BACOLOD CITY: Mayor Matthew Louis Malacon of E.B. Magalona town, Negros Occidental created the Municipal Crab Industry Task Force (MCITF) to address the economic crisis that has hit the town’s blue swimming crab industry.
Known as the 'Blue Crab Capital' of Negros Occidental, E.B. Magalona relies heavily on the blue swimming crab industry to sustain the livelihoods of fisherfolk, crab pickers, traders, and processors across its nine coastal barangays, the mayor said.
The local industry suffered a major setback following a recent export ban imposed by the United States National Marine Fisheries Service under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The restriction effectively cut off local producers from their primary international market, leading to severe market disruptions and plunging local demand, declining prices for crab products, and income loss for local crab pickers, fisherfolk, traders, and processors, the mayor said
This has caused a drop in the price of the blue swimming crab in the domestic market, from P350 to P400 a kilo, to a low of P150 per kilo, Vice Mayor Marvin Malacon said.
The task force will find ways to address the plunge in prices and aid industry stakeholders, the vice mayor said.
The multi-sectoral body led by the mayor will initiate measures to cushion the impact and chart a path toward recovery.
The mayor said the task force is mandated to assess economic damages, maintain an updated registry of affected workers, coordinate technical and financial assistance with national government agencies, and explore market diversification and value-adding activities for local crab products.
In a bid to provide immediate financial relief, Mayor Malacon urged the Sangguniang Bayan of E.B. Magalona to urgently enact an ordinance granting a temporary tax holiday or local tax relief for eligible crab pickers, local fisherfolks, and directly affected businesses operating within the local crab supply chain.
Municipal departments—including Agriculture, Tourism, and Social Welfare—have been directed to roll out capability-building, skills training, and livelihood assistance programs to strengthen the resilience and long-term competitiveness of the local industry. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
