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Escoto: BFAR’s WPS ops need added funding
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which has been conducting patrols with the Philippine Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea, welcomes a proposal to reallocate confidential funds to the bureau. An agency of the Department of Agriculture, the BFAR, through its director, Atty. Demosthenes Escoto, said on Tuesday the added funding would significantly enhance its monitoring and surveillance efforts in the WPS. Escoto said that while the decision rests with Congress, he is grateful to lawmakers for considering the augmentation of BFAR’s funds. “We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the members of Congress advocating for additional funds for the DA-BFAR and other security agencies,” Escoto said. “This initiative would empower our agency to strengthen and enhance our monitoring, control, and surveillance activities in the WPS and other fishing grounds to ensure the sustainable use of our marine resources and safeguard the livelihoods of our fisherfolk,” he added. Utilizing its current assets, BFAR has been actively combating illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, a persistent threat in Philippine waters, Escoto said. He said the agency employs floating assets to monitor unlawful fishing activities and conduct resupply missions in collaboration with government agencies, particularly the PCG. Supply missions These missions provide essentials such as engine oil, drinking water, and ready-to-eat snacks to Filipino fisherfolk engaged in fishing activities in the WPS. This year, the DA-BFAR also launched the Livelihood Activities to Enhance Fisheries Yields and Economic Gains from the WPS, a livelihood project worth nearly P80 million. The program seeks to provide local fisherfolk with essential tools, knowledge, fishing gear and paraphernalia, and post-harvest training to help them fish more effectively in the WPS and reduce their post-harvest losses. Likewise, the DA-BFAR delivered last June almost P5 million worth of livelihood inputs and capacity-building programs to residents of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan, under the LAYAG-WPS project. The assistance included fiber-reinforced plastic boats, fish aggregating devices, rain catchers, and more. “The DA-BFAR respects the wisdom of our lawmakers in determining the need for budget augmentation,” Escoto said. “Nevertheless, the DA-BFAR remains committed to combating IUU fishing and empowering Filipino fisherfolk with our existing assets and resources.” “We want to ensure that they can fish peacefully, productively, and sustainably in our waters, especially in the WPS, which rightfully belongs to Filipinos,” he added. The post Escoto: BFAR’s WPS ops need added funding appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Confidential fund to boosts BFAR surveillance efforts in WPS
Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Atty. Demosthenes Escoto on Tuesday said reallocating confidential funds to the bureau would significantly enhance its monitoring, control, and surveillance efforts in the West Philippine Sea and other fishing grounds across the country. Escoto said that while the decision rests with Congress, he is grateful to lawmakers' consideration of augmenting its funds. "We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the members of Congress advocating additional funds to DA-BFAR and other security agencies," Escoto said. "This initiative would empower our agency to strengthen and enhance our existing monitoring, control, and surveillance activities in the WPS and other fishing grounds to ensure the sustainable use of our marine resources and safeguard the livelihoods of our fisherfolk," he added. Utilizing its current assets and available resources, DA-BFAR has been actively combating illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, a persistent threat in Philippine waters. The agency employs floating assets to monitor unlawful fishing activities and conducts resupply missions in collaboration with government agencies, particularly the Philippine Coast Guard. These missions provide essentials such as engine oil, drinking water, and ready-to-eat snacks to Filipino fisherfolk engaged in fishing activities in the WPS. This year, the DA-BFAR also launched the Livelihood Activities to Enhance Fisheries Yields and Economic Gains from WPS, a livelihood project worth nearly P80 million. The program seeks to provide local fisherfolk with essential tools, knowledge, fishing gear and paraphernalia, and post-harvest training to help them fish more effectively in the WPS and reduce their post-harvest losses. Last June, the DA-BFAR delivered almost P5 million worth of livelihood inputs and capacity-building programs to residents