PCSD Resolution 95-90

Republic of the Philippines
PALAWAN COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(R.A. 7611)
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

PCSD RESOLUTION NO. 95-90

A RESOLUTION URGING THE CONGRESSMEN OF THE FIRST AND SECOND DISTRICTS OF PALAWAN TO INCORPORATE IN THE FISHERIES CODE AND/OR TO INITIATE LEGAL MEASURES TO COMPLETELY BAN LIVE FISH TRADING IN PALAWAN AND IN THE ENTIRE PHILIPPINES.

WHEREAS, on June 19, 1995 R.A. 7611, otherwise known as the "Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act" was passed and signed into law by President Corazon C. Aquino;

WHEREAS, the act declared the policy of the State to protect, develop and conserve its natural resources;

WHEREAS, Section 16 of R.A. 7611 provided for the creation of the Palawan Council For Sustainable Development (PCSD) to exercise the governance, implementation and policy direction of SEP;

WHEREAS, the PSCD on its 40th meeting held on October 17, 1995 accordingly acted on documented reports furnished by the International Marine Alliance (IMA) regarding the illegal activities in various parts of Palawan;

WHEREAS, on the said report, the alleged source of cyanide from Manila is distributed in Puerto Princesa while the cyanide allegedly from neighboring countries are transshipped to Southern Palawan for use in the islands of Balabac, Bataraza, and the nearly municipalities. In the North, transshipment areas are the municipalities of Araceli, Dumaran, Roxas and Taytay;

WHEREAS, live fish trading is very lucrative business internationally, utilizing vessels with aquarium facilities financing to local fishermen to catch live fish using cyanide;

WHEREAS, other foreign national are actively fishing and blasting method in the Kalayaan group of islands and other parts of the Philippines waters;

WHEREAS, the use of cyanide and other noxious substances in illegal fishing destroys the marine eco-system thereby depleting our marine resources;

WHEREAS, scientist forewarned that next to water, the crisis will be on fishery if illegal fishing is not abated;

WHEREAS, the ban on trading of live fish has to be comprehensive to encompass the whole country;

WHEREAS, the 10th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines has filed House Bill No. 3198, specifically the proposed Fisheries Code of 1995;

NOW THEREFORE, upon unanimous motion duly seconded by the members of the Council present;

RESOLVED, as it hereby resolved, that the PCSD request the two Congressmen of Palawan to incorporate in the fisheries code and/or to initiate legal measures to completely ban the trade of live fish in Palawan and in the entire Philippines;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that appropriation be provided to strengthen law enforcement to implement the ban and to impose a maximum penalty possible to violators of this law;

RESOLVED FINALLY, that copies of this resolution be sent to the two Congressmen of the First and Second Districts of Palawan and to Cong. Jose Tapales Villarosa, Chairman, Special Committee on the Fisheries Industry;

APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of October, 1995 Quezon City.
Certified true and correct: