The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stressed that it conducted the “2024 Fisheries Compliance Audit’’ in 18 coastal local government units (LGUs) in Central Luzon to ensure the management of the local fishery resources in accordance with national laws.
In a statement, the DILG Region 3 office said it supports its LGUs in the management of their municipal waters through continuous capacity building activities evidenced by the overall increased compliance of Central Luzon LGUs to the 2024 FishCA (Fisheries Compliance Audit).
With the region's stellar track record of LGUs awarded as national top-performers to the National FishCA Awards, the DILG Region 3 maintained a positive outlook in contributing to the achievement of the national government's goal of efficient biodiversity conservation and fisheries resource management.
Together with the regional validation team, composed of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Politics (PPCRP), the DILG- Region 3 office led the conduct of a two-phase assessment: table validation and on-site inspection of post-harvest facilities.
Now on its 4th year of implementation, the DILG explained that the Fisheries Compliance Audit measures the level of compliance of LGUs to the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 (Republic Act 8550 as amended by Republic Act 10654) using an audit tool that looks at the existence of comprehensive local fisheries code, coastal resource management plans and implementation of programs, projects and activities relating to the efficient management of coastal resources.
The DILG added that the said tool is also calibrated regularly to ensure that pertinent provisions of RA 8550 are continuously complied with by the LGUs.