Subic fishers dispute ‘alarmist’ yarn on LNG operations

Local fishermen have disputed claims by leaders of some activist groups in Central Luzon that the ship-to-ship transfer (STS) operations of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on Subic Bay endanger fisher folk in the area and that locals were not consulted about the project before its approval by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Resty del Rosario and Laureano Artagame, both officials of local Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMC), dismissed the claims and pointed out that the negative reports came from personalities who do not represent the legitimate concerns of fishermen from Subic Bay.

The news item came out in the alternative news website Kodao and quoted Pamalakaya Central Luzon coordinator Alberto Roldan as saying that STS operations for LNG in Subic “endanger fisher folk as well as civilian establishments and communities in Olongapo City.” Pamalakaya stands for the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya, which is the national federation of fishermen’s organizations.

The report also quoted Marcelito Clemente, coordinator of the Central Luzon Alliance for a Sovereign Philippines (CLASP), as saying that the project was “simply another case of profit above public safety for SBMA.” CLASP, a left-leaning group, had called for the withdrawal of U.S. military bases in the country and had opposed the holding of Balikatan military exercises with American armed forces.

The local fisher folk leaders, however, said the reports do not mirror the sentiments of local fishermen.

“We support the SBMA on this project 100 percent,” said Del Rosario, who chairs the Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council, which whose members include fisher folk in Olongapo City, Subic and San Antonio, Zambales and Morong, Bataan.

“Is the LNG operation safe? We believe so, because the SBMA wouldn’t place that project there without examining and addressing the risks involved,” Del Rosario added.

He noted that the critics of the STS project are far too removed from the area, and hence are unaware of the local situation.

“How would they know what happens down here? How can they be the voice of the locals? They are just being alarmists,” an exasperated Del Rosario said.

“As local leaders representing the mostly poor and marginalized fishermen in the locality, we will not be a party to anything that will harm our people. We will not agree to it,” Del Rosario added.

Artagame, meanwhile, emphasized that the SBMA has not been remiss in consulting local fishermen about the LNG project during its inception in 2016. He recalled that the Jovo Group, China’s leading clean energy service provider which operates the project, conducted a consultation in October last year before making the first ship-to-ship transfer in April this year.

“We were invited during the consultation and it was amply shown to us that the LNG is clean and safe,” Artagame said. “Of course, we gave our suggestions regarding the operation, and the SBMA officials assured us that they will stop the operation if ever there will be any harmful effect. By the grace of God, no such effect had ever come our way since then,” he added.

Aside from the perceived safety of STS operations here, Del Rosario also pointed out that the area where the transfer is being handled is no longer a part of the community fishing grounds ever since the US Navy had used Subic Bay as a military base.

“We are fishing elsewhere, a little farther from the location of the LNG and even father out of the bay, and the SBMA is even helping us restore coral reefs that have been damaged over the years by illegal fishing,” Artagame said.

Ever since the LNG project was approved, only two transfers have been made: the first was made on April 27 and the second on November 19. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1 ]Laureano Artagame, Provincial Chairman of FARMC Zambales and Vice-Chairman of FARMC of the Municipality of Subic.

[2] 3The first LNG ship-to-ship transfer operations on Subic Bay made last April.

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LOOK: Subic Bay's fisher folk organizes run for a cause

Participants in the 3-kilometer fun run kicks-off the activity dubbed “Takbo para sa pagmamahal ng karagatan”, an annual gathering organized by fishermen in Subic Bay to advocate for the protection of the marine resources which is the main source of their livelihood.

Fishermen also showed their skills in banca boat paddling as they race over the waters of Subic Bay, a side event of “Takbo para sa pagmamahal ng karagatan” held at the Boardwalk area in Subic Bay Freeport zone.

SBMA Administrator and CEO Atty. Wilma T. Eisma (far right) shares a light chat with fisherfolk leaders led by Restituto del Rosario (center), Chairman of Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC).

(AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Power firm in Subic Bay gives new boat to school

SUBIC, ZAMBALES - Amidst the bustling freeport zone is a fishing community situated in Sitio Kinabuksan, Barangay Cawag in Subic. Every day, around 100 students walk a rocky trail by the beach from Sitio Nagbayukan to attend class at Kinabuksan Integrated School - the only public school in the area accessible to them.

“When it is high tide, they have to trek at least 40 minutes in the dangerous trail going to school. Sometimes, they just ask for a free boat ride from the fishermen but oftentimes they need to walk. It gets worse during the rainy season,” said Dr. Rod Raguine, school principal of Kinabukasan Integrated School.

Faculty members who live in Subic town proper take the hour-long daily commute to the school, which costs around 50 pesos per head every day -- an unwelcome expense in their limited monthly budget.

In response to these concerns, Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc. (RP Energy) initiated a boat project that will benefit the school’s stakeholders. The boat was turned over to Kinabuksan Integrated School in a ceremony held on February 22.

The boat project is part of RP Energy’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program for Education, which was launched in 2013 in order to address the transportation problems of students and teachers in coastal areas such as Subic, Zambales.

Victor Chan, RP Energy Head for External Affairs said addressing the transportation challenges of students and teachers in Sitio Kinabuksan is just a part of the solution in addressing the problems of our public education system in grassroot communities.

"By providing the students and teachers with a boat, we will be able to provide them with a safe means to reach their school. Students will have more time to study since their travel time will be shorter, thus, improving their scholastic performance. As for the teachers, they will have more time with their families and they will be able to save more, which can greatly contribute in their daily budget,” Chan said.

Gemma Pilapil, Vice President of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), expressed gratitude for the support from RP Energy and promised to take care of this gift.

As their contribution, the PTA provided the new anchor for the boat. The school and the PTA will be working together for the operations and maintenance of the vehicle.

Besides transporting the students, the boat will also be used by the school’s Fishery course, which is part of their K-12 curriculum.

