1st Quarter 2016 Issue • Philippines
Cebu RTC affirms
hulbot-hulbot ban
I
t is final. The ban on hulbot-hulbot or
Danish seine fishing is upheld by a Cebu
regional trial court (RTC) as it denied and
dismissed a motion for reconsideration filed
by the Northern Cebu Danish Seine Operators and Fisherfolks Association, Inc. (or
NCDSOFAI) to stop the ban on hulbot-hulbot
imposed in September 2013 by government
through the Department of Agriculture’s
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(DA-BFAR).
Presiding Judge Antonio D. Marigomen,
of RTC Branch 61 in Bogo City, Cebu, said
the Court finds no sufficient basis for the
An endangered green
sea turtle rests on
the coral reef at Apo
Island, in Negros
Oriental, unmindful
of a diver (behind),
exploring the island’s
pristine marine life.
Photo by Daniel Ocampo
Continued on page 8
Green Thumb Coalition
Photo below shows Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos (5th from
left), of Oceana Philippines, leading other ‘Green Thumb
Coalition’ members during a campaign launch in Cebu,
in February 2016. They are (from left): Oceana’s Daniel
Ocampo; Atty. Liza Eisma Osorio, of the Philippine Earth
Justice Center (PEJC); Atty. Aaron Pedrosa, of Sanlakas;
Vince Cinches, of Greenpeace; Oceana’s Atty. Roger
Joseph Guzman; Marc Canton, of Movement for Livable
Cebu; Reuben Muni, of Greenpeace; and Danny Diez, of
Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Dev’t for Communities.
No injunctions, TROs vs Gov’t
enforcing environmental laws
Sthe prosecution of cases filed by
o as not to impede but hasten
government agencies against violators
of environmental laws, the Supreme
Court (SC) through its Office of the
Court Administrator (OCA) enjoins all judges
of municipal and regional trial courts to
strictly observe rules and laws prohibiting the
issuance of injunctions or restraining orders.
The policy is contained in OCA Circular
Continued on page 9
Benham explorers use
modern video system
E
Next Gov’t should adopt blue agenda
N
on-government organizations call on
presidential candidates to include
oceans conservation and sustainable fisheries in their electoral platforms, as they prepare for the presidential debate in Dagupan
City, on April 24, 2016.
Panagat, an informal network of more
than 20 NGOs pushing for policy reforms
in fisheries, noted that the Philippines is
among the top fish-producing countries in the
world. However, government leaders remain
indifferent in providing solutions towards
sustainable fisheries management and marine
conservation.
The National Stocks Assessment Program of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) has reported that 10 out
Continued on page 3
xploring Benham Rise is much
anticipated especially by members of
the Oceana team.
The members of the forthcoming
second expedition are expected to
document the undersea mount and fish
species in Benham Bank, with the use of
a sophisticated equipment called baited
remote underwater video system or
BRUVS.
BRUVS features a two-camera set up in
a steel cage frame with a bait in a canister
to attract fish. The system documents
the attracted fish species, their sex,
population and behavior. The BRUVS rests
on the ocean floor, and the video may be
transmitted directly to the surface by cable
(depending on the distance from the sea
Continued on page 5
1
METAMORPHOSEAS
By Atty. Gloria ‘Golly’ Estenzo Ramos
Oceana, CSOs push for ‘green’ agenda
Despite the frenzy associated with
the forthcoming Presidential elections
in May, preoccupying most national
and local government officials for their
respective election bids, we at Oceana
Philippines International maintained our
apolitical stance, but partnered with more
than 40 civil society organizations — with
a potential support of 10 million voters
— to urge national and local candidates,
particularly the ‘Presidentiables,’ to
prioritize environmental and specifically
fisheries issues and embrace a ‘green
agenda.’
In Cebu, on February 17, we joined
other CSOs as we launched ‘Green
Thumb Coalition,’ advocating our pitch
that “fisheries are our main protein
source and with our oceans on the brink
of destruction, we have to elect public
officials who truly care about our future.”
We also submitted to all presidential
candidates and uploaded to our website
Oceana’s Fisheries Policy Brief which
includes eleven agenda for action.
Hence, in this issue, we feature
several articles on the ‘Green Thumb
Coalition,’ Panagat’s ‘blue agenda,’ and
the presidentiable’s ominous silence on
climate change as a campaign issue.
E-NIPAS Bill
As we ushered in 2016, Oceana and
several civil society organizations —
like Haribon Foundation, Pusod, and
Philippine Misereor Partnership — hosted
on January 27, a press conference
in Quezon City, urging the House of
Representatives (HOR) to deliberate
on and pass the ‘Expanded NIPAS’ bill,
before the House adjourned on February
3, for the May 2016 Presidential election
break. (Please see story on page 10.)
When Congress reconvenes, on May
23 to June 10, we hope our legislators at
the HOR can squeeze into their calendar
to tackle and pass the E-NIPAS bill, in
tandem with the Senate which already
approved their version of the bill. If not,
we are back to square one, as we will
convince a new set of legislators of the
17th Congress to support the muchneeded reforms for our protected areas.
2nd TSPS PAMB General Assembly
We collaborated with the DENR in
the preparation of the 2nd Tañon Strait
Protected Seascape (TSPS) Protected
Area Management Board (PAMB)
general assembly, in Cebu. This was
spearheaded and successfully hosted
by the TSPS Protected Area Office of
the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR). (Please see
story on page 5.)
We take our hats off to the DENR 7
and TSPS PAO teams, led respectively
by DENR Region 7 Director Isabelo
Montejo and PASu Am Prospero
Lendio, and heads of agencies and local
government officials. Congratulations
and more power!
During the assembly’s afternoon
session, we at Oceana and other
CSOs had a parallel meeting,
where we discussed our respective
initiatives and commitments in
support to the efforts of the DENR
7, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) Region 7, and other
government agencies to protect and
manage Tañon Strait and other marine
protected areas in Central Visayas.
(Please see story on page4.)
Government’s efforts are paying
off, as a joint seaborne patrol has
apprehended four illegal commercial
fishing vessels, during a 45-day
operation, from September 15 to
October 31, 2015. (Please see story on
page 8.) We urge the Protected Area
Office, the local government units,
the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources, the police and other
enforcement agencies to continue
inspiring inter-agency coordination in
protecting our oceans.
No more injunctions, TROs
Oceana commends the Supreme
Court through the Office of the Court
Administrator, Justice Jose Midas
Marquez, in instructing all judges of
the regional and municipal trial courts
to desist from issuing injunctions or
restraining orders against government
agencies enforcing environmental
laws. (Please see story on front
page.)
Hence, the policy further
strengthens our judicial system
in protecting our people’s
environmental rights, and boosts
the morale of our dedicated
environmental law enforcers. It
sends a strong message to all that
impunity will not be tolerated.
Benham Rise expedition
We are privileged for the
opportunity to take an active
participation in the second
expedition to explore Benham Rise,
commencing with a forum held
at UP Diliman and followed by a
training of marine scientists and
researchers on the use of a baited
remote underwater video system
or BRUVS and a SeaGIS software, in
Los Baños, Laguna. It is our modest
contribution, as we help document
the many new fish species, their
habitat, coral cover and the beauty
of Benham Rise. (Please see stories
on front page, and on pages 6-7.)
Finally, we at Oceana look
forward to a peaceful election, and
a new batch of national and local
public leaders who have a heart for
the environment, our oceans and
our people, including our fisherfolk!
