Gov Aris swears in Bohol’s
Newly reorganized CLEC

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 18, (PIA) –A new set of officer of Bohol’s muti-awarded and recognized best practice in local governance on Coastal Law Enforcement Council (CLEC) takes its oath of service before Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado recently.

The councils are Bohol’s ingenious solution to issues as by-catch in the local drive on sustainable fisheries and coastal resource management.

There were times when fish wardens attempt to accost and board commercial fishers encroaching in municipal waters, but turned out that these were armed and sometimes drag the bantay dagat across municipal boundaries that they lose jurisdiction while in the process of apprehending these poachers.

Or when fishermen caught red-handed with illegal fishing paraphernalia would drop names of politicians who would eventually bail these voters out of trouble to the detriment of coastal resources which are left abused, ruined and apprehending teams demoralized.

Cognizant of these issues and with Bohol’s sustainable coastal resource management and conservation at stake, legislators then put up the Bohol Coastal law Enforcement Council (CLEC), which is a multi-sectoral and multi-agency collaboration to address coastal issues like rampant illegal fishing activities and other related issues in municipal waters.

Composed of representatives from the national, provincial, municipal, and non-government organizations involving the coastal barangays, Puroks, and local communities, the CLEC solves the issues by including a cluster of town representatives, with government law enforcement and non-government organizations representatives in a patrol single boat.

The presence of representatives from cluster towns negates the political interventions, and the risk of harm is lessened with the government law enforcement agencies in the patrol boat, council members argue.

The CLECs, being composite, deter political intervention and manipulation,

Moreover, as everyone is involved, the council taps local fishers as key intelligence network in providing information on illegal fishing activities, which strengthened the Municipal Teams.

From three district-wide CLEC, law enforcement adapted to changing times that after the 2nd Bohol Coastal Law Enforcement Summit in 2015, EO No. 1 series of 2015 enhanced CLEC and expanded its membership, created the Provincial Coastal Law Enforcement Task Force (PCLETF), created the Coastal Law Enforcement Provincial Technical Working Group (CLE-PTWG) as well as the Clustered LGUs increasing the clusters from 3 to 8.

This also opened the doors from expanded memberships involving all the communities and stakeholders from the Puroks in the coastal barangays, leading to garnering major awards and citations.

One of the modifications of the CLEC is integrating habitat conservation, protection and management per EO No. 47 series of 2022, according to Jovencia Ganub, in line with the establishment of Marine Protected Areas in municipal waters per Section 81 of RA 10654.

This also ensured a sustainable resource management covering mangroves, sea-grass beds and coral reef areas.

And to secure proper management, the Provincial CLEC reorganized the council, after cluster held elections recently. New cluster officers are: Clec 1 Chairman City Mayor Jane Censoria C. Yap, Vice Chairman, Atty. Adam Relson Jala, City Vice-Mayor, Clec 2 Chair Loon Mayor Elvi Peter L. Relampagos and Co- Chairpersons: Cortes Mayor Lynn Iven P. Lim, Maribojoc Mayor Romulo A. Manuta and Calape Mayor Julius Caesar F. Herrera.

Clec 3: Chairperson, Tubigon Mayor William R. Jao and Co-Chairpersons: Buenavista Mayor Dave D. Duallo, Clarin Mayor Eugeniano E. Ibarra and Inabanga Mayor Jose Jono C. Jumamoy. Clec 4 Chairman is Carlso P. Garcia Mayor Fernando B. Estavilla, Co chairs: Talibon Mayor Janette Garcia, Getafe Mayor Cary M. Camacho, Trinidad mayor Roberto C. Cajes and Bien Unido mayor Rene Borenaga.

Clec 5 chairperson Ubay Mayor Constantino H. Reyes, co-chairs Candijay Mayor Thamar C. Olaivar and Mabini Mayor Ongie Grace Bernales – Lim, CLEC 6 chairperson Duero mayor Al C. Taculad, Co chairs: Anda Mayor Angelina B. Simacio, Jagna Mayor Joseph A. Rañola and Guindulman Mayor Albino Balo.

Clec 7 chairperson Garcia Hernandez mayor Filadelfo Jess III V. Baja and co chairs Valencia mayor Dionisio Neil A. Balite, Dimiao Mayor Randolph L. Ang and Lila mayor Atty Arturo Piollo II, CLEC 8 chairman Dauis mayor Capt. Roman B. Bullen and co chairs Baclayon Mayor Atty. Alvin J. Uy, Panglao mayor Capt. Edgardo F. Arcay, Loay Mayor Atty, Hilario L. Ayuban and Alburquerque Mayor Don Ritchie P. Buates.

Aside from the chairman and vice chairs, CLEC members include municipal vice mayors, SP environment and agriculture chair, municipal agriculturists, information officers, CRM Officers and fishery technicians, PNP, BEMO, BFAR representative, DENR – CENRO representatives, PCG representative, PNP Maritime Group representative, Provincial Legal Office representative, NGOs present in the area, MFARMC Chairpersons, coastal Barangay Captains, Coastal SK Chair, coastal Purok leaders in all coastal barangays, coastal Barangay Tanods, People’s and Fishermen’s Association’s in the area. (PIA-7/Bohol)

COOPERATIVISM IN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado solemnized the oath taking of the newly reconstituted cluster Coastal Law Enforcement Council (CLEC) 2, one of the 8 councils that have been managing the sustainable utilization of the coastal resource, to assure an environment conducive to the growth of responsible Boholano fishermen. (PIABohol)

CLICKING CLEC. With the successes of the CLEC which was established as an institution in marine and coastal resource management since 2003, Bohol has empowered communities to own-up the campaign on coastal resource management for their future generations through its multi-awarded CLEC. (PIAbohol)