Escoto: BFAR’s WPS ops need added funding

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which has been conducting patrols with the Philippine Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea, welcomes a proposal to reallocate confidential funds to the bureau.

An agency of the Department of Agriculture, the BFAR, through its director, Atty. Demosthenes Escoto, said on Tuesday the added funding would significantly enhance its monitoring and surveillance efforts in the WPS.

Escoto said that while the decision rests with Congress, he is grateful to lawmakers for considering the augmentation of BFAR's funds.

"We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the members of Congress advocating for additional funds for the DA-BFAR and other security agencies," Escoto said.

"This initiative would empower our agency to strengthen and enhance our monitoring, control, and surveillance activities in the WPS and other fishing grounds to ensure the sustainable use of our marine resources and safeguard the livelihoods of our fisherfolk," he added.

Utilizing its current assets, BFAR has been actively combating illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, a persistent threat in Philippine waters, Escoto said.

He said the agency employs floating assets to monitor unlawful fishing activities and conduct resupply missions in collaboration with government agencies, particularly the PCG.

Supply missions
These missions provide essentials such as engine oil, drinking water, and ready-to-eat snacks to Filipino fisherfolk engaged in fishing activities in the WPS.

This year, the DA-BFAR also launched the Livelihood Activities to Enhance Fisheries Yields and Economic Gains from the WPS, a livelihood project worth nearly P80 million.

The program seeks to provide local fisherfolk with essential tools, knowledge, fishing gear and paraphernalia, and post-harvest training to help them fish more effectively in the WPS and reduce their post-harvest losses.

Likewise, the DA-BFAR delivered last June almost P5 million worth of livelihood inputs and capacity-building programs to residents of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan, under the LAYAG-WPS project.
The assistance included fiber-reinforced plastic boats, fish aggregating devices, rain catchers, and more.

"The DA-BFAR respects the wisdom of our lawmakers in determining the need for budget augmentation," Escoto said. "Nevertheless, the DA-BFAR remains committed to combating IUU fishing and empowering Filipino fisherfolk with our existing assets and resources."

"We want to ensure that they can fish peacefully, productively, and sustainably in our waters, especially in the WPS, which rightfully belongs to Filipinos," he added.