Capitol gets patrol boat

CEBU, Philippines - The capability of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force was boosted yesterday with the launching of its monitoring, control and surveillance patrol boat.

The patrol vessel is owned by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources but was assigned to the task force based on a memorandum of agreement entered into by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and BFAR-7 assistant director Allan Poquita.

The launching of the patrol boat marks the full swing of the campaign against illegal fishing in northern Cebu.

BFAR deployed one of its MCS 1102 patrol boat upon the request of Garcia. The use of the boat is covered with the MOA renewable after 30 months. The boat is stationed at the Hagnaya Port in San Remegio.

The Provincial Board last Monday passed a resolution authored by Board Member Thadeo Ouano authorizing Garcia to sign the agreement with BFAR.

“This will be a long and hard fight because challenges are great,” Garcia said in her message.

Also launched were the PAIFTF Action Teams called Team Aninaw (for surveillance and source denial); Team Eskina (for market denial and checkpoints) and Team Pukot (for seaborne patrol).

Agencies involved in the task force are Maritime Police, Coast Guard, Navy, Army, National Bureau of Investigation, Regional State Prosecutor’s Office, Integrated Bar of the Philippines and League of Municipalities in the Philippines.

Garcia said she cannot expect an overnight result and described the campaign as “supreme test of our will and our sustainability” because illegal fishers resort to all means because they are doing this for money.

“This is really now a question of their stubbornness, tan-awon nato kinsa mas gahi og ulo. No let up, come what may,” Garcia said in declaring war against illegal fishing throughout the province.

Garcia said that what the province is doing now is beyond declaration and optimistic the campaign will succeed with the active participation of other agencies and local government units. 

San Remegio Mayor Jay Olivar is happy about the campaign saying it has been their long dream to eliminate illegal fishing.

Garcia said that another patrol boats will also be stationed in Liloan and another in Talisay City for southern Cebu. (FREEMAN)