of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan, under the LAYAG-WPS project. Assistance included Fiber Reinforced Plastic boats, fish aggregating devices, rain catchers, and more. "The DA-BFAR respects the wisdom of our lawmakers in determining the need for budget augmentation," Escoto said. "Nevertheless, the DA-BFAR remains committed to combating IUU fishing and empowering Filipino fisherfolk with our existing assets and resources. We want to ensure they can fish peacefully, productively, and sustainably in our waters, especially in the WPS, which rightfully belongs to Filipinos," he added. The post Confidential fund to boosts BFAR surveillance efforts in WPS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCG eyes entry of Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal
The Philippine government will help Filipino fishermen to once again enter and go fishing in the lagoon of Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, in the West Philippine Sea. Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard for WPS, said they are collaborating with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Armed Forces of the Philippines to enter the area after it removed the floating barriers installed by the Chinese Coast Guard in the southeast entrance of shoal. “The PCG together with the BFAR, and of course with the support of our AFP, through the intelligence cooperation that we have already established, we will be able to sustain this patrol with the end goal of once again allowing fishermen to be able to go inside the lagoon,” Tarriela said in a television interview on Tuesday. “And also to open this, as you said it was already decided by the arbitral award that it is not just for Filipinos but this is a traditional fishing ground for Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipinos. So we are going to abide by the decision of the international ruling and that is our end goal,” he added. Tarriela said it was still possible for the Philippines to assert its rights over Scarborough Shoal, after the 2012 standoff—wherein Chinese vessels began guarding the lagoon and barred Filipino ships and fishing boats from entering the area. “As I have said, since the new administration took office, we have already strategized how can we be able to take control once again of Bajo de Masinloc, especially the lagoon,” he stressed. “For so many months, we were able to calibrate our deployment in such time that we can already anchor the distance of 300 meters,” he added. Tarriela said these efforts by the Philippines will continue. “This will be sustained in the next coming days but I don't want to detail in public how are we going to do that,” he noted. Tarriela said the removal of the floating barriers was done upon the instructions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who also heads the National Task Force on the WPS. "The decisive action of the PCG to remove the barrier aligns with international law and the Philippines’ sovereignty over the shoal," he said. The post PCG eyes entry of Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCG condemns China-installed floating barrier in southeast part of Bajo de Masinloc
The Philippines has accused the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) of building a "floating barrier" that forbids Filipinos from fishing in the contested area of the West Philippine Sea. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Jay Tarriela said the barrier in part of the Scarborough Shoal prevents Filipino fishing boats from entering the shoal and depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities. Images from the region, known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines, showed Chinese boats set up and monitored several buoys and barriers arranged and protected by Chinese boats. Tarriela said the PCG and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) personnel found the Chinese boats setting up the 300-meter-long barrier on Friday while on a "routine maritime patrol." "Three CCG's Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) and Chinese Maritime Militia's service boat installed the floating barrier upon arrival of the BFAR vessel in the vicinity of the shoal. The Filipino fishermen reported that the CCG vessels usually install floating barriers whenever they monitor many Filipino fishermen in the area," Tarriela said. He added that the BFAR vessel observed more than 50 FFBs engaged in fishing activities in the area during the routine maritime patrol. Recognizing the importance of supporting the artisanal or subsistence fishing of these fishermen, Tariella said the BFAR provided them with various grocery items and fuel subsidies to sustain their operations. However, a total of four CCG vessels, namely CCG-3065, CCG-3066, CCG-3105, and CCG-3301, initiated a series of 15 radio challenges in an