MANILA, Philippines- Sinabi ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) na ang paglalaan ng confidential funds ay makapagpapalakas ng “monitoring, control, at surveillance efforts” sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Sa isang press release, nagpasalamat si BFAR national director Demosthenes Escoto sa mga konsiderasyon ng mga mambabatas na dagdagan ang pondo nito.
Ito’y matapos na sabihin ng Kamara na maire-realign ito sa confidential at intelligence funds ng Office of the Vice President, Department of Education, at iba pang civilian agencies.
“This initiative would empower our Agency to strengthen and enhance our existing monitoring, control, and surveillance activities in the WPS and other fishing grounds to ensure the sustainable use of our marine resources and safeguard the livelihoods of our fisherfolk,” ayon kay Escoto.
Sinabi pa ng ahensya na ginagamit nito ang kasalukuyang assets at available resources sa paglaban sa “illegal, unregulated, at unreported fishing” na aniya’y patuloy ang banta sa Philippine waters.
“The DA-BFAR respects the wisdom of our lawmakers in determining the need for budget augmentation,” ayon kay Escoto, sabay sabing layon ng bureau na tiyakin na ang bawat mangingisdang Filipino ay makapangingisda “peacefully, productively, and sustainably in our waters, especially in the WPS.”
Winika pa ng BFAR na may iba’t ibang programa at kolaborasyon sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na nagtutulong ngayon “to provide essentials such as engine oil, drinking water, and ready-to-eat snacks to Filipino fisherfolk engaged in fishing activities in the WPS.”
Samantala, naglunsad din ang BFAR ng Livelihood Activities to Enhance Fisheries Yields and Economic Gains from WPS (LAYAG-WPS), isang livelihood project na nagkakahalaga ng P80 million na naglalayong magbigay sa local fisherfolk ng “essential tools, knowledge, gears and paraphernalia, as well as post-harvest training and reduce post-harvest losses.” Kris Jose
