Bantay Dagat task force commended

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The commendation of the Iloilo Provincial Board on the accomplishments of the Provincial Bantay Dagat (PBD) Task Force against illegal fishing has earned the support of provincial administrator Raul Banias.

 "I think our PBD Task Force truly deserves commendation because they have showed seriousness in protecting our sea waters from illegal fishing activities ... their relentless efforts in conducting patrol operations 24/7 have resulted to the apprehension of many illegal fishers not only from Iloilo but from areas as far as Negros, Masbate and Cebu," Banias told The FREEMAN.

 PBMember Jett Rojas (5th district, Iloilo), during the regular session last week, filed a resolution commending the task force for its intensive anti-illegal fishing drive that resulted in the apprehension of 149 fishing boats in a 3e-month operation.

 The task force also collected a total of P1,335,500 in compromise fines due to the apprehensions, and filed in court a total of 34 cases against illegal fishers.

 Banias said the past few weeks more fishing boats were apprehended by the task force, a number that has not been included yet in the report to the PB earlier.

 "We cannot yet declare that we have completely eradicated illegal fishing activities in the province, but for sure we can say that we have neutralized groups who engage in illegal fishing activities," he said.

 Banias also downplayed the efforts of certain groups to discredit the members of the task force by accusing them of engaging in extortion activities.

 "Our PBD operatives know their functions and responsibilities. Actually, they are the ones being offered bribe money which they did not accept," he said.

 Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., for his part, has been pushing for a no let-up crackdown against illegal fishing activities and ordering two more patrol boats to enhance task force operations.

Defensor said his directive was to implement the laws against illegal fishing whoever would be affected, even his fellow politicians. "Our quest is to try to regain our marine and aquatic resources especially in the Visayan Sea so that the young generation can also experience it," he said.