Mabuhay!
Photo by Danny Ocampo
Candidates’ silence
on climate change ‘appalling’
O
ur candidates are silent when it comes
to [the climate change] issue. It is
appalling, to say the least,” said Atty. Gloria
Estenzo-Ramos, vice president of Oceana
Philippines, during a pre-debate forum at
the University of the Philippines-Cebu, on
March 20, 2016.
She gave a presentation about climate
change for those who attended the second
Commission on Elections (Comelec)-sponsored PiliPinas Presidential Debate.
“We have to elect leaders who care about
us and our life support system.”
Ramos zeroed in on the poor state of Philippine waters, citing illegal fishing activities
and the high incidence of poverty among
fisherfolk. She also discussed how climate
change aggravates biodiversity loss and
destruction.
“These are issues (are) affecting all of us.
We are all interconnected and [these issues]
should be tackled and included in the plat-
forms of our leaders, of our candidates,”
she said. “Unfortunately, their pronouncements are rather general.”
“One candidate said we’ll encourage
sustainable use of resources. What does
that mean? Just encourage? Isn’t that a
mandate?” she said. “Another is for the exploitation of natural resources as a source
of revenue for development.”
As a parting note, Ramos said: “Don’t
make the environment a voiceless system.”
During the debate, the presidential
candidates were asked about how the Philippines can fulfill its United Nations (UN)
commitment to reduce carbon emissions
by 2030.
The candidates – save for Vice President
Jejomar Binay who did not say anything
about the issue – agreed on using clean
sources of energy, such as hydro-electric
and wind power, to limit our dependence
on coal.
Photo by Danny Ocampo
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte called the United
Nations “hypocritical” for not imposing sanctions on industrialized countries who rely on
coal for energy.
Aside from the Philippines’ agreement with
the UN, climate change was hardly discussed in
the debate.
Duterte said “climate change does not have
to be discussed,” since the country is already
experiencing its effects. “El Niño is climate
change,” he said.
Poe said the first thing that should be done is
to relocate the 13.6 million affected residents,
mostly farmers.
Around 2,000 advocates of Greenpeace
Philippines marched to the debate venue to
urge the candidates to prioritize the environment in their platforms. The group has
launched a campaign called “Berde Ka Ba?” to
remind candidates and voters that environmental protection should be a priority election
concern. (CNN Philippines)
Political leaders should prioritize ‘green’ issues
A
Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos at the
University of the Philippines in Cebu,
before the 2nd PiliPinas Debates 2016.
n environmental advocate urged
presidential candidates to make
specific their pronouncements on
climate change, ahead of the second
PiliPinas Debates 2016 at the University of the Philippines-Cebu, on March
20, 2016.
“I hope more and more candidates
will come in the open and say that they
want development projects that do not
further degrade our environment,” lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos said during
the pre-debate program at the university in Cebu City.
“Unfortunately, the pronouncements
are rather general. One candidate said
we will encourage sustainable use of the
environment. What does it mean? Just
encourage? Isn’t it the mandate?” she
added.
During her presentation, Ramos said
there was a failure in implementing the
environmental laws such as regulation of
commercial fishing and mining.
She described the country’s laws as
“world-class,” but the officials leading the
government lack political will.
“Have we been good stewards? Our
oceans have become big toilets. We look at
our forest--do we know the forest cover of
Cebu, of our entire country? Suwerte na siguro ang eight percent, 10 percent,” she said.
Ramos also expounded on the effects of
neglecting the environment, which includes
looming food insecurity because of overfishing and deforestation.
“Why can’t we hear our candidates talk
about climate change? They are silent on
these issue,” she said.
Presidential candidates are expected to
discuss their plans on climate change during
the debate. —ALG, GMA News
the “Philippine Blue Agenda for Sustainable Fisheries” during the last leg of the
presidential debate on April 24, 2016, at
the University of Pangasinan, in Dagupan
City.
Panagat is calling for institutional
reforms, such as the establishment of
the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources to strengthen government’s
regulatory functions and address conflicting policies and overlapping functions
among several fishery-related government institutions and agencies.
The blue agenda includes the imple-
mentation of fisheries recovery plans, and
the establishment of more marine protected
areas to improve fish catch and preserve areas
with a high level of marine biodiversity. It also
highlights the need to improve fishery law enforcement and the operation of environmental
courts.
“We need to strengthen our institutions,
such as enforcement agencies and the courts,
to ensure that our environmental rights will not
be violated. More importantly, we need to protect our resources so we will have something to
leave for the future generation,” Ramos said.
Next Gov’t ... Continued from page 1
of the 13 major fishing grounds in the country
are overfished. Meanwhile, the Philippine
Statistics Authority has stated that fisherfolk
belong to the “poorest of the poor” due to lack
of resource access.
“Our way of life is closely connected to the
sea. Our leaders must address these pressing
issues, and uphold our constitutional right to
healthy oceans,” said lawyer Gloria Estenzo
Ramos, vice president for Oceana Philippines,
one of the members of Panagat.
Other members of the coalition include
the NGOs for Fisheries Reform, WWF-Philippines, and Greenpeace. The group will present
3
CSOs, Gov’t unite to protect Tañon Strait
C
ivil society organizations (CSOs) are
closing ranks with concerned government
agencies to protect and manage in a
sustainable manner Tañon Strait, the county’s
largest marine protected area in the Visayas.
The CSOs have committed to provide
their respective support to the Tañon Strait
Protected Seascape (TSPS) Protected Area
Management Board (PAMB) to implement
its 10-year general management plan (GMP),
in a parallel session during the 2nd general
assembly of the TSPS-PAMB, held in Cebu
City, March 10, 2016.
“Our dialogue was a huge first step for
CSOs to be united and work together in
various areas in the critical phase of the
implementation of the General Management
Plan to protect Tañon Strait from all forms of
threats and make it resilient,” said Atty. Gloria
Estenzo Ramos, vice president of Oceana.
Oceana is helping the government in the
implementation of the Fisheries Code as
amended, to fight illegal, unreported
and unregistered fishing in the country. It is
looking at collaboration with both public and
private sectors in the adoption of measures
such as vessel monitoring for commercial
fishing vessels.
The other CSOs included Rare Philippines,
Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC), Sea
Knights, Tambuyog DevelopmentCenter,
Grassroots Travel, University of the
Philippines in the Visayas, and University of
Cebu.
Respective CSOs’ commitments, initiatives
Fr. Tito Soquiño, founder of the KnightStewards of the Sea or ‘Sea Knights,’
suggested that the CSOs consider
‘ecologically evangelizing’ the stakeholders,
including the clergy, by initially briefing
them on the various initiatives to protect the
bounty and beauty of Tañon Strait.
Soquiño said that this approach would
facilitate in spreading the word to their
respective dioceses, and finally to their
parishioners in Cebu and Negros, who
are directly dependent on Tañon Strait,
particularly small fishers and their families,
other rural folks, commercial fishers,
including barangay and municipal officials.
Soquiño co-founded the Sea Knights in
2008, initially composed of Catholic priests,
whose aim is to help protect the environment.
The volunteer group has since then expanded
to include professionals, athletes, journalists,
policemen and government officials. It
conducts regular diving expeditions in Tañon
Strait and in other water waters in the
Visayas.
