Liloan regulates entry of fish vessels, other sea crafts

CEBU, Philippines - The municipal government of Liloan regulates the entry, navigation and anchorage of commercial fishing vessels, ferries and other sea crafts in the town's marine sanctuaries.

The Municipal Council of Liloan has passed the ordinance last year and they wants to strictly implement the ordinance to protect and preserve town marine sanctuaries.

The ordinance cited the need to protect and preserve the adjacent surrounding perimeter of the existing marine sanctuaries in barangays Poblacion and Catarman, along and within the municipal waters of the town.

Members of the Municipal Council of Liloan earlier passed a separate ordinance declaring and establishing portion of barangays Poblacion and Catarman municipal waters as a marine sanctuary.

The said declarations and marine sanctuary establishments are in line with the municipal government of Liloan's effort to effectively and efficiently preserve, managed and develop its coastal and marine resources and the sustainable development and utilization.

Members of theMunicipal Council said that it has observed that ferries, fishing vessels and other seacrafts navigating and or engaging business in the municipal waters of Liloan dropped anchors and docked indiscriminately therebu threatening and damaging marine life and intruding into municipal waters.

Under the ordinance, any person, natural juridical found violating the ordinance shall be fined P5,000 or shall suffer imprisonment of not more than six months or both at the discretion of the court.  (FREEMAN)