“Our goal is to be the catalyst for development in our host communities. Aside from providing a competitive and reliable energy source, this is our way of walking the talk when we say inclusive growth. We are enjoining our fellow freeport locators to partner with us and the SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) in order to synergize our efforts in helping our neighboring communities grow,” Mr. Chan added.

“RP Energy believes that education is the best way to empower communities. Through RP Energy’s ‘Project Bangka,’ we are hoping to contribute in improving the education performance of the students in order for them to get a better future,” said Meralco PowerGen Vice-President for External Affairs Litz Santana. (SNL)

PHOTOS:

[1] Boat donated by RP Energy to Kinabuksan Integrated School

[2] DREAMS AFLOAT. Parent-Teacher Association Vice-President Gemma Pilapil, (1st from left); Principal Dr. Rod Raguine (4th from left); Meralco PowerGen Vice-President for External Affairs Litz Santana; RP Energy External Affairs Head Victor Chan; RP Energy CSR Officer Jason Gavina; with teachers and students of Kinabuksan Integrated School.

[3] THANK YOU. Grade school pupils with their paper boats. SBMA Public Relations Officer Malou Dungog with RP Energy External Affairs Head Victor Chan.

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Olive ridley sea turtle rescued by Olongapo fishermen

OLONGAPO CITY – Three fishermen rescued an olive ridley sea turtle on Friday at the lighthouse area in Barangay Kalaklan.

Roel Avia, Dennis Galvez, and Kevin Del Pilar found the 22-inch sea turtle at the lighthouse area Friday morning. The three teenagers turned over the marine animal to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Ecology Department.

SBMA Deputy Administrator Atty. Chot Kabigting said that the teenagers turned over the sea turtle, fearing that the animal might get tangled up in fishing nets if released near the shore. He ordered the SBMA Harbor Patrol to release the sea turtle away from the fishing nets.

The Ecology Dept. tagged the animal and hopes to see it migrate again in Subic Bay next year.

“It was probably nesting here, thank goodness that there are fishermen like these teenagers, who are still taking care of our marine life,” Kabigting said.

SBMA environment management specialist Rhea Jane Mallari, who was about to monitor the giant clams in Subic Bay, led the release of the turtle a few meters from the shore of All Hands Beach Resort.

Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino lauded the efforts of the three teenaged fishermen, stating that people should take from them their effort in assuring the life of a marine animal.

“Nakakatuwa at meron pa palang mga mangingisda sa atin na magpoprotekta ng kalikasan. Dapat talagang tularan ng ibang mangingisda ang mga kabataang ito,” Paulino said.

The olive ridley turtle that the boys rescued was 69 cms wide, 64 cms tall and was around 40 to 60 years old. With many beaches surrounding the area, Subic Bay has been a favorite nesting ground for these endangered animals. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTOS:

[1] Fisherman Dennis Galvez (left) and an SBMA Harbor Patrol officer carry the olive ridley sea turtle that was found in Olongapo City on Friday. Galvez and two other boys, Roel Avia and Kevin Del Pilar, rescued the turtle in Barangay Kalaklan and turned it over to the SBMA Ecology Dept. (Jonas Reyes)

[2] SBMA Ecology Center manager Ruel John Kabigting (left) and SBMA environment management specialist Rhea Jane Mallari give a good luck pat to an Olive Ridley sea turtle before members of the SBMA Harbor Patrol release it back to the open sea on Friday morning. The sea turtle, locally known as pawikan, an endangered species, nearly got entangled in the nets of fishermen from Olongapo City, who later turned it over to the SBMA. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://www.mb.com.ph/olive-ridley-sea-turtle-rescued-by-olongapo-fishermen/

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11 Filipino fishermen rescued by US Navy safe - SBMA

Eleven fishermen were rescued by the US Navy after their fishing vessel capsized 90 miles off the coast of this Freeport.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said the fishermen were rescued early Monday morning (July 20) by the crew of the USNS Impeccable while in transit to Subic Bay.

Capt. Robert Wiechert of the USNS Impeccable said in a report that while en route to the port of Subic, they spotted lights and people waving from a floundering small vessel at around 6:00 pm on Sunday.

Despite the prevailing rough waters, the American ship was able to maneuver closer to the capsized vessel four hours after and launched a rescue boat that took in the distressed fishermen. All 11 were brought to the Impeccable and given medical attention, food and clean clothing.

Garcia said that once in the Subic Freeport, the rescued fishermen were attended to by SBMA medical officers who determined that they only sustained minor injuries from the incident.

Garcia thanked the crew of USNS Impeccable and said that the rescued fishermen are safe and had gone back to their families.

The rescued fishers were identified as Fernando R. Rebata; Jay-R A. Encarguez; Daniel B. Canaway; Wilson E. Etak; Jerry T. Oliviero; Armando D. Polo; Rueben M. Lebios; Vergel A. Ecarges; Charlie R. Dumaz; Eddie V. Benveniga; all from Barangay Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan, and Ariel P. Balaquit of Barangay Naulo, Santa Cruz, Zambales.

The USNS Impeccable, an ocean surveillance ship of the U.S. Navy assigned to Military Sealift Command's Special Missions Program, is now docked at the Boton Wharf of the Subic Bay Freeport. (RBB/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
[1] Local fishermen disembark from the USNS Impeccable at the Boton Wharf after they were rescued by the crew of the USNS Impeccable 90 miles from the coast of Subic, Zambales. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] The SBMA medical and rescue team, along with SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator Randy Escolango (4th from left), attend to the rescued fishermen upon arrival at the Subic Bay Freeport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Zambales fishers file HR case vs China before UN

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Thirty-eight fishermen from Zambales, who are among those displaced by China’s intrusion into the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, on Wednesday made history by filing a case against the government of China, accusing the aggressor at the West Philippine Sea of violating their basic human right to adequate food.

