Saturday, January 05, 2008 Smoke-belching rules, fisheries code top priority for '08 By Grace L. Plata
The City Council committee on environment and natural resources has listed the passage of the Fisheries Code and the crafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) for the Anti-Smoke Belching Ordinance as its priority for the first quarter of 2008.
The committee report for the Fisheries Code have already been accepted and approved by the body. It is set for discussion and debate under second reading in the upcoming sessions.
The Davao City Fisheries Code is the localized version of Republic Act 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. This code aims to provide the country development, management and conservation of the fisheries and aquatic resources. Its main consideration is food security.
The code includes a flexible policy towards the attainment of food security should be adopted in response to changes in demographic trends for fish, emerging trends in the trade of fish and other aquatic products in domestic and international markets.
It also limits the access to the fishery and aquatic resources of the city for the exclusive use and enjoyment of municipal fisher folk.
The local fisheries code was first proposed during the last months of 14th Council, but was not passed in time before the May 2007 elections.
The environment committee proposed the return of the ordinance to the committee level on June 14, 2007 as stakeholders that have not been part of the technical working group in drafting the ordinance has requested to be heard before it is finalized.
While waiting for the passage of the fisheries code, commercial fisher folks in Davao City are temporarily allowed to operate up to seven kilometers away from the shoreline since March 2008 to quell the conflict between the small and commercial fishers.
The Philippine fisheries code sets a 15-kilometer distance from the shoreline, where commercial fishermen are allowed to operate but then proposed local Fisheries Code sets it at 10 kilometers.
Environment committee chair Leonardo Avila III said the crafting of the IRR for the Anti-Smoke Belching Ordinance is crucial for its full implementation thus pushing to fast track the process.
The ordinance was approved during the last weeks of the 14th Council.
It aims to protect the air quality of the Davao City Airshed and requires the payment of an emission discharge fee by all motor vehicle owners and operators found to be using Davao City Airshed as a receptacle for emissions in excess of the Clean Air Act standards for motor vehicle emissions.
Roadside emission testing procedure should conform to procedures set in the Clean Air Act, while the Pollution Management Section of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office should serve as the Anti-Smoke Belching Unit that will develop and regularly update the progress of the anti-smoke belching program.
The Anti-Smoke Belching Unit team will undergo training and assessment before they are authorized to enforce the ordinance.
Violators of the allowable emission standards should be liable to pay an Administrative fine of P1,000 per violation. The business permits of emission centers found violating the rules on accreditation and authorization implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will be revoked.
