The Department of Agriculture (DA) will recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte the suspension of local government officials, even mayors, and barangay chairmen, who will fail to stop illegal fishing in their areas. The agency, led by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, will also launch a “shame campaign” on coastal towns with persistent reports of illegal fishing activities, which include cyanide and dynamite fishing. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Philippine Fishports Development Authority, which are both under DA, have jointly come up with a nationwide program to facilitate the distribution of fish straight from the fish ports to the remote towns of the country.

Miraflor, M. B. (2017, January 5). DA urges suspension of LGU officials who fail to stop illegal fishing. Manila Bulletin, p. B-3.