Assisted by activist-lawyers from the University of the Philippines Law Center, the “Zambales 38” filed an urgent appeal before the United Nations (UN) Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to seek a declaration from the body that China is violating their human rights by preventing them from accessing their only means of livelihood.

The fishermen, who come from the fishing towns of Masinloc and Subic, e-mailed the petition to the UN committee after a forum was held at the Pista sa Baryo restaurant here to explore various international remedies available to local fishermen who lost their livelihood because of the maritime dispute.

Lawyer Gilbert Andres, who sent the petition on behalf of the group, said the committee has confirmed receipt of the e-mail just minutes after it was sent.

Prof. Harry Roque Jr., director of the Institute of International Legal Studies at the UP Law Center, said the filing of the case is an historic undertaking because it was the first time that people of one country filed a complaint against the government of another.

Typically, he said, complaints of human-rights violations were filed by citizens of a country against their own government.

But Roque said the case filed by the Zambales fishermen was meant to send the message that territorial disputes are not just between nations, but also impact on the lives of people who seek sustenance from the resources inside those territories.

“The disputed islands and shoals are only important because there are people, like these fishermen here, who benefit from them,” Roque pointed out.

He added that, unfortunately, the case filed by the Philippine government with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) concerns only the territories claimed by the country and not the basic rights of local fishermen to livelihood and life.

“We have the duty to defend the human rights of these people, even if the violators are governments,” Roque added.

According to Miguel Detana, the former captain of the fishing boat F/B Marvin I based in Masinloc, Zambales, the virtual takeover by China of the Scarbrough Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc, has robbed local fishermen of income of about P7,000 per week.

“I have been fishing at the Scarborough since 1991 and we always had a bountiful harvest because there was so much fish in the shoal. Now we get so little from the sea,” Detana said.

Detana and the crew of F/B Marvin I had not ventured into Scarborough since April 26, 2014, when their boat was hit with water cannon by a Chinese coast guard vessel. Now the owner of the boat is selling it to cut his losses.

Inocentes Forones Jr., who also owned boats that once fished at Bajo de Masinloc, said the locals can now only safely fish in municipal waters where they manage to catch about 1 kilo or 3 kilos of fish a day.

The displacement of their income, lawyers said, clearly illustrates how the fishermen’s right to adequate food has been violated by Chinese incursion into that part of the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Lawyer Celeste Cembrano-Mallari, a UP Law Center expert on Unclos, said because the Scarborough Shoal is just 124 nautical miles from the mainland of Luzon, the Philippines as a coastal state has every right to explore, exploit, conserve and manage the resources in its waters, as well as the seabed and subsoil.

Andres also explained that various international conventions guarantee the fishermen of Zambales the right to standard of living adequate for their health and well-being, as well as the right to adequate food.

Roque also said because it can be proven that the fishermen-victims suffered economic losses because of the violation, there should also be compensation for the income they have lost because of China’s incursion.

Roque added they have high hopes that the case against China would prosper, because it can be proven that Scarborough has long been a traditional fishing ground for local fishermen, and that the Philippines exercised control over it before it was forcibly taken over by China in 2012.

He said that at least two precedent cases are on record, wherein the UN committee had decided to respect traditional fishing rights of one country over the claims of another who encroached upon it. (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

PHOTO:
Zambales fishermen and lawyer-supporters raise clenched fists on Wednesday as they sent an urgent petition against China to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/zambales-fishers-file-hr-case-vs-china-before-un/

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DFA holds multi-sectoral forum in SBFZ on the West Philippine Sea

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) held a nationwide information, education and communication (IEC) campaign on the West Philippine Sea.

In partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), a Multi-Sectoral Forum in Subic, Olongapo in Region 3 was held Friday (May 29).

DFA Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Charles C. Jose spoke about the West Philippine Sea issue to an audience of 180, who came from different sectors of society across the region.

In attendance were representatives of the regional offices of various national government agencies including the DFA, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DoST), and from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), among others. Officials from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), representatives of the local government units of Olongapo City and Subic, Zambales, uniformed personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), as well as various other local organizations were also present.

The event also drew a broad and varied participation from private sector groups, including representatives of several business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), members of the local press, academe, and university students.

Most importantly, leaders of the fisherfolk community in the Zambales area, whose traditional fishing grounds include Bajo de Masinloc and surrounding waters within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), attended the event.

They had the opportunity to engage Assistant Secretary Jose and BFAR Region 3 Director Wilfredo Cruz in a dialogue to share their personal experiences in fishing in the area of Bajo de Masinloc and also to express their concerns about their livelihood and general welfare.

The Multi-Sectoral Forum was held in the ballroom of Mansion Garden Hotel, located within the SBFZ.

The Multi-Sectoral Forum is an expanded version of the Special Kapihan ng Mamamayan on the West Philippine Sea. The first two rounds were held in Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City earlier this year. The next round will be held in Laoag City in Region 1 this June. (Cristina Lee-Pisco, Journal)

http://www.journal.com.ph/news/top-stories/china-slams-us-ph-over-status-quo-call

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Subic Bay fisherfolk celebrate “Araw ng Mangingisda” with fund drive

More than 700 fun-run enthusiasts joined the “Takbo Para sa Pagmamahal sa Karagatan,” a fund-raising activity organized by fisher folks in the Subic Bay area in conjunction with the celebration of “Araw ng Mangingisda.”

The fun run was organized by the Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (SBIFARMC), which is celebrating its 13th year anniversary this month.

The run started and finished at the Boardwalk Park here and drew participants from various schools in the Freeport and Olongapo City, as well as members of the Olongapo City police force, the PNP Maritime Command, the local media, and employees of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and various locator-companies in Subic Bay Freeport.

SBIFARMC chairman Restituto Del Rosario said the successful fund drive will benefit the group’s information and education campaign, which focuses on uplifting public awareness on the importance of protecting and preserving marine resources against illegal activities.

