Republic of the Philippines
PALAWAN COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(R.A. 7611)
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
PCSD RESOLUTION NO. 95-87
A RESOLUTION URGING THE SANGGUNIANG PANGLALAWIGAN TO REVOKE PROVINCIAL ORDINANCE NO. 29 S.1994.
WHEREAS, R.A. 7611 adopted the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) as the comprehensive framework for the sustainable development of Palawan, compatible with protecting and enhancing the natural resources and endangered environment of Palawan;
WHEREAS, Section 16 of R.A. 7611 provided for the creation of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) for the governance, implementation and policy direction of the SEP;
WHEREAS, the PCSD on its 40th regular meeting held on October 27, 1995 accordingly acted on a documented report furnished by the International Marine Alliance (11VIA) regarding the illegal fishing activities in Cuyo, Maasaysay, and Agutaya;
WHEREAS, on the said report, certain personalities are involved in the sale and distribution of cyanide being used in illegal fishing in Palawan;
WHEREAS, on the same report, alleged sources of cyanide brought to Palawan are either Manila or other neighboring countries and transshipped to Southern Palawan for use in the islands of Balabac, Bataraza and the nearby municipalities. In the North, transshipment areas are the municipalities of Aracelli, Dumaran, Roxas, and Taytay; likewise it indicated the rampant use of cyanide in Palawan;
WHEREAS, vessels with aquarium facilities are used in live fish trading thereby omitting the need to establish stations in Coron and other municipalities of Palawan which make apprehension more difficult;
WHEREAS, other foreign nationals are actively fishing using cyanide and blasting methods in the Kalayaan group of islands and other parts of Philippine waters;
WHEREAS, the use of cyanide for catching live fish is very destructive to the marine eco-system and depleting Palawan’s marine resources;
WHEREAS, regulation on the use of noxious substances has failed to stop cyanide fishing;
WHEREAS, many scientists forewarned that next to water, the crisis will be on fishery if illegal is not abated,.
WHEREAS, Provincial Ordinance No. 29 s. 1994 was enacted to rationalize certain species of fish from the coverage of Provincial Ordinance No. 2 s. 1993, as amended, and by prescribing a system of compliance, clarification for its shipping and transporting, amending for the purpose certain provisions thereof;
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 29 has been entbrced since August 28, 1994 but due to lack of appropriations for the enforcers and due to the immense fishing grounds surrounding Palawan, inadequate implementation of Ordinance No. 29 S. 1994 is manifested by the limited number of apprehensions of illegal fishers and consequently, illegal fishing has not been abated;
NOW THEREFORE, upon unanimous motion and duly seconded by all the members of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development present;
RESOLVED, as it hereby resolved that the Sangguniang Panglalawigan revoke Ordinance No. 29 s. 1994 and consequently pass an ordinance to completely ban the trade of live fish in Palawan for a moratorium of five (5) years to allow such other alternatives and sustainable methods to develop such as but not limited to sea ranching;
RESOLVED FURTHER, that appropriation be provided to strengthen law enforcement to implement the ban and that a maximum penalty possible be imposed to violators of the ban on the trade of live fish and the ban on possession of cyanide and blasting paraphernalia;
RESOLVED FINALLY, that copies of this resolution be sent to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the LGIJs, and other concerned agencies.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of October, 1995 Quezon City.
| Approved: SALVADOR P. SOCRATES | Certified True and Correct: ARTHUR R. VENTURA |
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