"Duaw Sto. Niño" in Bohol urges end to illegal fishing

Bien Unido, Bohol, Philippines — In what seemed like a reenactment of what Fray Andres de Urdaneta did in 1565, when he spread the Catholic faith from island to island, the Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu together with some environmental groups brought a replica of the image of the centuries-old Sto. Niño from the Basilica in Cebu for the “Duaw Sto. Niño” to promote “reevangelization of the islands”, but this time with a touch of environmental advocacy.

Rev. Fr. Tito Soquiño, executive director of the Sto. Niño de Cebu Social Development Foundation Inc., a newly formed non-government organization of the Order of San Augustinians, said that while the basic function of their order is to spread the word of God, the foundation works to help the faithful live in a sustainable environment.

“Many island communities in the country depend largely on the seas for their livelihood and sustenance. However, the seas can no longer provide food adequately for a fast growing population, as over fishing has caused the rapid decline of fish catch,” Soquiño said.

The Sto. Niño visited island-barangays of West Bilangbilangan, East Bilangbilangan and Malingin. All these fishing villages belong to the municipality of Bien Unido.

Soquiño also said that with climate change being a real issue the world is facing today, the alarming rise in levels of seawaters “could spell disaster” for the people in these barangays.

“There is a need therefore to provide help beyond relief services and move towards sustainable development assistance,” the priest added.

Hence, there is a need to educate the people living in these coastal barangays, especially that the size of these islands is slowly receding because of the rising seawaters, he further said.

The three-day event, which is in coordination with another environmental group, the Fisheries Improved of Justice and Peace (Fish Project), serves to remind the island people, whose main livelihood is fishing, to stick to legal fishing methods.

Bien Unido owns 7,600 hectares of the huge Danajon Double Barrier Reef, one of the world’s six double barrier reefs and the only one in the country, which would likely be reduced to rubbles if illegal fishing is not stopped right away, said Mario Gasalatan of the Fish Project.

The town mayor, Niño Rey Boniel, however said that coastal environment enforcers are already being deployed in this area to keep watch of it, while the government is still preparing to make the area another diving destination in Bohol.

A booming ecotourism industry means work for the people, and that a rich coral reef means more fish for the fishing villages, he said.

The event, which was also in celebration of the 5th centenary of the birth anniversary of Augustinian friar Andres de Urdaneta who landed in Cebu Island in 1565 and the 25th anniversary of the Augustinian Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu, was in coordination with another NGO, the Knights-Stewards of the Sea, Inc. (Seaknights); and the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. — Liv G. Campo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)