Published on Negros Daily Bulletin
Wednesday, November 29, 2017

E.B. Magalona town’s Ugyonan Seafood Festival is all set on December 9 to 11, Mayor Marvin Malacon said yesterday.

Malacon said that they expect the influx of more guests in this year’s celebrations.

“We target to have more than 3,000 tourists during the three-day event,” Malacon said.

So far, he said, 55 Korean guests have confirmed their arrival.

Malacon said, the event will not only add more following to the town’s famous blue crabs, but will help fisherfolk.

He added that with nine coastal barangays, the municipal government continues to support the fisherfolk.

“We have called on those who are ‘iligalista’ or those without permits or licenses to have their businesses registered,” the mayor said.

EB Magalona is known for its famous blue crab that is being exported to the United States, Malacon said.

Pressed if he intends to declare a season to ban the collection of blue crabs on the seas off the town, Malacon said that they are studying the matter.

The ban intends to allow the spawning of young blue crabs, he pointed out.

“However, the fishermen has asked us if what will happen to them if they will be banned from fishing for blue crabs, and if government will help them,” he said.

For now, we are studying what the government can do to balance all these, Malacon said.*(NDB)