Rare Philippines, represented by its TSPS
program manager Rosa Antes, said it will
expand its current five project sites in Tañon
Strait to 20 sites in the next four years, under
its joint project with the Department of
DENR, TSPS lead 2nd PAMB Gen Assembly
W
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 7 Director Isabelo Montejo (4th from left)
leads the panelists of a press conference, after the morning session of the 2nd Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) general assembly, held March 10, 2016, in Cebu
City. The other panelists were (from left): Rare vice president Rocky Tirona, Atty. Ramos of Oceana,
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 7 Director Andres Bojos, Department of Interior and
Local Government Region 7 Director Rene Burdeos, and TSPS park superintendent Am Prospero Lendio.
Environment and Natural Resources, called
“Strengthening the marine protected areas to
conserve marine biodiversity areas.”
Antes said Rare will continue to help LGU
partners by supporting the organizational
capacity needs of their coastal resource
management (CRM) and fishery units; assist
in conducting technical and management
effectiveness exercises; develop and support
fish catch monitoring; facilitate coastal
water zoning exercises; develop social
marketingcampaigns on sustainable fisheries
use and protection; and providing policy
support in managing their respective marine
protected areas.
Atty. Rose-Liza Eisma Osorio of PEJC
said her group will help the TSPS-PAMB
on policy and enforcement, particularly on
providing capacity-building training and
seminars for paralegals, including legal and
technical support for policy studies, and
legal assistance. It will also help produce a
primer to maximize public participation in
environmental rule of law.
Delfa Talaid of Tambuyog said they will
keep on empowering fisherfolk groups by
partnering with government agencies like the
BFAR in implementing livelihood projects.
These include the establishment of fish
unloading and trading centers. One fishery
post- harvest facility will be piloted in the
Municipality of Badian.
Boboi Costas of Grassroots Travel
said his group will continue to encourage
the establishment of sustainable and
environment-friendly eco-tourism
destinations in Cebu, in line with his task as
tourism consultant of the Cebu Provincial
Government.
He said they are currently implementing
a Cebu mid-west community-based ecotourism project involving the five towns of
Alegria, Aloguinsan, Balamban, Asturias,
and Tabuelan. The project is focused on
conserving the natural and cultural resources
of Tañon Strait, and at the same time
providing supplemental livelihood to fishers
and rural folks. In August 2016, the five
towns will be launched into one tourism
circuit or destination, Costas said.
He added that eco-tourism is one
way to deter dynamite fishing, as coastal
communities will protect their respective
areas and dive sites from destructive
fishing methods to maintain the bounty
of Tañon Strait, and thus attract more
tourists.
Members of the academe—Dr. Joyce
Flores of UP Cebu and Ms. Edilyn Lopez
of University of Cebu—have committed
to conduct appropriate researches and
surveys to enhance and update current
baseline data on marine and socioeconomic parameters of Tañon Strait.
2nd TSPS-PAMB Gen Assembly
The 2nd TSPS-PAMB general assembly
was chaired by Director Isabelo Montejo,
of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources Region 7 (DENR7), and
was attended by about 250 municipal and
barangay officials from the coastal towns
and cities in Cebu, Negros Orientaland
Negros Occidental.
“We have strong local chief executives
and national government agency leaders,
who are sincere and dedicated in the
performance of their job. The continuing
support from us, and with the wealth of
commitment, resources and expertise that
each of our institution and organization
that we represent brings in, inspires these
dedicated authorities to do the mandates
of their office to the best that they know
how, despite the horrible and tremendous
pressures that they encounter from
some public servants, who still have to
understand what sustainable development
means,” added Ramos.
Aside from DENR7 director Montejo,
the other government officials who graced
the 2nd TSPS-PAMB general assembly were
DENR Region 18 (Negros Island Region)
Director Al Orolfo, Department of Interior
ith more than 200 participants, the
2nd Tañon Strait Protected Seascape
(TSPS) Protected Area Management Board
(PAMB) General Assembly was successfully
conducted last March 10, 2016, in Cebu City.
“This year, it was the government
agencies and the Protected Area Office led
by TSPS Protected Area Superintendent
Am Lendio who took the lead in organizing
the PAMB general assembly, which brought
together around 165 PAMB members and
30 representatives,” said Daniel Ocampo,
Oceana Philippines campaigns director.
The one-day event was a follow-up to last
year’s 1st TSPS PAMB general assembly, held
February 10-11, also in Cebu City, jointly
organized by Oceana, Rare Philippines and
Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC),
in cooperation with the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources Region
7 (DENR7), and provincial government of
Cebu.
“This time, Superintendent Lendio and his
TSPS protected area office (PAO) team have
ably took the lead in the preparations and
conduct of the event,” added Ocampo, in his
report to Oceana vice president Atty. Gloria
Estenzo Ramos.
Of the total participants, 29 were city and
municipal mayors, and their representatives,
said Crystal Laine Marabulas, TSPS PAO
communication officer. The other attendees
included: 203 barangay captains and their
Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos (right), of Oceana
Philippines, presents a token gift to Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Region 7 Dir. Isabelo Montejo (left) and former
Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) Park
Superintendent Concordio Remoroza, represented
by his successor TSPS Park Superintendent Am
Prospero Lendio.
representatives; 33 from other government
agencies, media and CSOs; and 31 officials
and staff from the DENR 7 and DENR 18, and
TSPS PAO.
As the event’s highlight, DENR 7 regional
director Isabelo Montejo delivered the
“State of Tañon Strait Address,” where he
emphasized the role of various stakeholders
in enforcing the ban on commercial fishing
in Tañon Strait, which has been drastically
reduced due to the regular patrolling
activities jointly conducted by the DENR7,
BFAR7, and Bantay-Dagat of respective
coastal towns.
In particular, he reported the successful
apprehension of four commercial vessels
that were conducting illegal fishing
operations in Tañon Strait, during a 45-day
joint seaborne operation, from September
15, 2015 to October 31, 2015. (Pls see
related story.)
As chair of the TSPS PAMB, Montejo led
the oath-taking of the members present.
Oceana VP for the Philippines Gloria
Estenzo-Ramos presented the results
of the expedition last year, as part of
her presentation on “Responding to
enforcement challenges in Tañon Strait.”
Thereafter, she presented a token gift
— a framed copy of a full-page Oceana
PR (‘DENR officials cited for managing,
protecting Tañon Strait’) published in
OpinYon weekly newspaper — to Dir.
Montejo and former TSPS superintendent
Concordio Remoroza, who was represented
by his successor newly-designated TSPS
superintendent Prospero Am Lendio.
In the afternoon the PAMB business
meeting was held in parallel with the CSO
Summit meeting. The enhanced General
Management Plan was presented by Atty.
Liza Osorio of PEJC and the different
CSOs shared their past, current and future
involvements and projects in Tañon Strait.
Benham explorers ... Continued from page 1
DENR 7 Director Isabelo Montejo (left) inducts
the TSPS-PAMB members.
and Local Government (DILG) Region
7 Director Rene Burdeos, Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 7
Director Andres Bojos, Atty. Chad Estrella,
who represented Cebu Governor Hilario
Davide III, local chief executives from Cebu
and Negros provinces and Am Prospero
Lendio, TSPS park superintendent
“Our steadfast collaboration with
the dedicated men and women from the
public sector and other stakeholders will,
sooner than soon, make our dear Tañon
Strait, a shining model MPA not just in the
Philippines, but in the world,” said Ramos,
who commended the government officials
led by Dir. Montejo for the successful
conduct of the 2nd assembly of TSPSPAMB members.
surface) or recorded for later analysis.
