Talisay, Cordova officials to meet over fishing rights

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City government through Mayor Socrates Fernandez is expected to meet with Cordova town officials to discuss the use of its municipal waters.

This planned meeting is an offshoot of the killing of a Bantay Dagat worker from Cordova allegedly by two fishermen from Talisay City over fishing rights.

Through a dialogue with Cordova officials, Talisay hopes to iron out the perceived kinks in order to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

The city council has approved a measure requesting Mayor Socrates Fernandez to talk things out the town’s officials.

The measure was first filed last January 25 by Councilor Romeo Villarante of the minority block, and was referred to the committee on Agriculture and Aquatic Resources of Councilor Bernard Odilao.

Last Tuesday, Odilao submitted his committee report recommending the approval of Villarante's proposal.

"The Committee in consultation with the Fisher folks present, the Bantay Dagat, and the C-FARMC agreed that it is vital to have a conversation and possibly an ongoing friendly dialogue with our neighboring municipalities and cities in terms of being able to fish in their respective territories," read the committee report.

It also added that during the consultation, it was agreed that Fernandez "should initiate these talks with our neighboring cities and municipalities as it is our Talisay Fisher folks that need extra space for their fishing livelihood and vice versa provided it is done within legal means."

The report was also signed by committee vice chairman Danny Caballero and members Councilors Semy Cabuenas, Charles Basillote, and Eduardo "Digul" Gullas III.

Villarante filed his resolution hoping to end the friction between the

city's fishermen and bantay dagat personnel of Cordova.

The councilor said that "there has been a prevalent complaint from the fishermen of Talisay City regarding the arrests made in different municipalities in relation to their fishing activities within their respective municipal waters.

Villarante was referring to what happened to local fishermen Luis Fernandez and Dongcoy Yongco, who were alleged to have killed Cordova Marine watchman Rudy Sultan last December, reportedly because the two were seen fishing in the Cordova waters, which under the law of Cordova is illegal. – THE FREEMAN