Masantol Is Pampanga's Crab Capital

Masantol, through which the big Pampanga River passes, is the province’s undisputed crab capital. Mangrove crabs (formerly called “mud crab”) are a major product of fishpond operators who manage no less than 12,000 hectares of ponds, according to Crisanto N. Lapaz of the provincial agriculture and fishery council (PAFC).

- Zac B. Sarian

The areas along the river used to be planted to the traditional rice and other crops like corn and vegetables. But when saline water started coming in from the sea, the farmers could no longer grow the crops they used to plant. That’s when they shifted to operating fishponds.

According to Lapaz, there was a tremendous financial improvement in the lives of the residents. Raising crabs, bangus, prawns, tilapia, and other species proved to be much more profitable than planting rice. That’s because the fishponds produced high-quality crabs, prawns, bangus, tilapia, and other minor species.

WIDENING BY DPWH —At this time (June 1, 2017), however, some of the fishpond operators are affected by the widening of the river being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways. The agency has already demolished a number of fishponds to give way to a bigger outlet of water from upstream during the rainy months. The activity is also aimed at minimizing the effect of the flow of sea water towards the upper reaches of the river.