Government eyes end to Manila Bay fishing in 2015

MANILA, Philippines - The government is eyeing the closure of Manila Bay from fishing operations after 2015, pursuing alternative livelihood to fisher folks and their families who have been dependent on fishing at the scenic bay.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources revealed this plan in its compliance to a Supreme Court order on government agencies to submit updates on compliance of its ruling in December last year that upheld cleanup of Manila Bay.

“Seasonal closure of Manila Bay from fishing activities will need the conduct of the required scientific study on the biology of species endemic in Manila Bay. Should the need arise, the total closure of Manila Bay from fishing operation will be resorted to,” BFAR Assistant Director for Administrative Services Benjamin Tabios Jr. told the High Court. Tabios said the partial closure would be implemented from 2012 to 2015 while the full closure of the bay to fishing operations will be considered in 2015.

The BFAR official said the closure is aimed at “reducing further the depletion of marine and aquatic resources in Manila Bay” for the purpose of rehabilitating the bay through sustainable development. In preparation for this long-term plan, the BFAR said it would start introducing alternative livelihood to the families along Manila Bay that are dependent on fishing in the bay. It said that education and information drive would also be conducted.

Illegal fishing

Further, Tabios said their agency would focus on combating illegal fishing operations in the bay in the next three years.

He said BFAR would continue to strictly implement fisheries laws and apprehend illegal fishing activities in the bay. The agency has also decided to stop licensing new commercial fishing vessels in Navotas and Malabon as well as in Cavite, Bulacan and Bataan.

“BFAR will also strengthen its law enforcement initiatives within Manila Bay by updating its training modules for law enforcement agents and conduct new training activities within the year,” the six-page compliance stated. But the agency hinted that its jurisdiction on Manila Bay, under section 65 of R.A. 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code) is limited to the 25 sq. kilometers that is beyond municipal waters. The bay covers about 1,935 sq. kilometers.

“The only time that BFAR conducts patrols in municipal waters is when the municipality seeks BFAR’s assistance,” said Tabios.

It can be recalled that the Court has already ordered last week six Cabinet members and other government executives to explain why they should not be cited in contempt for supposedly ignoring its order directing their agencies to submit updates on compliance of its ruling in December last year that upheld the cleanup of Manila Bay.

In an order, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya and Education Secretary Jesli Lapus were given 10 days to comment on the motion filed by Concerned Residents of Manila Bay on Aug.24.

The heads of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority and Maritime Police were also covered by the order.

Contempt order

The CRMB sought issuance of contempt order against respondents and urged the Court to send “a strong message” that it is serious in enforcing the judgment ordering cleanup of the bay.

In its ruling on Dec.18 last year penned by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., the Court directed the MMDA, local government units and other concerned government agencies to undertake joint efforts to cleanup the waters of Manila Bay so that it would be fit for swimming, skin-diving and other forms of recreation.

Aside from the MMDA, the other government agencies tasked to implement the clean up of Manila are the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Education, Health, Agriculture, Public Works and Highways, Budget and Management, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police-Maritime Group and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The DENR was primarily directed to fully implement its Operational Plan for the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy for the rehabilitation and conservation of the Manila Bay at the soonest possible time.

As for the MMDA, DPWH, DILG, affected LGUs, PNP-MG, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), the SC ordered the said government agencies to dismantle and remove all shanties and illegal structures put up along the Pasig-Marikina-San Juan rivers, the Paranaque-Zapote, Las Piñas rivers, the Navotas-Malabon-Tullahan-Tenejeros rivers, and connecting waterways in Metro Manila.