Oslob fishers thank guv for allowing feeding of whale sharks to continue

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is praised by fisherfolks in the southern town of Oslob for her stand to allow the whale shark feeding activity to continue amidst call of some marine biologists to stop the activity.

The fishermen’s association in Barangay Tan-awan, Oslob surprised Garcia with a gesture of thanksgiving during her visit to the town last week.

On her way for lunch at a resort near the briefing center for tourists, Garcia was asked to drop by the briefing center, where the fisherfolks, including the vendor’s association, expressed their happiness for her support.

There were also children showing placards that read: “Salamat Gov. Garcia.” 

“Ako natandog kaayo ni’ng inyong gipakita. Nakurat ko, una sa tanan, kay naanad naman gud ko’ng di ko pasalamatan. Kay unsa tong ako nahimo, ako na ‘tong gilantaw nga akong katungdanan. Apan lahi gyud ang Oslob, mao na’y nakapanindot sa Oslobanon. Mao tingali gitagaan mo aning gasa usab, kay na diin-diin na lang ang ubang mga lungsod nga naghandom usab nga ang tuki mahiuyon sa ila, apan nia gyud nahiuyon diri,” Garcia said. (I am surprised by this. What I did was part of my job. But this is what makes Oslob different, and this is probably the reason you were given this gift that other towns could only wish for.)

Garcia said that the fisherfolks should not be punished just because the whale sharks frequent their place.

She said that they have opened up the minds of every Cebuano that by protecting the lives of the whale sharks, they have also improved the lives of the fisherfolks in the process.

Limbet Suzada, president of the Tan-awan Oslob Whale shark Fishermen Association (TOWSFA), said they just wanted to thank the governor for defending them.

 “Gibuhat ni namo aron amo siyang bugtian. Actually, wa siya nagkinahanglan niini, sama sa iyang giingon, pero naghimo mi’g gamay’ng paagi aron ipakita namo nga nagpasalamat ug nalipay gyud mi kaayo sa iyang gibuhat sa pagpanalipod kanamo,” he said. (We just want to show the governor even in small ways how grateful and happy we are for being defended by her.)

Suzada also clarified that they do not intend to change the feeding behavior of the whale sharks because they only give them a handful of “uyap” (krill), just enough to attract them to generate an eco-tourism activity.

Some marine biologists claimed that the feeding activity might change the behavior of whale sharks.

Garcia recently ordered the validation of the report and monitoring of the feeding activity of whale sharks with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Department of Tourism and the local government of Oslob.

Pending result of the monitoring, Garcia allowed the feeding activity to continue.  (FREEMAN)