MAFAR Provincial Director Aidarus Nami (with head gear) and Fisheries Department OIC-Chief Rudy Canizares (seated 2nd right) await their turn to address the fishery code gathering at Beachside Inn and Restaurant in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi on August 11, 2021.
TAWI-TAWI—In a bid to prevent violations of Republic Act No.10654, “An Act to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing”, the provincial office of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) conducted on Thursday, Aug. 11, an orientation on the basic provisions of the said Act to partner agencies and stakeholders.
The orientation aimed to disseminate the provisions of RA 10654 to MAFAR’s partner agencies and stakeholders as well as to the netizens of the island municipalities and province-wide, who, most often than not violate the provisions of the said Republic Act.
Some 75 participants composed of local traders, acting MAFAR Municipal Officers (MMOs), local government unit (LGU) representatives, representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coastguard, the Maritime Industry Authority, and other stakeholders attended the orientation activities on the prohibition of commercial fishing vessel and gear, aquatic resources with regulations, and updated local transport permit.
In his message, Provincial Director Aidarus Nami emphasized the importance of knowing the provisions of RA 10654 in relation to the performance of one’s duties and responsibilities inherent in the job.
He encouraged everyone to participate in the process as this is useful in the performance of duties and functions.
Meanwhile, in his lecture, Fisheries Department OIC-Chief Rudy Canizares briefly elucidated the provisions of the Philippine Fisheries Code, as amended by RA 10654, especially, on the prohibited activities of commercial fishing vessels and gear, aquatic resources or banned marine products in reference to the Convention on International Treaty of Endangered Species (CITES), and licenses of local commercial fishing vessels.
“One can perform better in his duties and responsibilities if he has knowledge of this RA 10654,” Canizares stressed in an interview conducted after the event.
Canizares also said that MMOs are responsible in disseminating the output of the orientation activity as they are directly dealing with the netizens in their respective areas of assignment.
“There is really a need of emphasizing and disseminating the provisions of RA 10654 to the netizens in the islands to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities,” he said.
It is also said that Tawi-Tawi as an island province with coastal municipalities, fisherfolks are bent on undertaking illegal dynamite fishing and other illegal fishing techniques that may lead to the destruction of fish sanctuaries and reproduction of small fishes.
He disclosed that while they were at the midst of their orientation activity, maritime authorities apprehended fishermen for violation of illegal dynamite fishing, an indication that fishermen in some areas are still unaware of RA 10654.
“So, dapat tutok tayo sa implementasyon ng RA 10654 at masunod ang mga probisyon nito upang mahinto ang illegal fishing sa ating probinsya,” Canizares added. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