As the use of the BRUVS is relatively
new in the country, dozens of Filipino
marine scientists and researchers recently
underwent an intensive three-day training
on “Fish visual surveys using BRUVS
and SeaGIS software,” with noted marine
scientist Dr. Euan Harvey of Australia’s
Curtin University and Jim Seager of
SeaGIS Pty Ltd of Australia who served as
main resource persons and trainors.
The training was jointly organized by
the Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Aquatic and Natural Resources Research
and Development of the Department
of Science and Technology (DOSTPCAARRD) under its Benthic Resources
of the Benham Bank Seamount (SMBenthos) Project, UP Los Baños School of
Environmental Science and Management
(UPLB-SESAM) and Institute of Biological
Sciences (UPLB-IBS), UP Marine
Science Institute (UP-MSI), and Oceana
Philippines, held on April 20 to 22, 2016,
at SEARCA, Los Baños, Laguna.
The participants included marine
scientists and representatives from
PCAAARD, UPLB-SESAM, UPLB-IBS,
UP-MSI, Oceana, Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources (BFAR),
Biodiversity Management Bureau of the
DENR, UP Visayas, and UP Mindanao.
The BRUVS was brought in by
Oceana through the courtesy of the US
Embassy in Manila. It will be used by the
members of the second expedition that
will explore Benham Rise, scheduled
in May 2016. The expedition is a joint
initiative of DOST-PCAARRD, BFAR,
UP-MSI, UP Los Baños with Oceana,
and other concerned agencies. The team
will travel to Benham Rise on board M/V
DA-BFAR.
“We are privileged to extend our
support in the forthcoming expedition to
further explore the marine biodiversity in
Benham Rise, our newest territory and
potential fish hotspot. The BRUVS is our
modest contribution as we document
the many new fish species, their habitat,
coral cover and the beauty of Benham
Rise,” said Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos,
Oceana Philippines, at the opening
program of the three-day training.
Richard Bakewell, environment
and science technology officer at the
Continued on page 10
5
Pinoys should start ventures in Benham Rise ...
but no small
fishers yet
T
o firmly stamp its claim on Benham
Rise—a rich and diverse marine region,
off the coast of Aurora and Isabela, in
Luzon—the Philippine government should
encourage and support increase fishing
activities.
“The actual evidence of ownership
is utilization and full control of Benham
Rise,” declared Department of Agriculture
Undersecretary Asis G. Perez, who currently
serves as national director of the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
“Benham Rise is a potential fisheries
hotspot,” Asis said, during a forum on April
12, 2016, at Malcolm Hall, UP College of
Law, University of the Philippines, in Diliman,
Quezon City.
However, he discourages small fishers
from venturing yet in Benham Rise. They are
those who use boats weighing less than three
tons.
“The safety of our fishermen is the
paramount consideration, not the fish. You
catch the fish later, but the safety of our
fishers is primary,” said Asis.
“We will continue to urge small fishers to
avoid Benham Rise until such a time that we
have a system than can protect them,” Perez
added.
“If we cannot fully enforce protection
in our nearby waters, what more full
monitoring at the Benham Rise, which is as
big as Luzon? What we can guarantee are
efforts,” he said.
Earlier this year, the BFAR has introduced
its first two steel-hulled vessels, with twice
the overall capability of an average vessel,
that are intended not only to fight Illegal,
Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing
but will also undertake research and rescue,
and relief operations, among others.
By 2017, the bureau plans to have three
more multi-mission vessels that are faster
and more advanced.
Perez said BFAR has a budget of
P63.93 million this year to accelerate
the deployment of support structures
and technologies in Benham Rise, where
the closest towns are Maconacon and
Dinapigue, both in Isabela.
“Ang lugar ay hindi masyadong
napupuntahan ng ating mga mangingisda,
subalit ang lugar na ito ay tradisyunal na
pinangingisdaan ng mga mangingisdang
Pilipino (The area is not frequented by our
fishermen, but it is a traditional fishing
ground),” he explained.
BFAR has recently monitored the
operation of two to three medium-sized
commercial fishing vessels in the area, Perez
said.
In 2012, three years after Malacañang
filed a claim at the United Nations on April
2009, the UN recognized Benham Rise
as the property of the Philippines. The
following year, the BFAR started a series of
annual expeditions to Benham Rise, mainly
to implement the law of the sea and to
acknowledge that the area was within the
country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The UN’s nod gave the Philippines full
ownership of Benham Rise as part of the
country’s extended continental shelf, Perez
said, during the forum organized by Oceana
Philippines, in partnership with the UP
Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of
the Sea (UP-IMLOS) and UP Law Student
Government.
From 2013 to 2014, BFAR undertook
oceanographic studies in Benham Rise,
alongside implementation of the National
Payao Program and fisheries assessment.
The payao, or fish aggregating device, also
serves as a mark of the country’s territorial
boundaries, Perez said.
Above, Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries and concurrent national director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(BFAR) Atty. Asis Perez stresses a point during a forum on Benham Rise at the University of the Philippines, in Quezon City, attended
by media persons, marine scientists and students (right).
BFAR to update fish manual
A
s part of government’s sustained
efforts to minimize and deter
blast fishing in the country, the Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(BFAR) will revise and standardize a
15-year old fisheries manual that will
guide fish examiners on examining,
certifying, and disposing of evidence on
blast-caught fish.
For the initiative, BFAR has
partnered with the Ecosystems
Improved for Sustainable Fisheries
(ECOFISH) project of the United States
Agency for International Development
(USAID), which conducted an “Experts
Consultation on Fish Examiners
Manual,” at Golden Prince Hotel, in
Cebu City, on February 5, 2016.
The consultation aimed to
strengthen BFAR fish examiners
and capacitate them to be experts in
their field, and help the Bureau and
other environment law enforcement
agencies, especially when the
examiners are called to testify in court
about their findings.
It was attended by four senior BFAR
The consultation was attended by BFAR fish examiners, LGU personnel, PNP Maritime Group, representatives
from Philippine Earth Justice Center, Environmental Legal Assistance Center, and Oceana Philippines.
fish examiners, and key personnel from local
government units (LGUs) in the Visayas, PNP
Maritime Group, and representatives from
civil society organizations (CSOs) that include
Philippine Earth Justice Center, Environmental
Legal Assistance Center, and Oceana
Philippines, represented by its legal and policy
director Atty. Edward Lorenzo.
During the consultation, Lorenzo said the
participants reviewed the draft fish examiners’
manual, which will replace the current one
issued in 2001. When finalized, the new
manual will be adopted officially possibly
through a Fisheries Administrative Order to
be signed by the agency’s national director.
The USAID through the ECOFISH project
that assists the Philippine government
in improving the conservation and
management of the country’s fisheries sector
by working closely with the BFAR, LGUs,
CSOs and fisherfolk’s groups, Lorenzo said
in his report to Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos,
vice president of Oceana Philippines.
During previous exploratory missions in
Benham Rise in 2013 and 2015, BFAR has
caught such species as tuna, opa (pink fish),
albacore (white meat tuna), and big-eyed
tuna.
Benham Rise is ideal for long line
fishing, a method using multiple hooks,
which is not yet widely practiced in the
country. Compared to other fishing
grounds, fish caught in Benham Rise are
bigger, Perez added.
Balanced protection
In exploring Benham Rise, he said
“a balance has to be made between
utilization and conservation. There has to
be utilization of the resource in a proper
way.”
In 2014, a team of marine scientists
assessed Benham Bank (the shallowest
area of the Rise) for the first time,
documenting large marine life and
reporting one hundred percent coral cover.
