Panukalang bigyan ng special insurance protection ang bawat mangingisda, hiling ng mambabatas 

ISANG mambabatas ang nagpanukala na bigyan ng special insurance protection ang bawat mangingisda na masasangkot sa panghihimasok ng mga dayuhan sa West Philippine Sea.

Sa inihaing House Bill No. 11752 ni Pinoy Workers party-list Rep. Karl Fernandez Legazpi, nais nitong bigyan ng seguridad ang mga mangingisda na nawalan ng hanapbuhay dahil sa pakikialam ng mga dayuhan na gustong angkinin ang karagatan na sinasakupan ng ating bansa.

“Going out to sea has become increasingly difficult and dangerous. Filipino fisherfolk continue to face water cannoning, blocking, dangerous maneuvers, and other forms of interference by foreign vessels in the West Philippine Sea,” sabi ni Legazpi.

Ayon kay Legazpi, ang mga kasalukuyang insurance policies tulad ng Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) ay hindi saklaw ang anumang kawalan dahil sa pananakop, pagkilos at pakikibaka sa mga kaaway ng bansa. 

“A fisherfolk may therefore have insurance and still find that damage caused by foreign maritime interference is not covered,” sabi ni Legazpi. 

Nais ni Legazpi na palawakin ang coverage ng PCIC at mag develop ng special insurance and indemnity coverage sa mga kwalipikadong mamamalakaya at kanilang mga banka o fishing vessels na na nasa loob ng maritime zones ng bansa. 

“Rather than create another government agency or a separate compensation fund, the measure builds on the government’s existing insurance system. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will assist in verifying incidents, while the PCIC will administer the coverage and process claims,” paliwanag ni Legazpi.

Aniya, ang insurance coverage ay para sa actual and verifiable losses. “Kasama ang damage to fishing boats, engines, gear and equipment, loss of catch already obtained, and reasonable rescue and recovery expenses. Projected catch, expected profits, and other speculative losses are not covered,” dagdag ng kongresista. 

(VINA de GUZMAN)