Tacloban City – Fishery law enforcers of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Eastern Visayas seized a 34.34 gross tonnage Cebu-based commercial fishing vessel F / B Leonida Tres that was caught fishing using active gear in the municipal waters of Maripipi , province of Biliran on the evening of December 1 , 2016 .

A joint seaborne operation of BFAR-8 FLE together with Bantay Dagat , Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard in the area intercepted the fishing boat poaching on the waters that is off limits to commercial fishing .

The vessel caught esp . Decapterus macrosoma or blue mackerel scad locally known as “ Galunggong ”, trapped in the estimated 1.5 kilometer long purse seine .

According to a report of local PNP , the medium scale fishing vessel had also encroached Sambawan Island , a declared Marine Protected Area ( MPA ) of Maripipi .

BFAR-8 Director Dr . Juan D . Albaladejo inspected the commercial fishing vessel and spoke to the owners and crew .

“ BFAR is serious in its campaign against Illegal , Unreported and Unregulated Fishing ( IUUF ). We will do what is right and in accordance with the law . Violations will be served with appropriate actions ,” he said .

Dir . Albaladejo also met with Maripipi Municipal Mayor Uldarico Macorol to further discuss on the apprehension of the said vessel .

He then directed to bring the vessel to capital town Naval , wherein fishing gear was unloaded for confiscation . Some 20 municipal

registered fisherfolks volunteered to help in transferring the bulky gear to trucks that would transport it to the temporary custody of BFAR Biliran Office .

Municipal Agriculture Officer Limuel Antonio said that fisherfolks favored the apprehension of the fishing vessel . According to him , they have been complaining of the intrusion of commercial fishing vessels in the municipal fishing grounds , resulting to less fish catch and even destruction of payaos ( fish aggregating device ) buoys , and other municipal fishing gears .

The officers and crew of the fishing vessel who were involved in decision-making of the fishing activity will be charged for violating Section 95 Use of Active Gear in Municipal Waters , Bays and Other Fishery Management Areas ; and Section 101 Fishing in Marine Protected Areas , Fishery Reserves , Refuge and Sanctuaries of the Republic Act 8550 otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 as amended by Republic Act 10654 . #

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penido according to Beltejar is now reassigned to Ozamiz City as Chief of police , in region 10 . Police Senior Inspector Johnrey Layug who comes directly from region 11 is replacing him in Albuera .

“ Espenido is already in his new assignment and we expect a more peaceful Albuera after his leadership . We are hoping na hindi na makakakilos pa ang mga galamay ng mga Espinosa para sa isang illegal drug operation ,” Beltejar said .

But Espenido is facing a new , probably tougher , challenge in Ozamis City , which is controlled by the Parojinog family . They have been pinpointed by the president in his drug matrix , and the family also maintains a wide array of arms for their own private army .

This probably prompted Espenido ’ s text message to his boss : “ Include me in your prayers for my new assignment as chief of police of Ozamiz City , Let me ask of course also the support from local officials and the PNP in this city .” ( By Miriam Desacad )

BFAR officials meet with the operators of the commercial fishing boat operators ( top phto ), while the fishing gear are loaded on a truck to be kept by BFAR for safekeeping .

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started at Tacloban City ’ s Astrodome up to DPWH regional office , the marchers chanted , “ Tide embankment project , Undangon ! Anomalya sa housing Bukwaton !” ( Stop Tide embankment project ! Investigate anomalies in housing program !)

On their way to Palo , the marchers segued to the Regional Office of the National Housing Authority ( NHA ) in Tacloban and burned an effigy of a house to symbolize their indignation at the anomalies on the housing projects for Yolanda survivors . Tide Embankment

Residents affected by the tide embankment project - a P 7.9B storm surge adaptation project of the DPWH , running 27.3 kilometers from Tanauan to Tacloban City have been petitioning to cancel the implementation . Over 20,000 families are expected to be displaced when this project is completed .

“ This is a total waste of people ’ s money . This does not only give us a false sense of security against storm surges but makes us more vulnerable to other disasters ,” says Prof . Pascualito Ilagan , a social science professor at Eastern Visayas State University ( EVSU ) and head of Freedom from Debt Coalition , one of member NGOs of CYSP .

Ilagan cited an earlier study of Dr . Kelvin Rodolfo , a renowned earth and environmental scientist , where it mentioned that the 4-meter high wall will be ineffective against a storm surge .

“ The storm surge during typhoon Yolanda went as high as eight meters . This tide embankment can only cause flooding because it will block water from going to the sea ,” he said .

Ilagan also said that an infrastructure like a tide embankment is also ineffective because the whole stretch of the coastal area where the project will be constructed is prone to liquefaction which even a sturdier structure may not be able to withstand .

In a statement , CYSP said “ the Aquino Government approved and started the implementation of this project despite the lack of consultation with affected residents and contrary scientific studies that the project might even enhance the risks posed to communities .”

The marchers have been trying to push the government of newly-elected President Rodrigo Duterte to review the project and explore other possibly more effective , environmentally friendly , and socially acceptable options in addressing the storm surge . The said call for review was apparently ignored by the new government as DPWH Regional Director Edgar Tabacon announced last month that the tide embankment project will start construction this year , with an allotted budget of P 2.6B for the commencement .

“ We have submitted so many documents to the government , even to Malacañang , to persuade it to stop this project . Don ’ t we deserve

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