IT IS AN incontestable truth that the United States’ ban on Philippine blue crab imports, which took effect on June 11, has adversely affected the billion-peso crab industry in the Visayas.
As a result, around 15,000 fisherfolk and crab pickers across Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region are now facing economic hardship.
Of this number, about 2,500 are from the nine coastal villages of the Municipality of E.B. Magalona, the “Blue Crab Capital” of Negros Occidental.
During the peak season from July to October, the town produces about four to five metric tons of blue crabs daily.
Barangay Tomongtong remains the top producer, harvesting nearly one metric ton every day.
The US crab ban has therefore become a major headache not only for officials of E.B. Magalona but also for other coastal local government units from Cauayan in the south to Escalante City in the north of Negros Occidental.
Why?
The province has lost its principal export market for blue crabs.
Consequently, many crab-picking plants across the province have ceased operations.
The pressing question now is: Where will E.B. Magalona sell its daily harvest of blue crabs?
YOUNG BUT MINDFUL
Mayor Matthew Louis “Matt” Malacon is only 23 years old. Many initially thought he was too young to confront a problem of this magnitude. Yet he has proven himself mindful of the “crabby issue.”
Aside from creating the Municipal Crab Industry Task Force (MCITF), Mayor Matt introduced an eat-all-you-can blue crab promotion during “Sabado Nights” throughout August.
Beginning August 1, around 500 kilos of blue crabs will be served at the town plaza from 5 p.m. onwards.
For only P300, crab lovers can enjoy unlimited blue crabs, along with other seafood and free entertainment from local bands.
Other seafood is available, too, plus free entertainment from the local bands.
DIRECT. CLEAR. CONCISE.
I personally talked to Mayor Matt, and his candid explanation about eat-all-you-can crabs is simple.
“Not a gimmick; a noteworthy initiative, instead,” he said. “Such is aimed at helping our crab fishers and pickers to look for a captive market where to sell their harvest. That’s all!”
Well, the neophyte mayor talks with sense, wisdom and clarity. His rationale is direct, clear and concise.
The eat-all-you-can crabs is Mayor Matt’s “silver bullet” to address US ban worthy of claps and praises.
PRAGMATIST
Well, Mayor Matt, in all respects, can be called a pragmatist. With the US crab ban hullabaloo, he showed his real self – a practical young chief executive who solves problems based on what works in real life.
Yes, issuing an executive order to create a task force to handle a problem is kinda a fixed traditional doing. But thinking or creating something that could immediately arrest any “grim scenario” is Mayor Matt’s solid advantage.
Meaning, he goes beyond established rules, usual paper works – ordinances, resolutions, executive orders – all via traditional flow of government.
Rather, what he always prefers to draw action-slash-solution to any problems.
‘EVERYMAN’ CONNECTION
Listening to this tyro mayor of E.B. Magalona, the way he speaks and unleashes his ideas, it is safe to conclude that he is also creating a unique leadership brand via “Everyman” connection.
Example, his assessment on US crab ban is quite lucid. He talked to affected individuals. He listened to them. He felt their hardship. He knew their needs.
And so, after weighing all their sentiments, he drew an immediate action coupled with mathematics, science and tourism approachdd he feels would remedy the situation.
In short, he is grasping and internalizing the issue until he builds an “Everyman” connection.
And the US crab ban ushered him to assimilate “Everyman” connection useful for him as a Generation Z (GenZ) public servant.
OLD HEAD ON YOUNG SHOULDER
In sum, yes, Mayor Matt is still young to be a chief executive. But with an immense problem he recently ecountered – the US crab ban – he proves to everyone that, in him, there’s really an old head on young shoulder. His decision, his action seemed to be that of an old man – being careful with wisdom. Hailable!
But there’s no doubt. Because Mayor Matt is not “tikalon” (boastful). Rather, he is a silent-type guy, but smart and wise beyond his years./PN