attempt to drive away the BFAR vessel and FFBs. "The CCG crew alleged that the presence of the BFAR vessel and Filipino fishermen violated international law and the domestic laws of the People's Republic of China (PRC)," Tariella said. "The BFAR vessel responded to each and every radio calls and emphasized that they were carrying out a routine patrol within the territorial sea of BDM," he added. Tariella further mentioned that the CCG vessels maintained a safe distance and moved away upon realizing the presence of media personnel onboard the BFAR vessel. "The PCG will continue to work closely with all concerned government agencies to address these challenges, uphold our maritime rights and protect our maritime domains," Tarriela said. However, the Chinese embassy in Manila has yet to comment on the matter. China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. Beijing annexed the Scarborough Shoal in 2012, forcing Filipino fishermen to travel farther in search of lesser catches. During the period when bilateral ties were significantly improving under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, Beijing allowed Filipino fishermen to return to the uninhabited shoal. However, since Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his successor, gained government last year, tensions have increased once more. The post PCG condemns China-installed floating barrier in southeast part of Bajo de Masinloc appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCG, BFAR condemn China’s intallation of floating barrier in Bajo de Masinloc
The Philippine Coast Guard issued a statement condemning China's installation of a floating barrier in Bajo de Masinloc. Here's the full statement: PCG, BFAR STRONGLY CONDEMN CHINA'S INSTALLATION OF A FLOATING BARRIER IN BAJO DE MASINLOC The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) strongly condemn the China Coast Guard's (CCG) installation of a floating barrier in the southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc (BDM) Shoal, which prevents the Filipino Fishing Boats (FFBs) from entering the shoal and depriving them to do fishing activity. The floating barrier, with an estimated length of 300 meters, was discovered by the PCG and BFAR personnel onboard BRP Datu Bankaw, which conducted a maritime patrol mission on 22 September 2023 at the vicinity of BDM. During a routine maritime patrol, the BFAR vessel observed more than 50 FFBs engaged in fishing activities in the area. Recognizing the importance of supporting these fishermen, the BFAR provided them with various grocery items and fuel subsidies to sustain their operations. However, the CCG-3105 initiated a series of 15 radio challenges in an attempt to drive away the BFAR vessel. The CCG crew claimed that the presence of the BFAR vessel violated international law and the domestic laws of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It was observed that upon realizing the presence of media personnel aboard the BFAR vessel, the CCG-3105 maintained a safe distance and moved away. PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Artemio M Abu, expresses his commitment to supporting the BFAR and other national government agencies in their efforts to ensure the safety and security of our Filipino fishermen. The PCG will continue to work closely with the government to address these challenges, uphold our maritime rights, and protect our maritime territories. CG Commodore Jay Tarriela Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea The post PCG, BFAR condemn China’s intallation of floating barrier in Bajo de Masinloc appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
500 EDCA deals in 2024 pipeline
The United States has committed to more than 500 bilateral military engagements with the Philippines next year, which would primarily feature the stepping up of war games and joint sea patrols. An Armed Forces of the Philippines official described the engagements as encompassing exercises and high-level exchanges between the allied nations on security cooperation and strategic vision, including maritime security, information sharing, and capacity and capability development, among others. The commitments were made during last week’s annual Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board meeting, said the AFP official, who requested anonymity. Meanwhile, AFP Public Affairs chief, Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto, said highlights of the activities will include an increased “tempo” in the joint exercises. At the same time, projects under the Enhanced Development Cooperation Agreement will be scaled up. He said engagements with other key international partners will also be part of the new set-up. During the meeting, AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., and US Indo-Pacific Command Chief Admiral John Aquilino reaffirmed the “steadfast commitment of the Philippines and the United States to safeguard their respective nations and the Indo-Pacific region.” “The meeting was the culminating activity of the planning cycle that assessed previous activities and set out over 500 bilateral engagements for 2024,” Ileto said. Increasing the American role in the maritime conflict with China is expected to be matched by the latter through increased aggressiveness in staking its claim in the West Philippine Sea. Swarming by vessels resumes The AFP Western Command on Saturday expressed alarm over the heightened presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels and the massive coral harvesting at Rozul, or Iroquois, Reef, located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. In a weekly news forum in Quezon City, Wescom commander, Vice Admiral Albert Carlos, reported the “resurgence” of swarming incidents in the West Philippine Sea, with about 40 Chinese fishing vessels spotted as of 15 September at Rozul Reef, which is located south of Recto Bank. Carlos said the latest figure is higher than the 33 vessels spotted on 24 August and the 24 tracked on 7 September. Swarming was also observed at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, where five Chinese fishing vessels were spotted, and Baragatan (Nares) Bank, with two boats, according to a Wescom news release on 14 September. “But the good news is we also have our presence there,” Carlos said, referring to vessels of the Philippine Navy and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. “So, we are addressing the issue of this swarming,” he added. Harmful harvesting Carlos noted that in July, the Philippine Navy deployed divers to conduct an “underwater survey” of the swarmed area and found “there were no more corals” at Rozul Reef. The military is coordinating with scientists and experts to assess the area, he said, adding that it specifically wants to verify the divers’ assessment that massive harvesting of corals happened just recently. “We saw that there were no more corals. The corals were damaged, and there was debris,” he said. “We are not making any conclusions at this time. It’s a work in progress, but we just want to report coral harvesting in the area where (the Chinese were) seen loitering and swarming.” Keeping the peace Carlos said government troops want to “keep the peace and avoid miscalculations” in the WPS despite the recent incidents. He, however, guaranteed a heightened military presence in the Philippines’ waters. “The presence (of Chinese vessels) is already alarming because we have the sovereign rights in our exclusive economic zone. Now, coral harvesting is still unverified. We are not saying that they are harvesting our corals. We suspect somebody is harvesting our corals, which means they are violating our sovereign rights. We have the exclusive right to exploit resources in the West Philippine Sea,” Carlos said. “For the Western Command, that is alarming, because it might appear that we are remiss in our duty to protect our territory, as well as the riches of our exclusive economic zone. So we are doubling our efforts on that. We are going to address that issue by increasing our presence there,” he said. Joint patrols assessed Carlos said the government is “carefully” studying offers by other countries to conduct joint patrols with Philippine forces. For now, the military is carrying out unilateral maritime patrols in the WPS, he said, adding that these are being “jointly conducted with the Philippine Coast Guard and the BFAR, not with any foreign country.” “We are in engagement with whoever offers to help us, whoever shares our desire, our objective to establish a rules-based international order. We are studying it carefully. All the offers are on the table,” he said. More EDCA projects Ileto said Brawner and Aquilino also agreed to hasten the completion of the EDCA projects. There were 32 projects approved. The two officials are eyeing 63 more EDCA projects. “More importantly, it reaffirmed the two nations’ commitment to the PH-US alliance as espoused in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty,” he said. The Philippines and the US military officials also agreed to jointly push for a free and open Indo-Pacific region “against a backdrop of a rules-based international order,” Ileto said. The post 500 EDCA deals in 2024 pipeline appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BFAR to distribute 43 fiberglass boats to 200 fishers in Bicol
By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-5 (Bicol) will distribute next month 43 fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) boats to more or less 200 fisherfolk beneficiaries in the six provinces of the region. In an interview on Thursday, Rowena Briones, BFAR-5 information officer, said the 22-footer FRP boats with complete […].....»»