“The new territory holds tremendous
potential for discovering unique species
and outstanding samples of marine
resources. However, very limited research
has been done in the area. There is an
urgent need to ensure the sustainable
management of these resources, as
industry players are eager to explore
Benham Rise for its mineral and gas
reserves,” said Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos,
vice president of Oceana.
Aside from Perez, the other forum
Photo by UPLB-School of Environmental Science and Management
resource persons were UP-IMLOS Director Jay
Batongbacal, and other representatives from
government and civil society organizations.
Criselda Castor, of the DENR-Biodiversity
Management Bureau, said they are
undertaking several initiatives in Benham Rise.
“We are supporting research agencies and
institutions. We are also conducting coastal
and marine ecosystem rehabilitation program,”
Castor said.
Jose Ingles, program coordinator of
Fisheries Improvement Project Policy of World
Wide Fund, said protecting the endangered
species in Benham Rise is the country’s global
contribution to promoting biodiversity.
“Thorough understanding of the
Benham Rise biodiversity is necessary
before we utilize and the resources it has,”
Ingles added.
For Dr. Paul Watts, principle action
researcher and facilitator for Daloy ng
Buhay, the government needs to tap
local government units (LGU) to engage
fisherfolk, who are the major stakeholders
in the issue.
“There should be an inclusive education
programs for fisherfolks through LGUs,”
Watts said.
(With reports from Marlo Asis, DA; Ronnel Domingo,
Phil. Daily Inquirer; Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena, GMA
News; and Janina C. Lim, BusinessWorld)
7
Joint sea patrol nets illegal comm’l fishers
Cebu RTC ... Continued from page 1
A
joint seaborne operation of government
apprehended four commercial fishing
vessels engaged in illegal fishing in Tañon
Strait, from September 15, 2015 to October
31, 2015.
The vessels were apprehended while
conducting illegal fishing operations in
Tañon Strait, the country’s largest marine
protected area, between Cebu and Negros
islands, in the Visayas. The commercial
boats were caught near the towns of Badian
in Cebu and Bindoy and Guilhungan City,
in the province of Negros Oriental. A total
of 55 people were on board the vessels,
including the boat captains and crew
members.
“We hope to sustain such concerted
efforts to minimize if not totally free Tañon
Strait from illegal and destructive fishing
activities,” said Dr. Isabelo Montejo, Regional
Director of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources Region 7 (DENR 7),
during a press conference, held after the
2nd Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS)
Protected Area Management Board (PAMB)
General Assembly, on March 10, 2016, at
the Cebu Grand Convention Center, in Cebu
City.
According to Director Montejo, the
45-day joint seaborne operation was
successfully conducted by the DENR 7
together with the Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources Region 7 (BFAR 7), in
collaboration with the Philippine National
Police (PNP 7) and local government units
of Bindoy and Guihulngan City, Negros
Oriental
“We commend the DENR 7, BFAR 7, PNP
7 and local government officials for their
dedication and passion in conducting the
much-needed seaborne patrol operations
aimed at apprehending commercial
fishermen who continue to operate in Tañon
Strait and other marine protected areas,
and in municipal fishing grounds, that are
meant for small, marginal fisherfolk,” said
Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president
of Oceana Philippines.
“This sends a clear and firm signal to
fishery law violators that government, in
partnership with fisherfolk groups and
civil society organizations, is serious in
its campaign against illegal fishing, and in
sustainably managing and protecting Tañon
Strait,” added Ramos.
Montejo said the four vessels were
seized and confiscated, including their
fishing nets and equipment, and fish catch.
He said appropriate cases were filed
with the Prosecutors Office against 55
individuals, including the four boat captains
and crew members.
They relied on Section 20 of the National
Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS)
Act of 1992 (Republic Act No. 7586), which
prohibits “hunting, destroying, disturbing or
Photo & Illustration by DA-BFAR
Modified Danish seine consists of a conical
net with a pair of wings, the ends of which are
connected to a rope embedded with buri, plastic
strips, sinkers or any similar materials to serve
as scaring/herding device as hauling ropes
passing through a ring permanently attached to
a tom weight (linggote) and hauled through a
mechanical winch or by manpower.
mere possession any plant or animal or products
derived therefrom without a permit from the
PAMB; and use of any motorized equipment
without a permit.”
The four apprehended commercial fishing
vessels and their respective information are:
• FB San Vicente Ferrer - caught on
Sept. 24, 2015, 6:10 am, off the seawaters of
Domolog, Bindoy, in Negros Oriental. It has 13
respondents (boat captain and crew). The vessel
is owned by Alfredo Escoba of Malbog, Alegria,
Cebu;
• FB Sto. Niño – caught on Sept. 24, 2015,
6:30 am, off the seawaters of Domolog,
Bindoy, Negros Oriental, with 18 respondents.
The vessel is owned by Florante G. Jara of
Camandayon, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental;
• FB Blue Haven – caught on October 12,
2015, 6:37 am, off the seawaters of Zaragosa,
Badian, Cebu, with 13 respondents. The vessel
owner is Antonio Pementera of Poblacion,
Badian, Cebu; and
• FB Adiarne – caught on October 14,
2015, 6:30 am, off the seawaters of Bulado,
Guihulngan City, with 11 respondents. The
vessel owner is Mario L. Pagador of Puan,
Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental.
Meanwhile, PNP Maritime Group Director
Police Chief Superintendent Efren Perez, in
a recent letter to Atty. Ramos, said they will
exhaust all efforts to minimize and preempt
illegal commercial fishing and unsustainable
fishing practices in Tañon Strait and other
fishing grounds in Region 7.
case filed by NCDSOFAI for declaratory
relief with preliminary restraining injunction to stop the implementation of
Fisheries Administrative Order No. 246
(FAO 246), banning Danish seine fishing or
hulbot-hulbot.
Judge Marigomen said, in his Order
issued on January 8, 2016, “the Court
finds that FAO 246 is a valid law, enacted
in pursuance to the mandate given to the
respondents by the Fisheries Code.”
“We commend the decision of Cebu
RTC Judge Marigomen for upholding the
government’s ban on hulbot-hulbot, as it
will send a strong signal to other illegal
commercial fishers and operators to shift
to and use sustainable fishing methods,
and help protect our remaining fish habitats,” said Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice
president of Oceana Philippines.
“This is a victory that we share with
small fishers, local government units, and
other environmental groups who continue to fight illegal fishers and those who
destroy the country’s coastal and marine
resources, by disregarding fishery and
environmental laws,” Ramos added.
“Modified Danish Seine is an ingenious
device that humans created to take food
from the marine ecosystem – but it takes
too much and destroys marine habitats;
it disrupts the rhythm and harmony of
nature and ultimately, it cuts through the
web of life,” Judge Marigomen said.
He added that the NCDSOFAI has failed
to prove entitlement to a writ of preliminary injunction and the amount of damage
it would sustain if the ban on hulbot-hulbot is implemented.
BFAR Central Visayas regional director
Andres Bojos said the recent Cebu RTC
decision is a “triumph both for the marine
environment and the municipal fisherfolks.” He said since the implementation
of FAO 246, they have not caught anyone
engaged in Danish seine fishing in Cebu.
When the FAO 246 was signed on September 12, 2013, by Agriculture Secretary
Proceso Alcala, it was warmly welcomed
by small fisherfolks and environmental
groups, but was strongly opposed by commercial fishing operators.