“The fund will be used for our mangrove planting and rehabilitation projects, coastal river clean-up, conduct of forum, and the drive against illegal fishing,” Del Rosario said.

He also lauded SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia for the agency’s continuing support of SBIFARMC in terms of various livelihood training and the P4-million Environmental Guarantee Fund (EGF), which the SBMA approved in October 2010.

The fishers group has used the EGF to produce 60 artificial reef modules that were installed in the coastal areas of Subic Bay, Morong in Bataan, and San Antonio in Zambales; as well as for projects that provide additional income to members, and scholarship grants for their children.

The SBIFARMCI also received two units of newly-built motorized bancas for its monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) program.

Del Rosario also thanked participants in the fun run, saying that each donation was crucial to the task of protecting the marine environment here.

“These steps are important to reach our vision of sustainable management of our marine resources and we hope that our efforts and commitments become successful to regain the bountiful resources of our municipal waters,” he added.

Aside from the SBMA, “Takbo Para sa Pagmamahal sa Karagatan” was supported by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 3 (BFAR-R3), Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, SM Olongapo, Subic Water, Subic Ads, Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc., and One Meralco.

In the event, BFAR-R3 also donated five units of gasoline engines for bancas, 10 Coleman portable lights, and 30 life vests. These were distributed among the four FARMCs of Morong, Olongapo City, Subic and San Antonio. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Participants in the “Takbo Para sa Pagmamahal sa Karagatan” break out at the start of the fun run organized by the Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council, which is celebrating its 13th year anniversary this month.

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RP Energy launches project to protect Subic Bay ecology

The Manila Electric Co.-led Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. power consortium (RP Energy), proponent of a 600-megawatt coal-fired thermal power plant in this free port, has launched a project supporting local initiatives to protect Subic Bay.

Victor Chan, the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) officer, said that RP Energy recently conducted a two-day seminar-workshop on marine environmental laws and best practices in coastal marine management.

Chan said that despite Subic Bay’s importance to both the local fishing and tourism industry, residents here believe the bay is already suffering from over-exploitation, tourism pressure, marine pollution and destructive fishing practices.

He said that with its “Protect the Bay” initiative, RP Energy wants to help ensure the sustainability of Subic Bay by supporting the local government unit’s rehabilitation and protection efforts, as well as the local enforcement of environmental policies.

“Citizen’s participation through vigilance is crucial for the success of these efforts since the surrounding communities are also the ones directly affected by pollution in the bay,” he added.

Chan said RP Energy organized the seminar-workshop under its “Katuwang Natin sa Buhay” CSR program and in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the College of Human Ecology of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, the Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (SB-IFARMC), and the international non-profit organization Blacksmith Institute.

The Blacksmith Institute, an organization founded in 1999 to help solve pollution problems in developing countries, has reportedly completed more than 50 clean-up projects in 21 countries.

Restituto del Rosario, chairman of the SB-IFARMC, said the fishing communities around the bay would be among those who will benefit from the project.

Thanking RP Energy for the initiative, del Rosario added that local fishermen welcome the support from the company: “Nakakatuwang isipin na ang RP Energy ay aming katuwang sa pangangalaga sa Subic Bay sapagkat ito ay karugtong na ng aming buhay.”

Meanwhile, SBMA Public Relations Department Head Armie Llamas said that the “Protect the Bay” project would also boost Subic’s tourism program and help push other stakeholders in the Subic Bay Freeport to join in protecting local marine resources.

Chan said that aside from conducting the seminar-workshop, RP Energy is looking at other activities that will be organized under the initiative.

These include the establishment of mangrove forests along the bay, the expansion of RP Energy’s giant clam farm, and the launch of Task Force Subic Bay monitoring group that will be composed of various community stakeholders. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/regions/26423-rp-energy-launches-project-to-protect-subic-bay-ecology

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Fishers’ group joins SBMA in advocacy vs. plastics

Fisher folks in the Subic Bay Area have joined the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in its advocacy against the use of plastics and other non-biodegradable products that pollute the environment.

During the celebration of the “Araw ng Mangingisda” last Saturday, members of the Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (SBIFARMC) said they have rallied to the call by the SBMA for a ban on plastics as their contribution to the cause of environmental protection and sustainable development.

The SBMA had enforced a “No Plastic Bag/No Styrofoam” policy among retail establishments inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone starting January 1 and has put in place stiff penalties for repeated violations.

“Ito ngayon ang adbokasya ng IFARMC na nais naming iparating sa mga residente, lalo na iyong mga nakatira sa tabi ng mga ilog (This is now the IFARMC's advocacy that we would like to convey to residents, especially those living by the riverside),” said SBIFARMC chairman Restituto Del Rosario.

“Ang mga itinatapon na plastic sa mga ilog ay pumapatay sa yamang-dagat na ikinabubuhay natin. Kaya huwag sana tayong magtatapon ng basura, lalo na ang mga plastic, sa ilog at sa dagat (Plastics that are thrown into the river kill marine resources, which is our livelihood),” Rosario appealed.

He added that in conjunction with its advocacy project, the fishermen’s group will plant mangrove trees and undertake regular coastal clean-up drives along the coastlines and in the sea off Barangay Baraka in Subic, Zambales and Barangay Barretto in Olongapo City.

SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia said the agency will continue to support SBIFARMC in its projects to prevent illegal fishing and to preserve marine biodiversity in Subic Bay.

“The SBIFARMC is our major partner in securing and preserving marine biodiversity here. We are glad that we are again together in this advocacy against the use of plastics and Styrofoam materials that pollute the environment,” Garcia said.

The SBIFARMC is an organization representing fishermen from communities around Subic Bay — the town of Morong in Bataan, the municipalities of San Antonio and Subic in Zambales, and Olongapo City.

