A fish vendor at a public market in Laurel, Batangas, on Wednesday urged the public not to be afraid of eating tawilis, a freshwater sardine found in Taal Lake, saying it is safe to consume.

Maritess Pornea told the DAILY TRIBUNE she has not seen a significant drop in sales despite reports that the bodies of missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) may have been dumped in the lake.

"Huwag silang matakot na kumain ng tawilis, kami nga kumakain din nyan eh," Pornea, who has been selling tawilis for almost ten years, told this reporter in an interview.

The 34-year-old fish vendor admitted a slight decline in sales, though many people are still eating tawilis.

"Medyo humina naman 'yung benta pero kahit papaano may bumibili pa naman," she said.

"Huwag po sila matakot kumain ng tawilis dahil matagal na po nangyari 'yan, 4 years na," she added.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources earlier said that tawilis from Taal Lake is safe to eat.

A group of fish farmers in Taal Lake said that demand for tawilis has declined due to fears arising from the search for the missing sabungeros.

In a radio interview, Engr. Mario Balazon, director of the Taal Lake Aquaculture Alliance Inc., said the supply of tawilis has increased as it is currently in season, but few people are eating it.

According to him, only 2 percent of the 24,000-hectare Taal Lake is being used for aquaculture.

He added that the search for the missing sabungeros only covers a small portion of the waters in Laurel, Batangas.