More members eyed for CLEAR-7

CEBU, Philippines - Various government agencies and environmental groups have started discussing the proposed amendment to the memorandum of agreement on the expansion of the membership of Coastal Law Enforcement Alliance Region-7.

Lawyer Edward Lorenzo, legal and policy director of Oceana Philippines, said the amended MOA was supposed to be signed by all parties yesterday but was deferred due to several suggestions that came up during the discussion.

"Nothing much have been changed in the proposed MOA but it just need fine tuning," Lorenzo said.

In the 2000, the original signatories to the memorandum of understanding agreed to form CLEAR-7. In 2002 and 2012, the agreement was amended via MOA to expand its membership.

This year, CLEAR-7 is expanding its membership once again in order to effectively adapt to the changes in the laws, rules and regulations and challenges affecting coastal law enforcement, such as the compelling need to address food security and alleviate poverty by preventing, deterring and eliminating illegal, unreported fishing.

CLEAR-7 was established to develop and promote a common set of sustainable fishing interventions, increase awareness of stakeholders on sustainable fishing, reduce incidence of intrusion of illegal practices/activities within coastal and marine ecosystem and the intrusion of commercial fishing in municipal waters of Region 7.

It was also established to enhance the skills of law enforcers in coastal and marine law enforcement and as an effective mechanism to protect the rights of people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

The members of CLEAR-7 includes the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7, Department of Interior and Local Government-7, Philippine National Police-Police Regional Office-7, Regional Maritime Unit-7, Coast Guard District Central Visayas, Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command, Naval Forces Central, National Bureau of Investigation-7, Bureau of Customs-7, Philippine Information Agency-7, Maritime Industry Authority-7, Cebu Ports Authority and Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office-Negros Oriental/Siquijor/Bohol.

For local government units, the members are the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu.

For the non-government organizations, the members are Oceana Philippines, Environmental Legal Assistance Center, Philippine Earth Justice Center, Inc., and Rare Philippines.

“We are starting monitoring very critically on those areas by noting down certain individuals or corporations who would be violating and we would ask them to take them out or else appropriate actions will be made in accordance with the law,” said Eddie Llamedo, spokesperson of DENR-7.

Llamedo said they have identified hotspot areas in the city wherein illegal acts are rampant. The areas include Escario Street, Osmeña Boulevard, N. Bacalso Avenue, V. Rama, M. Velez and General Maxilom Avenue.

As part of due process, Llamedo said violators will be issued a notice to remove those materials or ads that were nailed or pierced to a tree.  He said they are implementing a three-strike policy.

“If violators failed to heed the notice then they will be sanctioned according to existing laws,” he said. — (FREEMAN)