FORUM ON ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND POLICIES AFFECTING FISHERIES IN BICOL REGION. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Office No. 5 in partnership with the Office of the Regional Prosecutor and the allied agencies of the Sub-committee on Fishing and Marine Environment Protection of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC) conducted a 2-day forum with government prosecutors from the six provinces of Bicol Region last December 19-20, 2011 at Venezia Hotel in Legazpi City.  The resource speakers (bottom photos) include BFAR National Director, Atty. Asis Perez who discussed the Challenges in Environmental Enforcement, Justice Oswaldo Agcaoili, Regular Professor of the Philippine Judicial Academy who tackled the Violation of Environmental Laws, writ of Kalikasan and evidence; and Atty. Ronaldo Gutierrez, faculty member of the Ateneo de Manila Law School who discussed the New Rules of Procedure on Environmental Cases (1st, 2nd and 3rd from left respectively). In full support to the activity are BFAR-5 Regional Director Dennis del Socorro, Regional Prosecutor Mary May De Leoz and DENR Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada. This pioneering forum by BFAR-5 aims to provide updates and support to government prosecutors in handling environment cases particularly against illegal fishing in Bicol region. (JBarrameda/RCanabe)