Cebu Province PENRO Joins Coastal Law Enforcement Alliance Region 7 (CLEAR 7) Workshop

The Province of Cebu through PENRO-Capitol joined the Coastal Law Enforcement Alliance Region 7 (CLEAR 7) Strategic Planning Workshop last January 7 to 8, 2016 at Cebu Business Hotel, Cebu City. This was to strengthen strategic partnerships among members. This will help to achieve the goals and objectives of the alliance with clear understanding of each roles and responsibilities in the specific action plans.

CLEAR 7 is chaired by the The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7. The Technical Working Group (CLEAR 7-TWG) was able to identify the top five issues and concerns prevalent in all seven coastal waters surrounding the region (Visayan Sea, Camotes Sea, Danajon Bank, Cebu Strait, Bohol Sea, East Sulu Sea and Tañon Strait).

The top 5 issues include the intrusion of commercial fishing in the municipal waters in the region, blast fishing and production and selling of blasting caps, land-based pollution, destructive structures in the shorelines and compressor fishing: using either the arrow or noxious substances.

DENR 7 Regional Director, Mr. Isabelo R. Montejo, CESO V, hoped that the TWG could come up with clear plans based on CLEAR 7’s mandates. The mandates include monitoring control surveillance, policy making and capability building. Results of the strategic planning will be presented to the CLEAR 7 Board for approval.

CLEAR 7 is an alliance of national government agencies, local government units of Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Island Region and non-government agencies which work together for the protection and sustainability of regions’ coastal and marine ecosystem.

By: Timi-Lou Q. Manalili