By RHAYDZ B. BARCIA
LEGAZPI CITY: Two
years ago, President Benigno Aquino III gave the Maritime Police and the
Philippine Coast Guard in Bicol an order to intensify their operation against
big time illegal fishing activities in the region.
The president's marching order was made during the launching
of Albay Climate Change Academy in 2011 following complaints from nine bishops
in Bicol who wrote a letter of appeal to the president asking his intervention
to put a stop to the massive illegal fishing activities in the two major
fishing grounds in the western seaboard of Bicol, such as Ragay Gulf and Burias
Pass.
The letter of appeal was signed by then Caceres Archbishops
Leonardo Legaspi, Bishop Joey "Bong" Z. Baylon of the Diocese of
Legazpi, Bishop Emeritus of Legazpi Jose C Sorra, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of
Legazpi Lucilo B. Quiambao, Bishop Jose Rojas Jr of the Diocese of Libmanan,
Bishop Arturo M Bastes of the Diocese of Sorsogon, Bishop Gilbert A Garcera of
the Diocese of Daet, Bishop Manolo A De Los Santos of the Diocese of Virac, and
Bishop Jose Bantolo of the Diocese of Masbate.
The bishops condemned the local authorities, as well as law
enforcers in Bicol for their ineptness to stop the massive illegal commercial
fishing taking place under their very noses in the western seaboard of the
Bicol peninsula.
In response to the prelates' letter of appeal, Aquino
directed the PCG and Maritime Police to strengthen the campaign against bigtime
illegal fishing activities here.
Msgr Angel Dy, head of the Sorsogon Social Action
Foundation, Inc. in a press conference said that the illegal commercial fishing
in Bicol specifically in Burias-Ticao Pass halted for at least six months after
the President's issuance of directive but after the few months lull, illegal
fishing operators were at it again.
"The illegal fishing operation in Ticao-Burais Pass
areas stopped for just six months after the marching order of President Aquino
but after that illegal fishing operations resurged and even worsened," Dy
lamented.
The law that prohibits commercial fishing within 15km of
municipal waters have been disregarded by commercial fishers who are known to
have connection with high ranking officials of the government, according to
church officials here. – Bicol Mail
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