|
Thursday, October 24, 2002
Number of Filipinos held in Indonesia drops: CSWDO
THE social welfare and development office in General Santos said the number of Filipino arrested in Indonesia for illegal fishing is on the decline.
Social welfare chief Rebecca Magante attributed the drop of repatriated Filipino fishermen to an existing bilateral agreement between the Philippines and Indonesia.
The agreement allows Filipino fishermen covered with proper documents to catch fish in Indonesian territorial waters.
Magante said in 1996, close to 500 local fishermen were repatriated here for illegal fishing the in the neighboring Asean country.
The city social welfare chief however said this has dropped to around 30 people.
She also attributed the decline to the expansion of operations of big fish producers in Indonesia where they tied up with their Indonesian counterparts.
Domingo Teng, president of the Socsargen Federation of Fishing Associations and Allied Industry, said the nine of the 11 fishermen who were repatriated here recently are from Navotas in Metro Manila.
Magante also revealed that this year, they have not received reports of Filipino fishermen coming from General Santos who were arrested in Indonesia. Merlyn F. Velarde |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