The council, which is supported by the SBMA through its Ecology Center, has been deputized by the Philippine Maritime Police and Philippine Coast Guard, and recognized by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as a partner against illegal fishing.

With financial assistance from the SBMA, the SBIFARMC has been able to implement various projects, such as the manufacture and installation of 60 artificial reef modules in the coastal areas of Morong, Subic Bay, and San Antonio, Zambales.

The SBMA assistance has also provided livelihood projects to SBIFARMC members and benefited their children through a scholarship program.

In the recent “Araw ng Mangingisda” celebration, the SBIFARMC organized a three-kilometer fun run to raise funds for its upcoming advocacy projects.

The fun run also helped raise awareness on environmental protection and marine resources conservation. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Participants break out from the starting point during the fun-run organized by Subic Bay fisher folks during the “Araw ng Mangingisda” celebration on Saturday.

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Another SBMA employee to receive Pagasa Award

A community relations officer of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), who initiated several community development projects for fisher folk in the Subic Bay area, will be conferred the Pagasa Award in Malacañang this month.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia proudly announced on Thursday that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has chosen SBMA employee Marilou Dungog as one of this year’s recipients of the Pagasa Award, which is given for outstanding contributions resulting from an idea or performance that directly benefit more than one department of the government.

Dungog, an administrative officer of the SBMA’s Public Relations Department, will be the fifth SBMA employee to receive the Pagasa Award.

PRD manager Armie Llamas said that Dungog, who embraced the fisher folks in Olongapo City, Morong in Bataan, and San Antonio and Subic in Zambales, “painstakingly undertook several projects that helped in the economic uplift of the communities.”

Llamas said that despite limited funds for community relations projects, Dungog never complained nor showed any pessimism but instead endeavored even more to reach out to the people.

“Despite the odds, she kept going and pursued her advocacy in helping the fisher folk become self-sustaining and economically independent. And with her admirable tenacity and persistence, she was able to accomplish remarkable feats that have steered them to greater heights,” she noted.

For her part, Dungog, who placed second in the search for the 2011 SBMA Employee of the Year, attributes her success to God, for the inspiration and talent; to her family, for the reason why she strives more; and to the fisher folk without whom she could not have achieved anything significant.

“Para akong tumama sa lotto,” she remarked. “Sa likod pala ng mga hirap na dinaanan ko para ma-organize ang mga fisher folk communities dito sa Freeport area ay may naghihintay na napakalaking pagkilala at pagpapahalaga,” she added.

With the award, Dungog urged her colleagues in the government sector to have “mahabang pasensya” and not focus on what benefit could be gained from the people in the community, but rather on what one could share with them.

Chairman Garcia, meanwhile, said that the SBMA workforce has consistently produced recipients of various awards of excellence. These include printing machine operator Randy Canlas, who received a similar Pagasa award in 2010; SBMA fire chief Ranny Magno, who also received a Pagasa award in 2010 for leading the SBMA Fire and Rescue Team in helping recover and retrieve trapped miners in Itogon, Benguet, in September 2008; the SBMA Fire and Rescue Team, which was conferred the Gawad KALASAG (National Level) in 2009 for extraordinary courage, heroism, self-sacrifice, and bravery against all odds in times of emergencies and disasters; 2007 SBMA Employee of the Year Joel Viray, who was Pagasa awardee in 2008; and 2008 SBMA Employee of the Year Edmund De Jesus, who also made it to the regional finals in 2009.

SBMA Chairman Garcia said that SBMA employees work with malasakit, excellence and passion — the agency’s core values — in support of the SBMA goal of helping in the economic development of the country and in improving the lives of its stakeholders. “And it apparently pays off for everyone, especially for those who render their best in public service,” Garcia said.

“It is not surprising, therefore, that we now have several SBMA employees in the honor roll of the CSC Pagasa Award,” Garcia added. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA employee Malou Dungog is set to receive a Pagasa Award for projects for fisher folk communities in the Subic Bay area.

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Seven Subic fishers rescued, two missing after sea collision

Seven fishermen were rescued Wednesday morning while two remained missing after a Subic-based fishing vessel collided with a cargo ship off the coast of Zambales at around 3:30 p.m. last Sunday, August 7.

The fishermen were picked up by the cargo vessel M/V Izumi at around 6:00 a.m. Wednesday and then transferred to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) vessel M/V Redondo, which brought them to the SBMA Dispensary for treatment.

The fishermen, all from barangay Calapandayan, Subic, Zambales, were found holding onto floating pieces of their vessel about 112 miles west of Subic, near the Scarborough Shoal, rescuers said.

They were identified as Benito Otero, 56; Joel Otero, 47; Ricardo Castorico, 28; Roberto Alvior, 38; Vidal Radasa, 56; Salih Alipido, 42; and Ronilo Lebios, 29.

Those missing were identified only as as Arnel, 46, and Teteng, 40.

Two of the survivors, Alipido and Lebios, were injured in the collision.

According to Benito Otero, who owns the ill-fated fishing vessel Tres Marias, they have been floating at sea for four days before being rescued.

Otero also said that heavy rains last Sunday made for poor visibility, thus they did not see the ship in time to avoid it.

“Talagang ulan po. ‘Di makita, talagang malakas ‘yung ulan. Nakita namin ‘yung barko malapit na (It was raining. We can’t see anything, it was raining hard. We only saw the ship when it was already near our boat),” Otero said.

Otero likewise claimed that they failed to avoid the ship because of problems with steering.

The survivors said that their boat split into two after the cargo ship hit it. Thereafter, the fishermen clung to pieces of the wreckage in order to keep afloat.

However, two men in their crew disappeared in the water after the accident and were never found until the boat crew were rescued on Wednesday.

Otero recalled that they have already been fishing for four days and had sufficient catch when they met the accident on Sunday.

