TACLOBAN CITY – Three patrol boats and law enforcement tools were turned over to the Pacific Area Alliance of Local Governments for Marine Resources Development (PALMDev) by the Canadian Embassy in Manila and WildAid and Rare organizations on Monday, September 23, in Hinundayan, Southern Leyte.
THE Canadian Embassy in Manila leads the turnover of patrol boats and law enforcement tools to PALMDev on September 23. (BFAR)
The initiative aims to strengthen fisheries law enforcement in Fisheries Management Area-8 in Eastern Visayas, specifically in Silago-Cabalian Bay.
The donation was part of a five-year project dubbed "Advancing Rights-Based Co-Management of Coastal Fisheries in FMA 8."
It seeks to address resource issues through collaboration between local governments and other stakeholders.
PALMDev, serving as the Baywide Management Council (BMC), oversees the bay. It is comprised of eight coastal municipalities in the province of Southern Leyte.
The patrol boats and tools will be under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Maritime Group and the local government units of Hinundayan and Anahawan.
Andrew Green, political and public affairs counsellor of the Canadian Embassy, said the strategic placement and efficient operations of the donated assets complements existing fisheries protection and conservation efforts.
"There is hope that Southern Leyte will serve as an example of how broader bodies, such as local governments, can collaborate to find cooperative solutions to resource issues and utilize these tools effectively," Green said.
WildAid, recognizing the Philippines' crucial role in global food security as part of the Coral Triangle, expressed potential for expanding cooperation within FMA 8.
"We hope to continue beyond five years, perhaps extending it to 10 years if additional funding becomes available," Jay Udelhoven, program manager of WildAid, said.
BFAR-8, as the lead region of FMA 8, will provide technical support and coordinate capacity-building efforts.
Police Brig. Gen. Jonathan Cabal of the PNP-Maritime Group pledged support to the BMC's goal of deterring illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities.
He encouraged beneficiaries to take full responsibility for maintaining the intervention, maximizing use, and actively engaging in counterpart efforts to ensure long-term sustainability and success.