THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol appeared to be helpless in helping the request of Baclayon fishermen to allow them to feed the whale shark.
“As adverted to by this committee in its previous recommendations, again we reiterate our inability to give due course to the request of the Federation of Fishermen Association of Baclayon to allow feeding the whale shark or Butanding for the reason that it is inconsistent with the provisions of both DOT, DA, DILG, DENR Memorandum Circular No. 1, s. 2020 and the Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-008 particularly Section 9 (c) thereof.”
This is one of the recommendations of the environment committee chaired by outgoing provincial Board member Resituto Auxtero, who will serve as municipal councilor in Talibon town after his election to the post.
The said committee was acting on the Letter dated Feb, 21, 2022 from the Members of the Federated Fishermen Association, Baclayon, Bohol, requesting to review and amend the provision of the Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-08 particularly Sec. 9 (c) thereof that prohibits the feeding of whale sharks, for study, review and formal recommendation.
The fishermen wanted that they be allowed to do “provisioning or the use of any method designed to attract marine wildlife using food, artificial or natural,” or to feed whale shark or butanding for at least 3 to 4 hours per day for tourism business purposes.
The said letter was referred to the said committee and tourism committee and to Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The committee said that this has been acted upon on the same concern raised by the same association after it sent its previous letter requests dated Jan. 11, 2021 and April 13, 2021. “Such request is for the benefit of the livelihood of about 200 fisherfolk members of the association in Baclayon town who want to operate a whale watching business in their area.”
The committee cited legal bases on whale watching and interaction of Marine Wildlife. It is governed by DOT-DA-DILG DENR Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 s. 2020 otherwise known as Rules and Regulations Governing the Conduct of Marine Wildlife Tourism Interactions in the Philippines and Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-08, otherwise known as the Sustainable Marine Wildlife Interaction Ordinance of the Province of Bohol.
Another legal contention is that that pursuant to Sec. 13 of the Circular, the enforcement of these regulations shall be carried out by the national government agencies concerned and LGUs where marine wildlife takes place. The LGUs through their Local Sanggunian, are enjoined to issue local ordinances base on the Circular within 120 days from its effectivity. The local legislation shall state the specific prohibited acts as enumerated in Sec. 8.3 of the said Circular, as well as provide penalties for its violation of which provisioning or feeding is one among the prohibited acts.
The committee conducted meeting to tackle the concern on whale shark feeding with the presence of Jovencia B. Ganub, Head, BEMO; Villa Pelindingue, Staff, BEMO; Atty. Noneluz Z. Hamlig, Legal Officer, PLO; Epifanio Gultia – Representative, BFAR; Jona Rhen Lafuente – Representative, BFAR; Abundio Quipit, President, Federated Fishermen Association of Baclayon, Bohol; and Arnel S. Aninon, Member and Proponent of the Federated Fishermen Association of Baclayon, Bohol.
BMs Auxtero, Sangguniang Kabataan president Christian Victor Bolos III, vice-chair; and BM Dr. Romulo Cepedoza, member, signed the said committee report prior to SP’s adoption during the June 14, 2022 session presided over by vice-Gov. Rene Relampagos. (rvo)