He said that after the mishap, the cargo ship that collided with them merely sailed on.

Otero said they failed to identify the ship also because of poor visibility. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

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Subic fisherfolk celebrate “Pamalakaya 2011” for bountiful harvest

Fishermen in the Subic Bay area gathered themselves together the other day in a lengthy fluvial parade around the bay to celebrate“Pamalakaya 2011: Araw ng Mangingisda,” a festival to thank Mother Nature for a year--round bountiful harvest.

The fluvial parade was part of the week-long festivities “Subic Ay!” that was organized by the municipal government with the theme, “Tuloy ang Pagsulong Tungo sa Subic City.”

The Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (SBI-FARMC) initiated the fluvial event. Delegations from the coastal barangays of Calapandayan, Calapacuan, Matain, Wawandue, Asinan and Baraka in this town joined the parade, which was led by a fishing boat carrying the image of Saint James (San Tiago), the patron saint of fishermen.

“The Pamalakaya is our way of thanking Mother Nature and our patron for providing us with a continuous source of livelihood and keeping us safe while catching fish offshore,” said SBIFARMCI chairman Laureano Artagame.

Aside from the fluvial parade, the Subic Ay! Festival also enlivened the streets around the poblacion area of Subic by the cheering songs of fishermen, as well as women and children who joined the karakol or street dancing.

The fluvial parade was followed by boat races in various categories: paddle-driven, motorized, and mini-banca, which used recycled materials.

The SBIFARMCI is among the sectors being assisted by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) through the Environmental Guarantee Fund, which was tapped for scholarship grants and various livelihood programs for fisherfolk in the Subic Bay area.

Members of SBIFARMCI include fishermen from Olongapo City, Morong in Bataan, and Subic and San Antonio in Zambales.

Last October 2010, SBIFARMCI received P2.3 million from the SBMA for the production of 60 artificial concrete reefs modules that were later installed in coastal areas in Morong, Subic Bay, and San Antonio in Zambales. In addition, the SBIFARMCI also purchased two new motorized bancas for use as monitoring, controlling and surveillance (MCS) patrol boats.

Outgoing SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga said during the turnover of the fund that the SBMA aims to implement a program that will benefit the marine environment from which Subic stakeholders derive their livelihood.

“It is a common endeavor of the stakeholders in the Subic Bay Area to promote higher marine biodiversity in Subic Bay and create better and healthier marine environment for fishing, recreation, tourism and related livelihoods,” Salonga also said. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO CAPTION:
Fishermen from Subic, Zambales paddle their boats against a backdrop of merchant vessels in a boat race held during the "Subic Ay!" festival held recently in thanksgiving for bountiful harvests.

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Festival bats for recognition of local fishers

MORONG, Bataan — Local fishermen called on the government to recognize the importance of the fishing industry in the Philippine economy and to place importance on the protection of marine resources during the recent “Araw ng Mangingisda” celebration held at Barangay Sabang in this town.

The event featured activities like fun run, coastal clean-up, fluvial parade, galunggong cooking contest, and parlor games that were lined up for residents and visitors alike in the two-day program held on April 14-15.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which manages part of Morong town under the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, gave its full support to the Sabang festival. SBMA public relations manager Armie Llamas served as a judge in the cooking contest, while the SBMA brass band rendered musical entertainment during the fluvial parade.

Sabang, which is located along the coast of this town, relies on fishing as its major source of income. The major product of resident-fishers is the “galunggong” or mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus), which is a common food fish in local markets.

Restituto del Rosario, chairman of the Morong Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (FARMC) and 2008 Gawad Saka awardee for fish capture, said the local galunggong season usually starts in February and continues throughout March and April.

But he lamented that the fishing industry is not being recognized as an important part of the economy and is not regarded as a major industry.

“Kailangang makilala ang pangingisda bilang isang malaking industriya,” Del Rosario said.

Apart from batting for recognition of fisher folk, Del Rosario also wants the people to be aware of their responsibilities in taking care of the environment, particularly the sea.

Del Rosario said that changes in the climate is affecting the fishing season. He said that the “amihan” or the northeast wind, which is supposed to end by mid-February, has just ended in April, thus delaying the fishing season by more than a month. This delay reduced their fish catch by almost half, he said.

Normally, the average galunggong haul that local fishers make reaches one to two tons per day during the galunggong season.

At the same time, Del Rosario recognized the SBMA as one of the agencies, which provide assistance to the Sabang fishing village. He said that SBMA gave a P4-million grant recently to rehabilitate the coastal area and to provide aid for fishermen.

“SBMA has always been supportive of our programs here,” Del Rosario said.

He added that they have recently asked the SBMA Ecology Center for technical assistance in conducting studies for the marine protected area project that they are now undertaking.

Meanwhile, Morong vice mayor Bienvenido Vicedo Jr. said the festival is also a good avenue for promoting the products of Morong, particularly galunggong.

Vicedo also said that the local government of Morong had tied up with the Department of Labor and Employment to provide assistance to fishermen, setting up the “Sapaw” group and giving them P1-million worth of boats and equipment to help them in their trade. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO:
Fishermen get ready for the fluvial parade during the “Araw ng Mangingisda” celebration in Sabang, Morong, Bataan.

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Subic fisher folk launch artificial reef project

Members of fishing communities in the Subic Bay area, in cooperation with local government units and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), recently launched a concrete artificial reef project that was designed to augment traditional fishing grounds in their localities.

Spearheaded by the Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (SB-IFARMC), the project consisted of a total of 1,800 units of culvert pyramid-type concrete blocks formed into 60 artificial reef modules.

The P2.3-million project was made possible through the Environmental Guarantee Fund (EGF) of the SBMA, which has allotted a P4-million financial assistance to fishing communities affected by development projects in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The concrete modules will be installed at various sites identified by fishermen in the towns of Subic and San Antonio in Zambales, Olongapo City, and Morong town in Bataan.