The first opposition came in April 2014,
when commercial fishing and Danish seine
operators filed a case in Malabon, Metro
Manila, against DA Secretary Alcala and
BFAR Director Asis Perez, to stop the
implementation of FAO 246.
The DA and BFAR sought a TRO from
the Supreme Court. In July 7, 2014, it upheld the ban on Danish seine and modified
Danish seine, issuing a TRO against an
order issued by Malabon RTC Branch 170
Judge Zaldy B. Docena on April 14, prohibiting the implementation of FAO 246.
Keep Visayas free from illegal fishing
T
he Coastal Law Enforcement Alliance for
Region 7 (CLEAR 7) plans to implement
several initiatives to address illegal and
destructive fishing issues in Central Visayas
(Region 7).
The proposed initiatives include the
creation of multi-partite fisheries law
enforcement teams, inventory of commercial
fishing vessels (CFVs) that committed illegal
fishing violations, conduct of survey of
structures on the shorelines of Tañon Strait
(a marine protected area between Cebu and
Negros islands), and conduct of information
and education campaign on the effects of
blast fishing.
These and other related strategies were
discussed and approved during a quarterly
meeting of CLEAR 7, in Bohol, on April 14,
2016, chaired by Regional Director Andres
Bojos of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources Region 7 (BFAR 7).
Atty. Edward Lorenzo, who represented
Oceana in the meeting, said among the issues
and initiatives discussed were:
• Illegal fishing cases will be continuously
monitored and these will be stored in a
database, spearheaded by the Cebu PENRO
in partnership with a university in Cebu. The
database will be made accessible through a
website hosted jointly by concerned CLEAR
7 member-agencies and CSOs;
• BFAR 7 Dir. Bojos said the agency will
host a tour of Tañon Strait and Visayan
Sea for media persons and environment
prosecutors in May 2016, for them to
appreciate anti-illegal fishing efforts and
other initiatives of CLEAR 7. He enjoined the
various committees to continue with their
planning activities;
• The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has
volunteered to be part of the CLEAR 7 illegal
fishing enforcement team.
Lorenzo added that on the sidelines,
Dir. Bojos said BFAR 7 is willing to partner
with Oceana and other CSOs in the conduct
of training for fishery and environmental
prosecutors.
Last February 10, 2016, three CLEAR 7
About 50 officials and representatives of member-agencies of the Coastal Law Enforcement Alliance for
Region 7 (CLEAR 7) attended a 2016 strategic planning to address illegal and destructive fishing issues
in Central Visayas. Oceana was represented Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos (middle, front row, in dark
brown shirt) and Atty. Edward Lorenzo (leftmost, front row).
committees held joint meetings at the BFAR 7
office in Cebu City. The three committees were
on: policy; monitoring, control and surveillance;
and capability building. Oceana was
represented by Atty. Lorenzo, and campaigns
director Daniel Ocampo.
“The meetings were a continuation of the
refinements of the one-year work plan for
CLEAR 7, in relation to conducting joint coastal
and fisheries law enforcement activities,” said
Lorenzo and Ocampo, in their report to Oceana
vice president Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos.
“It was agreed that multi-partite fisheries
law enforcement teams would be created. They
would be trained on fisheries and equipped.
They would be deployed once the parameters
have been drawn up by the third of quarter
of 2016. For now, it will be a localized affair,”
Lorenzo and Ocampo said.
For this initiative, the Philippine Navy has
committed to provide assets for CLEAR 7’s
operations, they added.
Secondly, the BFAR 7 will come up with a
database on commercial fishing vessels (CFVs)
that have committed illegal fishing violations. It
is hoped that the information will serve as basis
not to renew and cancel the license of CFVs
that have violated fisheries laws.
The Tañon Strait Protected Area Office
will also conduct a survey of structures on the
shoreline of the Strait. Thereafter, it will craft
and recommend a policy on how the structures
can be regulated aimed at mitigating the
adverse impact of the structures on the marine
environment of Tañon Strait, Lorenzo and
Ocampo said.
Finally, CLEAR 7 will conduct information
and education campaigns (IECs) on
the effects of blast fishing in Region 7,
particularly the LGUs comprising the
Danajon Bank, a double barrier reef in the
Visayas.
The IECs will be complemented with
trainings on fisheries law enforcement in
Danajon Bank, with particular emphasis on
detecting blast fishing operations.
The three CLEAR 7 committees
recommended that concerned government
agencies conduct joint monitoring and
enforcement operations to apprehend
the providers or suppliers of blasting caps
and ammonium nitrate in Cebu and other
provinces in Region 7.
Lorenzo and Ocampo said the proposed
initiatives will be implemented starting in
the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2016, right after
the May 2016 national elections. Meanwhile,
preparatory work will be undertaken by the
concerned lead agencies and CSOs.
Aside from BFAR 7, the CLEAR 7
committee meetings were attended
by officials and representatives of the
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources Region 7, other government
agencies, and CSOs that include the
Philippine Earth Justice Center, the Coastal
Conservation and Education Foundation,
ECOFISH, and the Environmental Legal
Assistance Center.
ment and proper prosecution of violators of
environmental and fisheries laws in the country.
We are optimistic that hand in hand, we will be able
to restore the abundance of our oceans to feed the
growing Filipino nation amid the perceptibly felt
impacts of climate change,” Ramos said.
The SC OCA issued the Circular acting on
persistent reports of continuous violations of rules
and laws prohibiting the issuance of injunctions or
restraining orders against government agencies.
The Circular enjoins all judges of the first and
second level courts to strictly observe two provisions, namely: Rule 2, Section 10 of the Rules of
Procedure for Environmental Cases; and Section
134 of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, as
amended by Republic Act No. 10654.
Section 10 of the Rules of Procedure for Envi-
ronmental Cases provides that “Except the Supreme Court, no court can issue a TRO or writ
of preliminary injunction against lawful actions
of government agencies that enforce environmental laws or prevent violations thereof.”
Likewise, Section 134 of the Philippine
Fisheries Code of 1998, as amended by Republic Act No. 10654, provides that “No injunction
or restraining order from the Municipal Trial
Courts and Regional Trial Courts shall lie
against the Department of Agriculture and
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
upon the ex parte motion or petition filed by
any person or entity in the exercise by the Department and BFAR of its regulatory functions
in support of the implementation of this Code.”
No injunctions ... Continued from page 1
No. 87-2016, issued on April 4, 2016, by the
OCA Court Administrator, SC Justice Jose Midas
Marquez.
“We very much welcome the Circular, as we
continue to revitalize our imperiled fisheries
and protect our vastly threatened natural life
support systems. We commend your good office
in ensuring the continuous upholding of the
rule of law in guiding our magistrates,” said Atty.
Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president of Oceana
Philippines, in her letter to Justice Marquez.
“The policy further strengthens our judicial
system in protecting our people’s rights, boosts
the morale of our dedicated environmental law
enforcers, and sends a strong message to all that
impunity will not be tolerated,” added Ramos.
“We look forward to the stronger enforce-
9
Oceana, CSOs host E-NIPAS presscon
By Marianne Pan-Saniano*
I
n a last-minute bid to urge the House
of Representatives (HOR) to pass the
proposed E-NIPAS bill, Oceana and
other civil society organizations, and the
Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of
the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, conducted a press conference on
January 27, 2016, in Quezon City.
