The local government of Odiongan is set to explore the possibility of a joint management agreement for municipal waters with the neighboring towns of Ferrol and San Andres.
This initiative comes after Odiongan Mayor Trina Firmalo-Fabic directed the Municipal Agriculture Office to coordinate with the agriculture offices of the other towns to draft a joint management proposal. The goal of this effort is to provide fisherfolk from Odiongan and neighboring towns with access to fish within the shared boundaries of their municipal waters.
This move follows the recent apprehension of four fishermen from San Andres by a task force composed of the PNP Maritime Group, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coast Guard, Bantay Dagat, and the Municipal Agriculture Office. The fishermen were caught fishing within the municipal waters at the boundary of Barangays Tumingad and Libertad in Odiongan.
After their apprehension, Mayor Firmalo-Fabic stated that consideration will be given to the fishermen based on their claim that it was their first time being caught fishing in the municipal waters of Odiongan. As a result, the local government has decided to return the P2,500 fine that the fishermen had initially paid.
Additionally, Mayor Fabic said that the Sangguniang Bayan is currently reviewing Municipal Ordinance 99-37, which was the basis for the apprehension of the four fishermen. The revised ordinance will include provisions on the joint management of Odiongan’s municipal waters, ensuring clarity and fairness in its enforcement.
