With hooks and fishing lines, a group of fisherfolk in Barangay Madridejos, Alegria in southwestern Cebu catches less than a kilogram of sardines to feed their families. On Sept. 7, 2026, SunStar Cebu observed about 15 fisherfolk along the Madridejos coast around 9 a.m. using “sab-it,” a method of catching sardines individually with hooks and lines. For 30-year-old Joseph Gomez, fishing focuses more on securing food than earning an income. A survivor of super typhoon Odette, Gomez said he does not usually sell his catch.

Flores, C. D. (2026, September 27). Alegria fishers face uncertainty amid revival of oil operations. SunStar Cebu, pp. 4, 5.