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SPCRMA Task Force strengthens coastal law enforcement

(Press release from Project ISDA -CCEF)

Participants during the Coastal Law Enforcement Training-workshop for the Siquijor Province Coastal Resource Management Alliance. Photo by CCEF-Project ISDA.

March 20, 2019 ‖ AILEEN MAYPA

The aggressive intrusion of commercial fishing vessels into
the municipal waters of Siquijor Province and the rampant use of destructive
fishing methods, such as chlorine fishing, led to a three – day coastal law
enforcement (CLE) training-workshop, in an effort to strengthen the Siquijor
Province Coastal Resource Management Alliance (SPCRMA) – Task Force. This
activity was held in Banilad, Cebu City last March 18-20, 2019 and was led by
OCEANA in partnership the Coastal Conservation Education Foundation (CCEF),
Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), UNICO Conservation Foundation
and Siquijor Province – Office of the Provincial Agriculturist. SPCRMA is an
inter-LGU alliance, at the same time a network of marine protected areas,
formed in August 2018 as part of the “One Province, One Team” vision of
Siquijor Province and through the assistance of CCEF-Project ISDA (Isda Siguru-on
Damgong Makab-ot Pinaagi sa Alyansa). More than 30 participants attended this
multi-sectoral  training-workshop which
included local staff from the Provincial Agriculturist Office, local government
units, the Provincial Bantay Dagat, the MPA Bantay Dagat and fisheforlks, DENR,
BFAR and members of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast
Guard.

GPS Plotting Exercise. Photo by Aileen P. Maypa of CCEF-Project ISDA.

In addition to strengthening the SPCRMA – Task Force, another major objective of this activity was to formulate an effective operational plan and manual specific for Siquijor Province and its municipalities. Lectures and workshops for two days included a suite of topics on CLE, global positioning system and plotting exercises, social and economic issues on fisheries, laws and regulations on commercial and compressor fishing, search, arrest, seizure and custodial investigation, understanding SLAPP suits, affidavit making, vessel identification, pre-boarding and boarding protocols and shipboard arrest techniques.

Draw your boat exercise during the CLE Training for SPCRMA. Photo by CCEF Project ISDA.

The third day was devoted to a planning workshop for the operational plan (OPLAN) and manual of SPCRMA. The presentation of the OPLAN output was attended by representatives from the Naval Forces Central, The Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police and BFAR -7. According to many participants, all topics were useful to their enforcement work. The favorite was the series of legal lectures by Atty. Liza Rose Eisma-Osorio of the Philippine Earth Justice (PEJ). According to one Bantay Dagat participant, “sayon pag dakop pero ang legal nga aspeto lisod.” Other SPCRMA -Task Force members were also able to express their sighs of relief and said, “we have found a big brother in OCEANA, Naval Forces Central, PNP and Coast Guard, thus, we are ready to brave the dark seas again!”

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