PBBM opens Samar Pacific Coastal Road
CATARMAN, Northern Samar — Five years since the start of its construction, the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project, which completes the circumferential road connecting the three provinces of Samar Island, is finally completed. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of the 11.6-kilometer SPCR project worth P1.17 billion on Friday in Barangay Simora, Palapag, Northern Samar. The project also included the construction of three bridges that connected Northern Samar’s Pacific towns to the rest of the province. The project, which cost around 1.17 billion pesos, was initiated in 2018 through a collaboration between the local and national governments, as well as the Korea Export-Import Bank Economic Development Cooperation loan. “With the opening of this road and its bridges, the development of Northern Samar’s rich agricultural lands and bountiful fishing grounds will follow suit. It will also expedite the delivery and movement of our basic goods and services, which will hopefully boost our people’s quality of life,” Marcos said. Governor Edwin Ongchuan expressed his gratitude to President Marcos and the Department of Public Works and Highway for their support, highlighting the economic benefits of the project in terms of increased agricultural productivity, improved tourism, and enhanced peace and resiliency efforts in Northern Samar. “The SPCR will greatly impact the economic development of our province, as it will remarkably encourage increased agricultural productivity of the thousands of our farmers and fisherfolks, thereby improving our program for food self-sufficiency. It will also boost our tourism industry and help sustain our peace and resiliency efforts in Northern Samar,” Ongchuan said. Governor Ongchuan also acknowledged the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte for including SPCR 1 in the priority funding of the national government under its “Build Build Build” Program and the Government of Korea for its support to the project. South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-Hwa said the SPCR project is part of their country’s commitment to helping in the Philippines’ development. “Local communities stand to gain from this grand infrastructure undertaking. SPCR will highlight the beauty of the island, ease the movement of people and goods, improve the delivery of services, and spur economic and business activities,” Lee added. Aside from opening the road project, President Marcos also led in the distribution of P91-worth of assistance to 2,500 vulnerable residents of Northern Samar. The Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, among others, distributed material and financial assistance to the beneficiaries. The Provincial Agriculture Office distributed farming equipment, the DA provided tractors, irrigation systems, and seeds, and BFAR distributed fishing boats and aquaculture implements, among other assistance. The event also included a job fair to help jobseekers in the province. Governor Ongchuan emphasized the significance of the program in providing direct access to consumers for farmers and entrepreneurs, contributing to increased income and affordability of basic necessities, and expressed his commitment to working with the national government for the country’s progress. The post PBBM opens Samar Pacific Coastal Road appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
WPS fishers to get P80-M assistance
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will provide P80 million in livelihood assistance to Filipinos fishing in the West Philippine Sea. The amount will be spent on fishing equipment such as bancas, payao, lambaklad, fishing gears or paraphernalia, seaweeds propagation gears and post-harvest equipment, BFAR head of Information and Fisherfolk Coordination Unit and spokesperson Nazario Briguera said at the weekly Laging Handa press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday. Fuel subsidy for municipal and commercial fishing boats will also be provided. Beneficiaries of the aid are fishers from provinces fronting the WPS, he said. Covered are the areas of Region III, Region I and MIMAROPA, including the Pag-asa Group of Island. Briguera said the aid is part of BFAR’s Livelihood Activities to Enhance Fisheries Yield and Economic Gains for the West Philippine Sea Project. The project includes big bancas to enhance the capacity of fishermen to catch fish in the WPS. “We have to increase and improve their (fishermen) capacity to fish to also enhanced their production. That’s what we do. To really implement projects that would boost the productivity of our fisherfolk,” Briguera concluded. According to the BFAR spokesperson, the livelihood assistance is in line with the efforts of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to serve fisherfolks. Meanwhile, Briguera downplayed reports that fish harvest in the WPS has decreased because of Chinese encroachment. “The decrease in catch is not directly attributable to issues happening in the West Philippine Sea. The country is always experiencing strong weather that may cause it,” he said. The post WPS fishers to get P80-M assistance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BFAR to extend P80M aid to fisherfolk near WPS
