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CEBU CITY, Philippines - Alarmed by reports of a dwindling fish catch in the Visayas, the Office of the Ombudsman is stepping in to protect the marine environment.
The anti-graft office on Monday warned that local chief executives may be charged if found negligent in their duties to stop illegal fishing in their localities.
Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said the anti-graft office will asses in October whether local government units (LGUs) have implemented fishery and environment laws.
“We will first conduct an evaluation this October, then the second evaluation will be in January or February next year, and possibly later on. If they will not follow, we can charge them. We can charge them with neglect of duty,” said Apostol.
More than 22 mayors and their representatives from northern Cebu, Masbate province and Iloilo attended Monday’s meeting presided by Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni.
Present were mayors of the Cebu towns of San Remegio, Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Sta. Fe, Madridejos and Medellin.
Jalandoni, who is based in Manila, called the meeting to remind mayors about their duties in implementing the environmental laws including the Fisheries Code of the Philippines especially in the Visayan Sea.
The mayors were made to fill up an assessment form on how well they had implemented the Fisheries Code and the Solid Waste Management Act in their areas.
During the meeting, the mayors raised problems of dynamite fishing, dumping of quarry residue in rivers and the need for assistance in prosecuting violators of the Fisheries Code.
San Remegio Mayor Mariano Martinez said these problems resulted in the reduction of fish catch in the Visayas Sea.
The Visayan Sea, comprising about one million hectares, is the heart of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Triangle, bounded by the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Considered the richest marine eco-region in the world, covering the Visayan provinces of Iloilo, Cebu, Negros Occidental and Masbate, it was once dubbed the “Alaska of the Philippines” because it contained an array of fish species and corals, more than the entire Caribbean Sea.
But destructive fishing methods, such as the use of explosives and cyanide, and over-fishing have taken their toll.
Ramirez spoke of his town's problems with dynamite fishing and quarry operations that do not coordinate with the LGU.
While the LGUs do not earn from these quarry operations, sediments are often dumped into rivers and end up in the Visayan Sea, he said.
Mayors from Masbate province raised their frustrations over the dismissal of most cases filed against illegal fishers. Sometimes, they said they were slapped with counter charges in court.
“Our concerns vary. The assessment team promised to meet us by cluster so we can discuss our individual concerns,” Martinez said.
Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez said he received reports that dynamite fishers came from islets off Bantayan Island. Nitrates, an ingredient in explosives, is bought from sources in mainland Cebu and shipped to the islets through the coastal barangays (villages) of Mahawak and Kawit in Medellin town, he said.
Ramirez said the Bantay Dagat Commission has difficulty catching illegal fishers who work in groups and carry firearms.
One group would throw dynamite near fish sanctuaries while another group would harvest the blasted fish. Medellin town has eight fish sanctuaries.
Equipped with bigger engines, pump boats of illegal fishers are faster than the patrol boats of law enforcers.
“I learned from the Bantay Dagat that these persons are armed,” Ramirez said.
The town’s 21 policemen are not enough to escort Bantay Dagat members to patrol Medellin waters, he said.
Apostol instructed Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Santiago to docket the mayors’ concerns for a closer inquiry. The mayors were also advised to seek the help of the maritime police.
Apostol assured that he would conduct a fact-finding inquiry to look into who were behind dynamite fishing in the Visayan Sea and the source of the explosives.
The first assessment will be in October. By that time, the Ombudsman can take note of the problems met by mayors in enforcing the laws.
If lack of support from agencies is the problem, the Ombudsman can direct other government agencies to help the mayors.
A second assessment will be conducted in January or February 2009.
Citations would also be given to the LGUs that best implement the environmental laws in their jurisdiction.
Sanctions for non-compliance were not discussed but mayors could be charged with negligence if they continued to be remiss in their duty to protect marine resources.
“It was not discussed if there would be penalties but they would assess in October and determine the problems of why they could not comply. The Office of the Ombudsman will help because the Ombudsman has the power to direct other agencies to assist the local government units,” Apostol said.
But he said he noticed that mayors were bent on protecting their municipal waters and small-scale fishermen.
“They have signed a pledge of commitment to support the campaign against degradation of our environment,” he said.
