SP joint committees recommend

Rigid enforcement, education,

livelihood for Malingin fishers

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado has ordered the putting up of more government troops stationed in the island Barangay of Malingin in Bien Unido, to establish peace and enforce the laws, as the clustered Coastal law Enforcement Council (CLEC) and Bantay Dagay Task Force continue to conduct inter-agency sea-borne operations against illegal fishing in one of Bohol’s marine geo-sites.

This too as the joint committee of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committees on Peace and Order and Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Protection recommends livelihood assistance, regulated access to nearby municipal waters to fish as incentive, training and education campaign while immediately activating intensified joint marine law enforcement plus establishing a joint law enforcement detachment station in Malingin Island.

And while the government is offering its soft and hard hand against illegal fishing after the drive has since killed two alleged illegal fishers, authorities continue to scour for humane solutions to poverty-spawned criminality in the area.

Subject fishermen allegedly use Danish seine (liba-liba) in literally plowing the sea to drive fish of the world renowned Danajon Double Barrier Reef, into their dragged nets.

'Liba liba' is a fishing method already banned Section 92 of Republic Act 8550, also known as The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, which bans fishing gear that damages coral reefs, seagrass beds, and other important marine habitats.

Pushed by what people claimed as poverty, even Malingin Island barangay Chairman Arne Nellas, admitted that the use of Danish seine, which has been illegalized under the Philippine Fisheries Code is still rampant in his island.

To him, taking a stand against this illegal fishing method would entail sufficient resources and support, something that he could hardly get.

In the investigation, requested by former Carlos P. Garcia mayor and now Board member Fernando Estavilla tackled on the documented illegal fishing activities, to possibly address policy and implementation gaps and strengthen local fishery laws enforcement.

Based on the data from President Carlos P. Garcia (Pres CPG) police, 888 fishermen from Barangay Malingin have been caught for illegal fishing, mostly from Liba-liba, from 2016 until 2025.

The police also reported ceasing nearly 300 bancas used in illegal fishing, about 43 cases have been filed due to this illicit activity.

For the compassionate members of the SP, bringing the full force of the law against illegal fishers has to be twinned with community development projects in livelihood and skills training for alternative livelihood to liba-liba.

The SPN joint committees then recommended for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to design and implement a comprehensive livelihood training program for the island residents and the Provincial Cooperative Development Office (PCDO) to organize and empower local community and ensure they get the needed support to access livelihood grants and social services from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Board member Jiselle Rae Aumentado Villamor, during the meeting underscored education and community awareness as a prerequisite for enforcement success.

She called for intensified grassroots dialogues, to educate local fisherfolk on the long-term socio-economic benefits of abandoning illegal practices in favor of sustainable maritime management.

On the other hand, Pres. CPG mayor Kenneth B. Estavilla, committed to grant regulated access to their municipal waters fishermen from Malingin, as a direct incentive for these fishers abandoning illegal fishing practices.

Simultaneous to that, the Committees want the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office (BPEMO) to lead a multi-sectoral team of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bohol Maritime Police Station (MARPSTA), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for the immediate intensified, joint-enforcement campaign against illegal fishing activities.

And to secure that everything is done right, the SP resolves to request the PNP, MARPSTA, and the PCG to establish a station in the island to fortify maritime law enforcement, streamline inter-agency coordination, and enhance accountability mechanisms throughout the area. (PIAbohol)

FISHING FOR HELP. Bohol governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado meets with LGU Ubay officials who sought advice on the implementation of fishery laws; one of the most contentious issues on destructive fishing which continue to happen in pockest of areas in the Danajon Double Barrier Reef, a geosite in Bohol as UNESCO Geopark. (PIABohol/PIMO)