelaria, and 64,797 are from Tiaong. — RSJ, GMA News