MANILA, Philippines — Several lawmakers in the House of Representatives Wednesday feasted on fish dishes that were caught in Taal Lake to revive the fishing industry that has been affected by the fishkill that began in the boundaries of Batangas and Cavite.

Cebu Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, chairman of the House committee on aquaculture and fisheries resources, invited congressmen representing party-lists and districts, where the fishing industry suffered a blow from the fishkill.

“We want to prove that it is safe. It’s good! Bangus (Milk fish) is very delicious and we should eat it,” said Salimbangon, who brought kinilaw or seviche, paksiw or fish in vinegar sauce, as well as grilled and deep-fried milk fish in the House Media Center Wednesday morning.

Salimbangon said that the fishes used to cook the dishes were caught from the Taal Lake early Wednesday morning and were brought to Batasang Pambansa Complex in Batasan, Quezon City to present to the members of the media for lunch.

Batangas Rep. Sonny Collantes clarified that the fish kill phenomenon in Taal Lake only affected 10 percent of the fishing industry in the third district of Batangas, stressing that phenomenon has not affected the rest of the industry in the area.

Bulacan Rep. Linabell Villarica, who joined the boodle fight, expressed hope that they would encourage consumers to start buying fishes again, reiterating that fishes caught in the coastal areas in Bulacan such as Obando, Marilao, and Meycauayan as well as in neigboring provinces are all safe.

This developed as a Quezon City councilor asked the parents of school children to prepare nutritious snacks to ensure the good health of their children after receiving complaints of the possibility of “tainted fish’’ being used to make fish balls and similar food products.

Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes of the city’s third district also asked the city health department and concerned offices at city hall to verify the report as street foods are now on sale near the vicinity of the city’s public schools.

“We received an anonymous phone call saying bangus and tilapia that are unsafe to eat are being made to fish balls. I want city hall to conduct a city-wide inspection to ensure public well-being especially among the school children,’’ Reyes added.