Philippines, Vietnam to hold technical exchanges on crops, fisheries protection

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to hold technical exchanges for the protection of the crops and fisheries subsectors after the resumption of bilateral talks on agriculture, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.

The agreements were made during the first meeting of the joint agriculture working group of the two countries held recently. The meeting was co-chaired by DA assistant secretary for policy and planning Orlan Calayag and Vietnam Agriculture and Rural Development vice minister Vu Van Tam of Vietnam.

The bilateral talks between the two countries were reenergized in June.

The two countries have agreed to collaborate on integrated pest management and post harvest technologies for various crops.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said both parties have agreed to have their plant protection experts meet to determine the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for specific fruits and vegetables for export.

The Philippines has also expressed interest in gaining access to technology for the control of black pepper disease and rice production systems that can significantly increase yield.

In the fisheries sector, the two countries have agreed to effectively carry out the Memorandum of Agreement on Fisheries Cooperation signed in 2009, which covers law enforcement at sea as well as on possible areas of technical cooperation.

“We aim to bolster a united effort in aquaculture, fisheries, processing and marketing, including but not limited to advanced technology transfer, training and capacity building, culinary or processing practices, post-harvest technologies and exchange of visits,” said Alcala.

The Philippines is particularly interested in gaining techniques for aquaculture of fresh water species like cream dory.

The two countries also revisited the establishment of a hotline where they can immediately coordinate on the appropriate response on incidences of illegal fishing as well as on emergency response for distressed Filipino and Vietnamese fishermen in the high seas.

While the groundwork for the establishment of such was laid down in March, Alcala said the hotline is seen to be fully operational by the end of 2015 as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Vietnam’s Directorate of Fisheries are still “working on specific details.”

The two countries are now working on a protocol for peaceful resolution of apprehensions at sea, especially those pertaining to illegal fishing activities in respective territorial waters.

Offenders caught in respective territorial waters should be compelled to abide by the law of the host country but still be assured of safe repatriation.

There have been two incidences of apprehension of Vietnamese fishing vessels in Philippine territorial waters last year.

In April 2015, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) apprehended seven Vietnamese fishermen for poaching off the cost of Zambales. The fishing vessel was stopped off Silanguin port in Subic.