PRESS RELEASE

BFAR XI Awards Cash to 578 Bantay Laot Program Fisherfolk

A total of 578 registered fisherfolk from 23 barangays in Davao City under the Bantay-Laot
Program will receive cash incentives amounting from Php1,000.00 to Php2,000.00 on the
turnover ceremony of Bantay Laot Program at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(BFAR) XI Regional Office, Davao City this June 23, 2017.

BFAR-XI Regional Director Fatma Idris said fisherfolk from Barangay 21C, 23C, 31D, 76A, Bago
Aplaya, Bunawan, Centro, Daliao, Dumoy, Duterte, Hizon, Ilang, Lapu-lapu, Lasang, Leon Garcia,
Lizada, Matina Aplaya, Pampanga, Panacan, Sasa, Sirawan, Talomo, and Tibungco will receive
their individual cash incentives as sea watchers.

Bantay Laot Program is an initiative of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) to deter illegal fishing activities and to protect threatened marine
and aquatic species in the municipal waters by capacitating subsistence fishers, particularly the
Indigenous Peoples (IPs) as sea guardians or sea watchers during closed season in nationally-
declared Fishery Management Areas (FMAs). This transects the Bureau’s program on F/B
Pagbabago, coastal resource management and law enforcement to combat illegal, unreported
and unregulated fishing (IUUF).

Anchored on sections 24 and 158 of the Republic Act 10654 otherwise known as the amended
Philippine Fisheries Code, entitled “An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported
and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing”. The program provides support to LGUs, FARMCs and municipal
fisherfolk to include assistance in the training of Bantay-Dagat Task Force.

Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” F. Piñol made a promise during the turnover of 300 fiberglass
boats to 600 registered fisherfolk in the Philippine Fisheries and Development Authority
(PFDA) XI in Toril, Davao City in August 17 last year. He said that these registered fisherfolk
shall receive a cash incentive for undergoing support activities.

Guidelines for the said program materialized and Davao Region became the pilot area to
implement the program under the supervision of BFAR National Director Eduardo B Gongona.
Various activities like orientations, monitoring, control and surveillance; environmental
briefing, and disaster preparedness trainings were laid down to capacitate and support them in
their involvement in the program.

Other FMAs in East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait, Sibuguey Bay, Palawan, Visayan Sea, Cagayan River
and its tributaries in Cagayan Valley are set to follow the implementation of Bantay Laot
Program during their respective observation periods.

BFAR-Davao Region continues to maintain a sound implementation of various activities
providing immediate and appropriate actions in the preservation and conservation of marine
and aquatic resources of the region.

Reference:
Regional Director Fatma Idris
BFAR XI
R. Magsaysay Avenue 8000, Davao City
(082) 302-5263