Close to P80 million worth of livehood aid for fisherfolk near the West Philippine Sea will be provided by the Bureau of Fish and Aquatic Resources, the agency spokesperson reported Tuesday. At the weekly Laging Handa press briefing in Malacañang, BFAR head of Information and Fisherfolk Coordination Unit and spokesperson Nazario Briguera said this was through their LAYAG West Philippine Sea project, or Livelihood Activities to Enhance Fisheries Yield and Economic Gains for the West Philippine Sea. The LAYAG West Philippine Sea project, according to Briguera, will enhance the production of of fishermen the said area. "So we’re looking at close to 80 million pesos ang mailalaan natin for 2023 para po ipatupad itong proyektong ito diyan po sa (will be spent for 2023 to implement the project in) West Philippine Sea," the BFAR official explained, specifically mentioning "mga lalawigan na nakaharap sa (provinces fronting the) West Philippine Sea." The aid will come in the form of bancas, payao, lambaklad, different fishing gear or paraphernalia, seaweeds propagation gear and post-harvest equipment. It will also include fuel subsidy for municipal fishing boats and commercial fishing boats. The areas covered include Region III, Region I and MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque and Palawan), including those in the Pag-asa Group of Islands. Briguera also downplayed reports of a decrease in fish harvest in the regions because of Chinese encroachment, citing data and figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority for the period 2021 to 2022. "Ito po ay hindi naman directly attributed doon sa mga nangyayari ngayong isyu diyan sa West Philippine Sea. Of course ang bansa kasi natin ay dalawin po ng masasamang panahon, so maaari ito iyong dahilan (We cannot directly attribute [the decrease in catch] to the issue of West Philippine Sea. The country always experiences bad weather, so that may be the reason)," he said. "We have to increase and improve their (fishermen) capacity to fish to also enhance their production... That's what we do. To really implement projects that would boost the productivity of our fisherfolk," Briguera concluded. The post BFAR to extend P80M aid to fisherfolk near WPS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bulacan fisherfolk undergo fiberglass boat-making training
MARILAO, Bulacan — The Department of Agriculture Central Luzon’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Provincial Agriculture Office and the local government of Marilao conducted a training for the making of fiberglass reinforced plastic boats. The livelihood training is under the FB Pagbabago as part of the celebration of the Fisherfolk Month this May. At least 30 fisherfolk from Barangay Poblacion 2, Nagbalon and Abangan Sur in Marilao underwent the said training. The BFAR and the local government led by Mayor Henry Lutao said that training aims to teach the small fisherfolk the production of FRPBs that would help them obtain a strong and reliable fishing boat. BFAR Fishing director Avelino Capuli graced the training and he said that he hopes that during his term, fisherfolk would have a better understanding of the many programs of BFAR that aims to develop and increase their livelihood. Also present during the training were Mayor Lutao, Councilor Vanessa Valdez-Seminiano as committee chair for Agriculture. The post Bulacan fisherfolk undergo fiberglass boat-making training appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P400M+ income lost due to Mindoro oil spill
Seawater around Oriental Mindoro still showed low-level contaminants or pollycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, while seaweed collected and analyzed from select sites in Catluys, Antique on 9 March showed low-level contaminants or PAH, the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources reported over the weekend. PAH, according to DA-BFAR, are "harmful to humans and other living organisms, and may accumulate in the flesh of marine organisms over time. Seaweeds and other sessile organism have greater chances of accumulating PAH due to their immobility." Thus, the BFAR is still keeping the fishing ban in oil-spill hit municipalities of Oriental Mindoro, which has accumulated P441.25 million losses in income in 22 fishing days. The agency said the amount came from the more than 26,000 fishermen who have been directly affected by the oil spill as of March 31, based on a daily income of P714. The damage in terms of inputs and produce, fishing gear and paraphernalia, and facilities and equipment was placed at P445,333,928.00. These include: Fisheries Production Losses from MIMAROPA’s Commercial and Municipal Fisheries valued at P14,138,400.00, and damage to 119 metric tons of seaweed production in Western Visayas valued at almost P3 million. The "DA-BFAR detected minimal levels of PAH, including benzo(a)pyrene or B(a)p, from the initial samples collected," BFAR director Demosthenes Escoto said. He added that 