ILOILO CITY – The municipality of Carles, Iloilo has organized the largest inter-agency task force (IATF) against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the country.

“We laud local government of Carles for taking this initiative for our fisheries resources, for the fisherfolk, and for the future generation,” said Lorna Angor, acting chief of the Fisheries Management, Regulatory, and Enforcement Division (FMRED) of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Region 6 (Western Visayas).
The local government under Mayor Sigfredo Betita has endorsed the resolution passed by the Sangguniang Bayan that created the task force to protect the Visayan Sea, a rich fishing ground. One-third of the Visayan Sea is within the vicinity of the eight major islands of the town.
Vice Mayor Arnold T. Betita II said that the inter-agency task force unites the capacity of national government agencies since the local government of Carles cannot do it alone.
The task force includes the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine Navy, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
Around 1,000 residents from the eight island-barangays submitted a petition in support of the task force.