The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas has intensified checkpoints to monitor and prevent the transport of shellfish contaminated by the red tide toxin, which has affected several coastal waters of the region. Francisco C. Rosaroso, chief of the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) told the Manila Bulletin that the regional BFAR office, through the Fisheries Resources and Management Division (FMRED) – Fisheries Protection Law Enforcement Group (FPLEG) in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), PNP Public Safety Battalion and Philippine Fisheries Development Authority set up checkpoints in the strategic areas in Eastern Visayas. Rosaroso said that the FPLEG, headed by Reynato Galan has already intercepted several containers of green mussels locally known as tahong during their market denial/inspection at the market here the other day.

Cabuyit, R. A. (2017, September 4). BFAR intensifies red tide, shellfish trade monitoring in Eastern Visayas. Manila Bulletin, p. 13