MAYORS from Negros Occidental are seeking a meeting with their counterparts in Guimaras province to settle the water boundary dispute between the two islands that resulted in the apprehension of fishermen from the two provinces.
Pontevedra Mayor Jose Benito Alonso, chairman of the Central Negros Council for Coastal Resources Development (Ceneccord), said on Tuesday that the mayors have received reports from fishermen in their localities about their apprehension by Guimaras-based Bantay Dagat operatives while fishing on the claimed territory by the province.
Alonso admitted that fishermen from Negros like to fish on the other side of underwater trench because it is abundant with fish.
He said that while he agreed with the proposal to "equally divide the waters between the two provinces, the question is: "where the measurement will start."
"If it will start at Inampulugan island, the closest island of Guimaras to Negros, it will overlap our boundary specifically that of Pulupandan and Valladolid," he said.
He also said the problem is that the Guimaras Provincial Government is strictly enforcing laws because of a new governor.
"We will look into ways how to solve the matter like allowing our fishermen to fish for a certain period of time which was agreed between the two local government units in the past," Alonso said.
Ceneccord is an alliance of seven local government units (LGUs) organized in 2005 through a memorandum of agreement with the assistance of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist not only to restore and conserve coastal resources but also to maintain and preserve a sound ecological balance, clean environment, equitable use of resources, and give preferential treatment to marginal fisherfolk.
The alliance also aims to create more opportunity for better living condition that will primarily benefit the public in general and the fisherfolk in particular.
It is composed of the City of Bago and the towns of Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, and Binalbagan in Negros Occidental.
The group also plays a major role in coastal resources conflict resolution between and among LGU-members, specifically those related to municipal water boundaries dispute.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said it is high time to resolve the boundary dispute that has long been a problem by fishermen. (TDE)