War vs. illegal fishing LAST BIYAHENG BUKID 2016 VISITS SUAL, PANGASINAN

By Manny Piñol

Before the end of the year, I decided to make one more Biyaheng Bukid and meet with fisher folks and local leaders of Pangasinan and La Union Dec. 29.

The fisher folks most of whom were wearing the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan t-shirt provided by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources filled the still unfinished Fisherman’s Center in the newly-completed wharf and causeway of Sual, Pangasinan.

Top leaders of the province, including Gov. Amado Espino Jr., Cong. Pol Bataoil, Cong. Toff de Venecia, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia and the mayors of the coastal towns of Pangasinan, joined the fisher folks in what was considered as one of the biggest gatherings of small fishermen in the province.

Fisher folks from La Union also joined the gathering led by the President of the Association of Barangay Chairmen of the province.

Interacting with the fisher folks during the forum, I was able to confirm right away what I had been hearing about the proliferation of illegal fishing in the coastal provinces facing the West Philippine Sea – Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

When I started talking about Illegal Fishing and the resolve of the Dept. of Agriculture and the BFAR to stop the destructive fishing methods, there was a deathly silence among the fisher folks.

But I was happy to hear that a group of fisher folks guided by an advocacy group is waging a dangerous crusade against illegal fishing in the coastal areas of Region I.

Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona of BFAR confirmed that Illegal Fishing is a serious problem in Region I.

Having confirmed that, I offered the fisher folks an option to Illegal Fishing and this includes new fishing boats complete with fishing gears and livelihood projects to tide them over during the off-fishing seasons and the typhoon season.

It was then when the fisher folks started interacting with me more enthusiastically, some of them even asking what fishing methods are considered illegal by the BFAR.

The campaign against Illegal Fishing, not only in Region I but in all other fishing grounds of the country, is going to be a difficult task given the lack of patrol boats and resources on the part of the government.

What exacerbates the problem is the involvement of some local political leaders, including village chiefs and mayors, who are either directly benefiting from the activity or are simply too lazy to address the problem.

In Sual, Pangasinan on Thursday, I instructed USec. Gongona and the BFAR Director for Region I, Nestor Domenden, that we will consider the coastal waters of the four provinces facing the West Philippine Sea as our main battleground in the war against Illegal Fishing.

There are two options which we will offer to the fishermen:

1. Stop Illegal Fishing and avail of livelihood programs and support from government; or

2. Face the full force of the law under an administration which will not tolerate illegal activities or compromise in its campaign to ensure that the seas are protected from destructive fishing methods.

On Thursday, we started the delivery of fiberglass fishing boats complete with gear for fisher folks who are not involved in illegal fishing and other livelihood interventions to support them during the off-fishing season.

I also announced to the Mayors the annual search for the most outstanding fishing town under the MMK which awards P20-M to an area which does not have illegal fishing, no garbage floating in its waters and which has a declared marine sanctuary and a mangrove rehabilitation area.

The winners for 2016 will be known during ceremonies to be attended by President Rody Duterte who will give the winning towns the cash prizes for livelihood programs and a Presidential Trophy.

The first runner up with receive P8-M, the second runner up P5-M and the regional winners P2-M each.

#Changeishere! #PresRodyCares! #DuterteDelivers! #DuraLexSedLex! #MalinisAtMasaganangKaragatan!

(Photos show the first batch of the estimated 700 fiberglass fishing boats turned over to Pangasinan and La Union fisher folks and the forum held in Sual attended by top political leaders of the province. Photos by Ardy Tompong, AFID, Dept. of Agriculture)