The project launch was attended by Zambales vice governor Ramon Lacbain II, SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga, SBMA administrator Armand Arreza, Olongapo City mayor James Gordon Jr., and Subic municipal secretary Dick Otero, BFAR-3 assistant director Lilian Garcia, former SBMA director Angela Garcia who represented Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia, and representatives from the Police Maritime Group and the Philippine Coast Guard.

SB-IFARMC chairman Laureano Artagame said that the artificial reef project was designed to mitigate the effects of development in the area, as well as to rehabilitate fishing grounds destroyed by unscrupulous fishermen who employed dynamite, cyanide and other destructive fishing methods.

“Your presence here today is a solid manifestation that you support us in our mission, and that we all believe that we can still regain the bountiful biodiversity of Subic Bay through this initiative,” Artagame said.

For his part, SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga stressed the positive impact of the artificial reef project on the marine environment, and urged Subic Bay stakeholders to strengthen their commitment to conservation.

“We are here to implement a solution,” Salonga said. “And the fact that we are here together only indicates a strong likelihood that the solution we are trying to implement would succeed to the benefit not only of the stakeholders in Subic Bay, but also the marine environment from which we all derive our livelihood.”

“I hope that with this artificial reef project, we shall succeed in promoting a higher marine biodiversity in this area and a better, healthier marine environment for fishing, recreation, tourism, and related businesses,” Salonga also said.

Former SBMA director Angela Garcia said, meanwhile, emphasized the need for environmental protection alongside with activities designed to gain economic development.

“These steps are important to ensure that the vision for the sustainable management of our resources is translated into reality. I do hope that our continued efforts and commitments will reach far to regain back the bountiful resources of our municipal waters,” Garcia added.

Aside from launching the artificial reefs, the SB-IFARMC also commissioned into service two newly built motorized bancas that local volunteers will use as patrol boats for their monitoring, control and surveillance activities. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO: SBMA administrator Armand Arreza (2nd from left) cuts the ceremonial ribbon during the launching of the artificial reef project of the Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Marine Resources Management Council in Subic, Zambales. Joining him are Subic municipal secretary Dick Otero (left), SB-IFARMC chairman Laureano Artagame (right), and representatives of local fisher folk and the BFAR regional office.

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Subic fisher folk to launch artificial reef project

The Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (SB-IFARMC), an organization representing fisher folk communities in all areas surrounding Subic Bay, will launch its concrete artificial reef project on October 15.

The project was funded by an Environmental Guarantee Fund (EGF) from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which has allotted financial assistance to fishing communities affected by development projects in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

SB-IFARMC chairman Laureano DS Artagame said that about 1,800 units of culvert pyramid-type concrete blocks formed into 60 modules will be installed at various sites identified by fishermen in the towns of Subic and San Antonio in Zambales, Olongapo City, and Morong town in Bataan.

The ceremonial launching program will include the blessing of the concrete artificial reef modules, presentation of the artificial reef project, distribution of livelihood funds to members of the SB-IFARMC, and discussions to raise awareness among stakeholders on the conservation, protection and management of marine resources in Subic Bay.

Those expected to attend the event include officials of the SBMA, the Department of Agriculture, and municipal fisheries councils; the governors of Bataan and Zambales, and the mayors of Subic and San Antonio towns in Zambales, Morong in Bataan, and Olongapo City.
The artificial reef project aims to revive the dwindling marine resources in local fishing grounds and boost the livelihood of the fisher folk here, Artagame said.

The project used up about P2.3 million of the P4-million financial assistance that the SBMA gave to local fishing communities.

SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said the financial assistance was sourced through the EGF that was created as a condition under the Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) issued for the Subic port project and the Hanjin shipyard project. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO: SB-IFARMC volunteers in San Antonio, Zambales fabricate concrete cylinder blocks to be used for their artificial reef project in Subic Bay.

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SBMA joins Bataan fishers in ‘Galunggong Festival’

MORONG, Bataan — With its brass band rendering festive marching music, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) joined fisher folk in this town for the “Araw ng Mangingisda” festival, which highlights the abundant “galunggong” catch at barangay Sabang.

Organized by the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC) of Morong, the celebration is intended to raise public awareness on the importance of the fisher folk sector to the provision of daily food to the community.

The festival is also part of a local fishermen’s program to seek recognition and support from the local government unit of Morong, as well as to broaden the fisher folk’s network of assistance in the province, said Morong FARMC chairman Restituto del Rosario.

“The celebration is the first in a series of events to showcase the large contribution of fisher folk to the larger community here,” Del Rosario explained.

In addition, the festival could serve as inspiration for the fisher folk to continue protecting the abundant marine resources of Morong, he added.

Highlight of the one-day festival was a cooking contest featuring different ways “galunggong” could be prepared.

Del Rosario said that each of the 60 fishing boats that went out fishing on the eve of the event contributed one bucket, or about 20 kilos, of “galunggong” for the cookfest.

The public was then invited to the Sabang barangay plaza to sample the results of the cooking competition.

To spice up to the celebration, the organizers also put up events like street dancing, beach volleyball, chess, table tennis, palosebo, sack race, and other traditional games for the community to participate in.

Later in the day, fisher folk leaders and guests awarded school supplies to winners of the kiddie basketball tournament, which fielded youth members of “Bantay Dagat”, and for teams that collected the most garbage during the coastal clean-up drive.

Del Rosario said that with the successful staging of the festival this year, they will hold the “Araw ng Mangingisda in Morong every year, with a different theme each time.

Del Rosario also lauded the contributions of Anvaya Cove, a private resort located in Morong, which provided cash prizes for the various contests, and the SBMA, which also provided school supplies distributed to schoolchildren in Sabang.

The SBMA has traditionally been a partner of the fisher folk community in Morong in terms of putting up environment-friendly livelihood projects.

