Mayor urges fishers to stop use of dynamite

CARLES Mayor Arnold Betita urged fishermen in his town to stop using dynamites otherwise they will not be given mayor’s permit to operate.

A manifesto to be signed by the fisherfolks, especially operators of “baling” (a fishing boat using dynamites in catching fish), is being prepared.

The agreement was made after the dialog among the municipal and barangay officials, fisherfolks, representatives from the Iloilo Provincial Government and the Philippine National Police (PNP) that was held recently in the said town last Tuesday.

ILOILO. Carles Mayor Arnold Betita speaks before the fisherfolks about the Provincial Government’s anti-illegal fishing drive. Also in photo are Provincial Administrator Raul Banias (2nd from right), Iloilo Provincial Police Office director Senior Supt. Gil Lebin (extreme right) and Board Member Jett Rojas (4th from right). (Contributed photo)

Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said Mayor Betita’s presence in the dialog is a positive indication of his support to Governor Arthur Defensor’s initiative to curb illegal fishing.

He said the fisherfolks were also amenable to the proposal stopping the use of dynamite fishing in Carles.

Earlier, operators of “hulbot-hulbot” in the towns of San Dionisio, Ajuy and Concepcion also signed separate manifestos stopping their operations.

ILOILO. More than 100 fisherfolks in Carles, Iloilo, attend a dialog about the Provincial Government’s anti-illegal fishing campaign Tuesday. (Contributed photo)

Banias said Mayor Betita will still be conducting additional consultations regarding the plan to adopt a similar move.

Banias again warned illegal fishing operators to stop their activities, saying the province now has the capacity to apprehend considering the four bigger and faster patrol boats actively operating in the coastal areas of Northern Iloilo. (ECG/PR)