Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources(BFAR)

August 10, 2020 Dear Arthur Asodisen, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated May 04, 2020 12:44:21 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your Request You asked for Official Guidelines or Rule for Fishing in Municipal Waters in Tanon Straight. Response to Request This is to formally acknowledge your request for information from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. We would like to apologize for not promptly responding to your request. This is due to some challenges during COVID19 pandemic. It is only now that we have been able to access the pending requests sent through the portal. Please rest assured however that we have already initiated measures to address the cause of delay and improve further our services. With regards to your request, official guidelines on the management of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) is fortified by relevant national laws (Republic Act [RA] 11038 or the ENIPAS ACT and/or RA 10654 or the Amended Fisheries Code, etc.) in addition to respective or joint local ordinances enforced by the Municipalities adjacent to the said Protected Seascape. The national laws are publicly accessible while local ordinances can be accessed via their respective LGUs. All relevant provisions of the said laws and regulations safeguard TSPS from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUFF). Such laws and regulations are enforced by different national agencies in coordination with local government units. We suggest you connect directly with the Tañon Strait Protected Area Superintendent, or the regional provincial office of the national agency (DENR, BFAR, PCG) directly linked with the enforcement of the Laws and Regulations in the region, or the nearest LGUs regarding this matter. Thank you! Respectfully, FOI Decision Maker FOI Receiving Officer