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THE Department of Agriculture on Wednesday said that
the fishing ban in the coastal town of San Fernando in Romblon, will
remain despite water samples from the area having been tested
negative for harmful chemical contamination.
In a news conference at the
National Disaster Coordinating Council office in Camp Aguinaldo,
Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla said the existing ban will
stay as a precautionary measure.
The government issued a fishing
ban over the said waters where the MV Princess of the Stars capsized
after it was learned that the vessel was also carrying endosulfan, a
pesticide.
Fondevilla said aside from the
water samples, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is also
testing fish, seaweeds and sediments, for possible contamination of
the chemical.
At the upper chamber of Congress,
Senate President Manuel Villar cautioned Health authorities
Wednesday on issuing advisories on fish or sea products that are
unsafe to eat.
“Such advisories should be
based on scientific finding, and not just on a whim or a knee-jerk
reaction without basis,” he said.
He was referring to the ban on
fishing in San Fernando, Romblon, as ordered by Health Secretary
Francisco Duque 3rd.
The effect of the Health department’s
advisory, however, extended beyond San Fernando town with fish
consumption in many parts of the country going down.
“But it is not only the fishing
industry that got hit by the ‘bad press’ that fish got, but also
ordinary folks who rely on fish as a cheap viand,” he said.
He called on the Health
department to establish protocols that would guide them in the
future issuance of health advisories.
Meanwhile, relatives of the
missing passengers form the sea tragedy can avail of the free
counseling being offered by the government for their emotional
recovery.
Ben Vicente of the National
Center for Mental Health said depression, anxiety and even phobia
are normal reactions especially to the survivors of the tragedy.
However, it becomes abnormal when it continues after a month or if
it is already affecting relationships.
Those who want to undergo
counseling can contact the National Center for Mental Health at
531-9001 or 534-3241; the University of Santo Tomas Hospital at
406-1611; and the Philippine National Red Cross at 527-0000,
527-1807. For Cebu, the Vicente Sotto Medical Center can be
contacted at 32 255-4703 and the University of San Carlos at
0915-867-6966.
--Jefferson Antiporda With Efren L. Danao
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