Oceana and other CSOs took a united
stand, asking Congress to pass the E-NIPAS
bill that would amend and strengthen the
24-year old RA 7586 by prohibiting mineral
exploration and extraction in protected
areas, and use of destructive fishing gears
within marine protected areas.
“The proposed legislation also widens the
coverage of NIPAS, adding around 100 more
protected areas to the existing 13 that are
already covered by national legislation,” said
Oceana vice president Atty. Gloria Estenzo
Ramos.
“The importance of strengthening our
protected areas system has never been more
urgent. Aside from protecting important
ecosystems and habitats, protected areas
are necessary in order to feed our growing
population. We need protected areas for
the survival of the human race in the face of
climate change, as it promotes resilience and
mitigate disaster risk,” Ramos said.
The 24-year old NIPAS law has become
inadequate in effectively protecting the
country’s remaining forests and marine
protected areas, Oceana said. The proposed
bill will further enhance protection and
conservation efforts, and it will be stronger
in terms of enforcing environmental
laws, Oceana said. It will also provide
local communities and stakeholders
more incentives in the management and
conservation of their respective terrestrial
Meeting our Oceana global family
I
Among the speakers during a press conference on ‘Pass E-NIPAS Bill,’ held January 27, 2016, in Quezon
City, were (seated, from left): Atty. Edward Lorenzo, legal and policy director of Oceana Philippines;
Director Mundita Lim, DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau; Lorenzo Cordova, political adviser of
Representative Josephine Sato (Occ. Mindoro); and Atty. Maria Paz Luna, executive trustee of Pusod, Inc.
The forum was moderated by Daniel Ocampo (left), campaigns director of Oceana Philippines.
and marine protected areas.
The E-NIPAS will also delineate the
boundaries of the terrestrial and marine
protected areas, and provide a regular annual
budget for the upkeep and protection of
the 113 protected areas in the country. The
existing 13 terrestrial and marine protected
areas are delineated and mapped, while the
additional 100 protected areas are yet to be
mapped, said lawyer Maria Paz Luna of Pusod.
As for the annual budget to maintain and
protect protected areas, Director Mundita
Lim, of the Biodiversity Management Bureau
(BMB) of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, said it is currently
pegged at a measly P4M a year.
She said the E-NIPAS proposes to increase
said annual budget to P10M. This means the
DENR-BMB should have a budget of at least
P1.13 billion for the proposed 113 terrestrial
and marine protected areas that will be
covered by the E-NIPAS nationwide.
Lim also said the proposed E-NIPAS does
not run counter to current environmental
laws, but rather, complements and
strengthens their implementation.
The HOR version of the bill was stalled
due to the opposition of some of its members,
who are citing the alleged lack of public
consultation and redundancy of the law
particularly in Palawan, which already has a
Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) Law in
place.
Some of the CSOs at the press conference
said that there are a few HOR members
who are blocking the passage of E-NIPAS to
protect vested interests, mainly of mining
companies.
Aside from Oceana, the other CSOs at the
press conference were Haribon Foundation,
Pusod, and Philippine Misereor Partnership.
They issued their respective statements on
the speedy passage of E-NIPAS bill by the
HOR.
attended my first annual International
All-Staff Meeting (IASM) of Oceana, in
March 1-4, 2016, held in Bedford Springs
Resort, Bedford, Pennsylvania, USA.
Indeed, it is a privilege to be part of
the Oceana family, feeling and seeing
in person our colleagues from Oceana
offices in various parts of the globe, whom
we regularly communicate with through
email and Skype. And I treasure those four
days of togetherness, as we learned from
each other on how best we could further
save our oceans.
I was in awe, as each of the leader
(from eight Oceana international
offices) reported their victories, and I
felt even prouder when our VP (Atty.
Gloria Estenzo Ramos) reported our
accomplishments in the Philippines, as I
am a part of it.
It was an enriching experience, as I
got to meet my fellow marine scientists,
whom I have excitedly exchanged ideas
and jokes with. Likewise, I got very good
and practical tips from scientists of
Spain, who are experienced/seasoned
at organizing expeditions. I came home
Dr. James Seager (left photo, right), of SeaGIS Pty Ltd of Australia, adjusts the setting of a video camera
prior to in-pool calibration, as Dr. Cleto Nañola, of UP Mindanao Department of Biological Science and
Environmental Studies, follows his instructions. Looking on is Dr. Badi Samaniego, a fellow at Ocean
Living Foundation. Right photo shows some of the participants setting the video camera during the
BRUVS training at a pool in UP Los Baños.
Team Oceana Philippines, led by Atty. Gloria Estenzo
Ramos (7th from left), is shown with Oceana Chief
Executive Officer Andrew ‘Andy’ Sharpless (5th
from left), during the first Oceana International
all-staff meeting in Pennsylvania, USA, March 1-4,
2016. They are (from left): John Riturban (finance
officer), Mary Ann Mayo (campaigns associate), Atty.
Roger Guzman and Atty. Edward Lorenzo (legal and
policy), Jenny Amancio (admin), Regina Alvarez
(office administrator), Jimely Flores and Marianne
Pan-Saniano (marine science), and Christine DarSicada (executive assistant to Atty. Ramos). Not
shown are Daniel Ocampo (campaigns), and Yasmin
Arquiza and Candeze Mongaya (communications).
*Editorial Adviser’s Note: Marianne shares her youthful
energy and expertise with Oceana Philippines, as one of
our marine scientists.
Meet Oceana’s ... Continued from page 12
“While I am familiar with the basic
science of fisheries, I learned a lot from
the science team in terms of looking at
the issues more scientifically. From the
communications team, I learned how to
deliver the message to a broader audience,
and from campaigns, how to craft the
message from the macro to the micro levels.
I would like to think that they learned from
Benham explorers ... Continued from page 5
US Embassy in Manila, said the US is
privileged to support the entry of the
BRUVS in the Philippines, as its assistance
forms part of the science and technology
agreement between the United States and
the Philippines.
“I am heartened that the seeds I
planted years ago have grown on fertile
grounds. Thanks to the joint efforts of
Oceana, DOST-PCAARRD and UPMSI,” said Filipino marine scientist Dr.
Rene Abesamis of Silliman University
Angelo King Center for Research and
Environmental Management (SUAKREM)
and James Cook University, in Australia.
Abesamis has previously used
BRUVS at Apo island in Negros Oriental,
documenting fish habitat, coral cover and
reef areas, before and after two strong
typhoons that hit the island a few years
ago. He said Apo Island’s rich marine
biodiversity makes it one of the best dive
feeling more confident that we will have a
successful expedition for the Philippines.
We all had the opportunity to meet Oceana’s
senior adviser, the much-accomplished
Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of the
late, world-renowned French ocean advocate,
oceanographer and film director, Jacques
Cousteau. Aside from the fact that Alexandra
is very beautiful, she was very accommodating
and very eager to help Oceana in any way
she can. We look forward to her visit to the
country.
On the last night of IASM, I was fortunate
enough to be seated right next to Oceana’s
Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Sharpless.
At first, I was very tense because I was talking
with THE BOSS himself, but I found myself
enjoying the conversation and dinner with
Andy. That was a very unforgettable night
indeed!
I came home with so much pride,
appreciation and better understanding of
how we do things at Oceana, and how we are
different from other advocacy organizations.
It was so heartwarming to meet and know
people who are equally hardworking and
passionately in love with the sea.
spots in the Philippines.
He said significant investments
should be made by concerned
government agencies, academic
institutions and environmental groups
to build up the technical capability
of Filipino marine scientists and
researchers on the use of BRUVS
and SeaGIS software system.
