Salimbangon pushes DAF bill anew

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon vows to re-file a bill seeking for the creation of a Department of Aquatic and Fisheries (DAF).

Salimbangon announced his plan yesterday during the regional launching of the National Program for Municipal Fisherfolk Registration in Central Visayas at the Crown Regency Hotel and Towers in Cebu City.

The event was attended by officials from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as well as the local chief executives from different Local Government Units in Central Visayas.

Salimbangon, who chairs the Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources in Congress, said that three senators have also gave the assurance to file the same bill in the senate, among them was Senator Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan.

“I can assure you that we will push for the creation of the Department of Aquatic and Fisheries as well as the additional manpower by establishing fisheries officers for every municipality,” Salimbangon said.

The proposed bill also seeks to establish fisheries officers in every municipality.

BFAR-7 director Andres Bojos said that there is a need to have fisheries officers in every municipality in order to ensure that the programs needed for the improvement of the fisheries will be properly implemented and solve the problems that may arise.

Bojos is optimistic that the bill will be passed. BFAR national director Atty. Asis Perez likewise believes that BFAR will soon become a separate agency apart from the Department of Agriculture.

Bojos said that with the creation of DAF, there will be a bigger budget for the fisheries sector and there will be more positions as well to hire competent and qualified personnel.

“Mapalapad na nato ang atong serbisyo and we can manage properly the rich fisheries which is part of our economic zone,” said Bojos.

Bojos said that this bill has been revised many times since 1980s but the previous administrations did not give it a priority.  (FREEMAN)