Thousands of residents of Carles town in Iloilo province are experiencing shortage in food since the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended fishing vessels from sailing due to the gale warning.

Fishing is the main source of livelihood for people who live in 18 island villages of the town, which is currently under a state of calamity.

Four of these island villages are in Islas de Gigantes (Gigantes Island), the province’s top tourist destination. Asluman, Granada, Gabi, and Lantangan are home to more than 3,300 families. 

On Aug. 9, Carles Mayor Siegfredo Betita appealed for help for about 18 thousand affected residents.

He said their 15 coastal villages are also affected by the PCG order. 

“Indi sila kapangisda kay indi sila pagpagwaon sang Coast Guard and gutom sila tanan,” Betita told reporters.

Fishing vessels have been prohibited from venturing out into the sea for almost a week.

The inclement weather, according to Betita, also left almost a hundred tourists stranded in Gigantes.

“Indi sila kahalin didto kay indi pwede ka byahi kay wala sila sakyan. May 94 kita ka tourists didto from Passi City. They are composed of barangay and municipal officials sila nga mahiwat tani sang ila team building sa isla,” he said.

Betita said he already ordered the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMO) to provide food assistance to the affected families.

“Ang challenge ta lang amo ang pagdala didto sa isla kay tama ka baskog ang balud. Indi magpasugot ang PCG.”

The mayor also asked the provincial and national government to provide the municipality with steel-hulled or fiberglass boats to accommodate passengers from island to island.

Meanwhile, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. instructed yesterday the Provincial Social Welfare Office and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to prepare food packs and other assistance to the residents the tourists stranded in Gigantes.

Other affected residents are those living in three island villages of Estancia town.

“They are from Barangays Bayas, Manipulon, and Loguingot. Kinanglan man nila pagkaon didto, “ said Municipal Administrator Butching Aclaro.

The PCG said it would provide vessel to transport the food packs.IMT