After providing assistance for the “lambaklad” project of Morong fishermen several years ago, the SBMA also released early this year a P4-million financial assistance to fishermen for the sustainable development of the Subic Bay area.

The grant benefited fishermen in Morong, Olongapo City, and the municipalities of Subic and San Antonio in Zambales.

According to SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga, SBMA granted the assistance in fulfillment of the agency’s responsibility to communities affected by the development of the Subic Bay Freeport.

The P4-million assistance is broken down into four components: P2.3 million for the establishment of artificial reefs; P.7 million for the operating expenses of the SB-IFARMC; P.5 million for a scholarship fund to deserving SB-IFARMC members and their immediate families; and P.5 million to fund livelihood programs for SB-IFARMC members and their families. (SBMA Corporate Communications)
PHOTO: Residents of Sabang village in Morong, Bataan show the various ways that “galunggong” could be cooked during the “Araw ng Mangingisda” festival.

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Fisherfolk to build P2.3-M artificial reefs in Subic

Fishers in communities adjacent to this free port will be building artificial reefs worth about P2.3 million in Subic Bay to increase fish population in the area and boost their income.

Laureano Artagame, chairman of the Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (SB-IFARMC), said the artificial reef project will be funded through the P4-million financial assistance recently given by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) as part of the authority’s commitment to sustainable development of the Subic Bay area.

The fund was coursed through SB-IFARMC and the Olongapo City-IFARMC, which were created under Republic Act 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

The two groups represent fisher-folk associations and communities in the Subic Bay area, including those in the municipality of Morong in Bataan, and the towns of Subic and San Antonio in Zambales.

“We will be using the bulk of the fund to build artificial reefs, so that we may increase local fish production,” said Artagame. “The artificial reefs are designed to replace former fishing grounds in Subic Bay, which have been taken over by commercial development and maritime projects.”

Artagame added that apart from the P2.3 million set aside for the artificial reefs, the fisher-beneficiaries will use P.7 million for the operation of the IFARMC; P.5 million for a scholarship program to benefit IFARMC members and their immediate families; and P.5 million for livelihood programs for IFARMC members and their families.

Meanwhile, SBMA officials said the authority granted the assistance “in fulfillment of the agency’s responsibility to communities affected by the development of the Subic Bay Free Port.”

“As we develop the bay—implementing in the process such projects like the Subic port modernization and the Hanjin shipyard—we have closed off some areas that were previously fishing grounds used by local fishermen,” said SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga. “This assistance is one way whereby the SBMA could contribute to the welfare of fisher folks in the Subic Bay area.”

According to SBMA administrator Armand Arreza, the P4-million assistance provided by the agency was taken from the Environmental Guarantee Fund, which was created as a condition for the issuance of permits for the Subic port development and Hanjin shipyard projects.

Arreza said that both projects affected local fishing communities whose fishing areas have somewhat dwindled due to the growing maritime trade, as well as the development of shorelines, foreshores and adjacent areas in the Subic Bay Free Port Zone.

He added that the SBMA forged an agreement with the SB-IFARMC in August 2009 for the provision of the P4-million assistance.

“As you can see, we’re not just concerned about attracting investors to the Subic Bay Free Port,” Arreza said. “The SBMA also has a very strong presence in corporate social responsibility, and this is just part of our program.” (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)


PHOTO: IFARMC chairmen Laureano Artagame and Daniel Mejia (center) receive P4 million in SBMA assistance to local fisherfolk from SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza (left) and SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga. The bulk of the fund will be used to build artificial reefs in Subic Bay.

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Fisher folks get P4-M assistance from SBMA

Fishermen in the Subic Bay area received a P4-million financial assistance from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Monday as part of the authority’s commitment to sustainable development of the Subic Bay area.

SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga and SBMA administrator Armand Arreza turned over the fund to Laureano Artagame and Daniel Mejia, the chairmen of the Subic Bay and Olongapo City Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (IFARMC), respectively.

The two organizations represent all fisher folk associations and fisher folk communities in areas surrounding Subic Bay. These include fishermen in Morong, Bataan, Olongapo City, and the municipalities of Subic and San Antonio in Zambales.

According to Salonga, SBMA granted the assistance in fulfillment of the agency’s responsibility to communities affected by the development of the Subic Bay Freeport.

“As we develop the bay—implementing in the process such projects like the Subic port modernization and the Hanjin shipyard—we have closed off some areas that were previously fishing grounds used by local fishermen,” Salonga explained.

“This assistance is one way whereby the SBMA contributes to the welfare of fisher folks in the Subic Bay area,” he added.

Arreza said meanwhile that the SBMA and the Subic Bay IFARMC (SB-IFARMC) forged an agreement in August last year for the provision of assistance to local fishing communities whose fishing areas have somewhat dwindled due to the growing maritime trade, as well as the development of shorelines, foreshores and adjacent areas in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“We’re not just concerned about attracting investors to the Subic Bay Freeport,” Arreza stressed. “The SBMA also has a very strong presence in corporate social responsibility, and this is just part of our program,” Arreza added.

Under the agreement, the SBMA committed a total of P4 million to be sourced from the Environmental Guarantee Fund (EGF), which was created as a condition for the issuance of permits for the Subic port development and Hanjin shipyard projects.

The P4-million assistance is broken down into four components: P2.3 million for the establishment of artificial reefs to take the place of former fishing areas; P.7 million for the operating expenses of the SB-IFARMC; P.5 million for a scholarship fund to deserving SB-IFARMC members and their immediate families; and P.5 million to fund livelihood programs for SB-IFARMC members and their families.

The SB-IFARMC was created under Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. (SBMA Corporate Communications)


PHOTO: SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza (left) and SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga (right) ahnd over the P4-million assistance to IFARMC chairmen Laureano Artagame and Daniel Mejia.

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