By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE fishermen who want to have their own launching site at Laolao Beach are having a hard time finding a venue for a forum they want to hold to get public support.
Herman Tudela said they will not be able to conduct a forum at the multi-purpose center in Susupe as earlier planned, because they are being charged for its use.
He said they can’t afford the $100 fee for the use of the facility so they will have to find another venue.
Tudela has been urging government agencies to designate the southwest end of Laolao Beach as launching site for small boats so small fishermen can continue having a livelihood while keeping alive traditional methods of fishing.
The site, he said, was the launching site of fishermen in the past.
Tudela said they have already consulted Coastal Resource Management and the Division of Fish and Wild and even invited these agencies’ representatives to the area so that his group can show how viable and appropriate their proposal is.
Although DFW appears very receptive to their proposal, Tudela said there are still some constraints that are blocking their proposal.
For the public forum they want to hold, Tudela said they will invite representatives of people and government agencies opposed to their proposal to the public forum for an exchange of views that may result in a compromise.
He said they also want to invite fishermen, tourists and divers to the forum.