Dr. Edwin Villar, deputy executive
director of DOST-PCAARRD, said
their agency is privileged to once
again fund the second Benham
Rise expedition, under a project
called, “Assessment of the Benthic
Resources of the Benham Bank
Seamount” or SM-Benthos. During
the first expedition, he said the team
has documented more than 60 fish
species during 25 minutes of filming,
where the shallowest area was 50
meters below the sea surface.
me as well,” he noted.
“It was during the expedition that I also saw
the impact of our work with some of the local
government partners, who welcomed us with
open arms and freely exchanged ideas, and issues
on fisheries and the challenges they faced,” Dong
concluded.
Partner ‘Robin’
It was a different story for Atty. Roger ‘Rocky’
Guzman, as he was influenced by his bosom
models, his father and mother.
“My parents both work in the environment
field. Growing up, I was exposed to the workings
of the environmental movement and was made
aware of the problems at a very young age,” said
Rocky, who attended Quezon City Science High
School and thereafter pursued political science,
at the University of the Philippines, in Diliman,
Quezon City.
“I looked up to public interest lawyers, who
devoted all their time and effort to things that
matter the most, and things that affect all of us,”
added Rocky, who was an active college student.
He co-founded and served as vice president for
internal affairs, of the UP Environmental Law
Society (UP ELS), and similarly as VP for internal
affairs of the UP Association of Political Science
Majors (UP APSM).
“Before entering law school, I asked
environmental law practitioners and learned that
being a lawyer gives you an immense advantage,
in terms of knowledge and credibility, in pushing
for matters of public interest and environmental
concerns. That strengthened my resolve to push
on and become a lawyer, ‘para sa bayan’ (for the
nation),” Rocky said firmly.
While at the UP College of Law, Rocky has
found gainful internships with several institutions
that included the Philippine Earth Justice Center
(PEJC), DENR Pollution Adjudication Board, UP
Office of Legal Aid (OLA), and the Office of the
Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC). He
completed his Juris Doctor degree in 2014.
“I entered Oceana right after I passed the Bar
in 2015, and never looked back. It’s been a great
run so far,” said Rocky, adding that he worked
with Oceana vice president, Atty. Gloria Estenzo
Ramos, during his internship at PEJC.
“I enjoy policy work and love the feeling of being
able to contribute to something bigger. It makes all
the sleepless nights all worth it,” Rocky said.
To date, his most memorable experience at
Oceana was being a member of the drafting
committee for the implementing rules and
regulations of the Fisheries Code as amended by
RA 10654.
“It was a very exciting period of my Oceana life.
Fresh into the job, I hit the ground running, and I
learned so much from the people around me, and
about myself as well, in a relatively short span of
time’” he said gratefully.
In all, Rocky said: “Every day is a treat when
working with people, who strive to make a
difference, despite the odds stacked against them.
“When I’m with colleagues or when I meet
new people, I soak in the inspiration of being able
to work with deeply passionate individuals, who
have trodden the waters before me; and hope that
maybe, just maybe, I can be as good, or contribute
as much, to make the world a place worth living
in.”
11
Meet Oceana’s ‘Batman and Robin’
legal duo
I
f one were to plan a costume party, he or
she could suggest ‘Batman and Robin’ suits
for these two young environmental lawyers.
Aptly so, as in a way, they are ‘crusaders,’
advocating for and protecting the interests
of small, marginal fisherfolk, ‘bantaydagat’ fishery law enforcers, including
local government officials, from legal
harassments of moneyed illegal commercial
fishers.
‘Batman’ is Atty. Edward ‘Dong’ G.
Lorenzo, while partner ‘Robin’ is Atty. Roger
‘Rocky’ Guzman.
They are the dynamic legal and policy
duo of Oceana Philippines International.
With more than 15 years (and counting)
exposure and involvement in environmental
law, Dong recalled that in April 1993, when
he graduated at the Ateneo de Manila
University, going to law school was mainly
to address the question: “What the heck
am I going to do with a political science
degree?”
“So, going to law school really wasn’t
a dream of mine,” said Dong, who has
since combined law practice with project
development, planning, management and
review.
But after a year, he was enlightened and
found his calling, so to speak.
“It was during my sophomore year
that I realized that I really wanted to be
a lawyer, and what kind of law I would
practice. I joined the Ateneo Human Rights
Center (AHRC) semestral break internship,
and went on an immersion in a Mangyan
community in Mindoro,” Dong recalled.
“It was talking and living with them
for that short period of time that I knew I
wanted to be a human rights lawyer. Seeing
how they lived, talking to them about
their struggles for their culture, land, and
identity made an impact on my outlook
towards the law,” noted Dong.
“I continued with being active in AHRC’s
programs, and eventually became a graduate
intern. I’ve been practicing environmental law
and human rights since then,” added Dong, who
worked in grassroots alternative law groups,
like the Environmental Legal Assistance Center
(ELAC) and Tanggol Kalikasan, assisting farmers,
fisherfolk and indigenous peoples (IPs).
After obtaining a Juris Doctor degree
at the ADMU and passing the Bar, Dong
joined the Environmental Legal Assistance
Center (ELAC) in Palawan, in January 1999,
conducting environmental law seminars and law
enforcement trainings to IP communities, upland
farmers, marginal fisherfolk, other NGOs and
POs, and local government units and national
government agencies in Palawan.
After 15 years with ELAC and Tanggol
Kalikasan, Dong has moved on and joined
Oceana in October 2014.
To date, barely one-and-half years and
counting, he has experienced, seen and felt the
extent or macro and micro side of Oceana’s legal
and policy work.
“What I enjoy being in Oceana is the ability
to focus on both the big picture in terms of
work on national-level fisheries policies, and
at the same time be able to work with fisheries
stakeholders at the grassroots. My exposure to
the issues facing the local fisherfolk has helped
me look at national policy work from a different
perspective,” Dong explained.
Asked on what is his most memorable or
exciting moment(s) or experience in Oceana,
to date, he said: “The Tañon expedition was the
most memorable so far. I got to interact with
fellow team members, seeing how our various
backgrounds and expertise complement each
other.”
With his legal background, Dong has
appreciated his Oceana counterparts from the
marine science team (led by Jimely Flores),
communications team (led by Yasmin Arquiza)
and campaigns team (led by Danny Ocampo).
(Continued on page 11)
Photo by Ferdz Decena
Photo by Danny Ocampo
This newsletter is published by
Oceana Philippines,
P.O. Box 255, UP Post Office
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City 1101.
Website: ph.oceana.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
oceana.philippines
Twitter: @oceana_ph
Editorial Adviser
Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos
Vice President, Oceana Philippines
E-mail: [email protected]
Editor
Noel O. Reyes
Editorial Assistant
Christine Dar Sicada
Design & Layout
VA Room
Oceana Philippines Officers
Atty. Edward Lorenzo
Legal and Policy Director
Yasmin Arquiza
Communications Director
Daniel Ocampo
Campaigns Director
Jimely Flores
Senior Marine Scientist
Oceana is the largest international non-government organization
focused on ocean conservation, with
offices in North, South and Central
America, Europe and Asia and more
than 600,000 followers all over the
world. For further information, please
visit www.oceana.org.
Photo by Ferdinand Edralin
Atty. Roger ‘Rocky’ Guzman
Atty. Edward ‘Dong’ G. Lorenzo
Photo by Danny Ocampo