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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate panel orders BFAR chief to explain non-appearance in public hearing

Senate panel orders BFAR chief to explain non-appearance in public hearing

Published Feb 18, 2026 02:01 pm

At A Glance

  • The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform on Wednesday, February 18 issued a show cause order against Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Elizer Salilig to explain his non-appearance in the public hearing.

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform on Wednesday, February 18 issued a show cause order against Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Elizer Salilig to explain his non-appearance in the public hearing.

Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chairman of the agriculture panel, ordered Salilig to submit a written explanation as to why he should not be cited in contempt for his failure to inform the committee of his absence during Wednesday’s Senate hearing.

Pangilinan also required Salilig to explain the delay in the proceedings caused by the late arrival of his representatives. 

“He only did not fail to inform this committee properly of his inability to attend, they were also late. His representatives were late,” the senator said.

Isidro Velayo, BFAR Assistant Director, who was representing the agency, apologized to the panel and explained that they arrived late because he, along with other BFAR officials had a meeting in their office.

“I would like to apologize for our delayed arrival. As a matter of fact, we just came from the office. We had this short briefing with our national director. It so happened, Sir, that we also have a simultaneous congressional hearing today,” Velayo said.

According to Velayo they were only informed to appear at the Senate hearing on February 17. However, when Pangilinan asked the committee secretary when the invitations were sent, the latter informed that the letter was sent last week.

Pangilinan said the hearing is for the small-scale fisherfolk, to hear their concerns, and problems.

The senator said that despite the fact the fishing sector contributes about 1.3 to 1.5 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the country’s fisherfolk could barely feed themselves and live in poverty.

“Will our laws, monitoring systems, and politics be strong enough to protect our marine resources and our small fisherfolk who depend on them—especially in the western part of the Philippines? What deserves our attention is the sharing of abundance, not the deepening of injustice,” the lawmaker stressed. 

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Kiko Pangilinan BFAR SENATE
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