86 fish and other marine samples were taken on 10-11 March from seven municipalities in Mindoro (Bongabong, Bulalacao, Gloria, Mansalay, Najuan, Pinamalayan and San Jose) for testing. "These did not show the presence of petroleum-related products," Escoto said. However, from seven seaweed samples collected on 31 March in Caluya, Antique, three showed the presence of petroleum-related products. Some 23 water samples collected from 9 March to 4 April from 10 municipalities of Oriental Mindoro (Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Calapan, Gloria, Mansalay, Naujan, Pinamalayan, Pola, and Roxas) and Caluya in Antique had minimal levels of oil and grease, within the standard set by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources. BFAR also said 15 fish samples collected from Oriental Mindoro from March 4 to 10 showed low levels of PAH. Likewise, seaweed taken from Caluya, Antique on March 4 yielded low-level PAH. 'Since the Bureau found low-levels of PAH in seafood samples, it recommended keeping fishing bans in areas concerned while the time-series analyses are still ongoing," BFAR said in its Bulletin No.2 . The Bureau meanwhile, added that a total of P22 million worth of livelihood assistance has been allocated to affected fishing communities. This includes P4.4 million worth of post-harvest technology packages for 10 fisherfolk associations and cooperatives or 689 families. It also includes P12 million worth of fuel subsidy for fisherfolk who had to seek alternative fishing grounds. The BFAR said it is considering providing affected fisherfolk some fiberglass-reinforced plastic boats. As for food and relief goods, the BFAR said it has earmarked P1.5 million for food assistance to 5,689 affected fisherfolk in Mimaropa. Meanwhile, P580,500 has been used to help displaced fishing groups in Western Visayas, the BFAR said. For cleanup operations in Oriental Mindoro, the agency said it deployed P720,945 worth of PPE, ropes and other materials. The MT Princess Empress sank on 28 February off Najuan, Oriental Mindoro while carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel. The post P400M+ income lost due to Mindoro oil spill appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ex-BFAR exec cleared of graft
A former regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has been cleared in a criminal case involving the alleged malversation of proceeds from the sale of fuel intended for BFAR’s patrol boats......»»
Akbayan to Sara: You don’t have to be president to speak vs China
MANILA, Philippines — Party-list group Akbayan said on Thursday that Vice President Sara Duterte does not have to be a president of the country for her to call out China’s intrusive actions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Empathy and a moral backbone is just what it takes to stand up with fisherfolk and frontline.....»»
Fisherfolk group urges gov’t to regulate fish prices amid Lent
Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Wednesday urged the government to address the surge in retail prices of fish during the Holy Week......»»
Fisherfolk raise alarm over demolition of Navotas City fishing structures
“Affected fisherfolk and other residents ‘highly believe’ that the dismantling order is part of the 650-hectare reclamation project in the area.” The post Fisherfolk raise alarm over demolition of Navotas City fishing structures appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
China blocks Philippine supply run in disputed waters (VIDEO)
Manilla and Beijing have traded accusations over a naval incident near the Spratly Islands Chinese patrol boats used water cannons on Saturday to disrupt an attempt by the Philippine military to deliver supplies to a reef in a disputed part of the South China Sea, where the Philippine Navy intentionally grounded a tan.....»»
China blocks Philippine military supply boat in disputed waters (VIDEO)
Manilla and Beijing have traded accusations over a naval incident near the Spratly Islands Chinese patrol boats used water cannons on Saturday to disrupt an attempt by the Philippine military to deliver supplies to a reef in a disputed part of the South China Sea, where the Philippine Navy intentionally grounded a tan.....»»
China blocks Philippine supply run in disputed waters
Manilla and Beijing have traded accusations over a naval incident near the Spratly IslandsChinese patrol boats used water cannons on Saturday to disrupt an attempt by the Philippine military to deliver supplies to a reef in a disputed part of the South China Sea, where the Philippine Navy intentionally grounded a tank landing ship over two decades ago.The incident occurred near the Second.....»»
China blocks Philippine military supply boat in disputed waters
Manilla and Beijing have traded accusations over a naval incident near the Spratly IslandsChinese patrol boats used water cannons on Saturday to disrupt an attempt by the Philippine military to deliver supplies to a reef in a disputed part of the South China Sea, where the Philippine Navy intentionally grounded a tank landing ship over two decades ago.The incident occurred near the Second.....»»