Tawi-Tawi Province News January 2012

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Govt on track in zero-rice import goal

by Cai U. Ordinario


THE government remains on track on its “zero rice importation” goal by 2013, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said on Monday.

In a radio interview, he said achieving rice self-sufficiency remained a top priority of the Aquino administration. To achieve this, he said his department was exerting efforts to not only increase palay production but also become self-sufficient in food staples.

These new staples include white corn and root crops such as cassava and kamote, which can be consumed together with rice. It is widely known that in the Visayas, locals consume rice with corn grits; in Mindanao, many consume rice with cassava.

“In order that we will no longer import rice from other countries in 2013, we have intensified our efforts to shift our focus on food staple sufficiency. This includes the promotion and use of the right volume of rice or palay together with other staples like root crops,” Alcala said in the vernacular.

Alcala noted that there are already 14 million Filipinos eating corn grits with their rice while residents of Zamboanga Peninsula, Jolo, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are used to consuming rice with cassava. In Batanes, the known regional food staple is kamote, he said.

Alcala said that to encourage the consumption of these staples, the agency is pushing for the increase in the production of good varieties to be distributed to other places in the country where there is low production and encourage consumption of these staples and reduction of the demand for rice.

“We hope that after 2013 our rice importation will hit zero. We want to spend taxpayer’s money which used to buy farmer’s products from other countries for products produced by Filipino farmers,” Alcala said.

Efforts to attain the government’s rice self-sufficiency goal by 2013 include the restoration, rehabilitation and maintenance of irrigation systems; increasing farmers’ access to inbred and hybrid seeds; and reduction of postharvest losses through mechanization.

Alcala said the government is also looking at reducing rice wastage that was estimated three tablespoons or 14 grams in raw form per person. This would add up to at least 480,000 metric tons (MT) annually, the DA noted.

Assistant Agriculture Secretary and Bureau of Agriculture Statistics (BAS) Director Romeo Recide said the farm sector benefited from the good weather, particularly the first half of 2011. This was able to boost palay production to around 16.68MMT in 2011. --Cai U. Ordinario

Tawi-Tawi Turtles Yield 1.4-M Eggs

by ALI G. MACABALANG


BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines – Green turtles abounding in this southernmost province have laid more than 1.4-million eggs on Baguan Island last year, posting an all-time high national record of nesting since 1984, according to the Conservation International Philippines (CIP).

The CIP said it has recorded a total of 14,220 green turtle nests on Baguan in 2011 with a total number of eggs surpassing 1,440,000.

The volume of “1.44-million Green turtle eggs in one year is an astounding number for a nesting beach that’s only a little over one kilometer in length. This definitely presents great hope for boosting green turtle populations,” said CIP Country Executive Director Romeo Trono.

Reports from the DENR show that since the previous high of 12,311 turtle nests recorded in 1995, nesting records in Baguan have been declining and dropped to as low as just over 4,000 nests in 2003.

Authorities attributed the decline to poaching by foreign fishermen, egg harvesting by local communities for food and trade, destruction or disturbance of habitats through illegal fishing methods, and law enforcement ineffectiveness.

“The increasing nest numbers show that when turtles are protected on their nesting beaches and in the water for long enough, they will recover,” said Dr. Bryan Wallace, director of science for Marine Flagship Species Program at CIP.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Turtle Islands’ enforcement team strengthened its marine management by giving training to park wardens, law enforcers, and community volunteers, and deploying officers and personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Marines to the area.





Sea turtles lay over 1.4M eggs in Tawi-tawi

by Jlyne Ubiña


MANILA, Philippines – More than one million green turtle eggs were laid last year on Baguan Island in Tawi-Tawi, achieving an all-time high record of nesting since 1984, the Conservation International Philippines announced today. A total of 14,220 green turtle nests were recorded in Baguan in 2011 with a total number of eggs surpassing 1,440,000. “1.44 million green turtle eggs in one year is an astounding number for a nesting beach that’s only a little over one kilometer in length. This definitely presents great hope for boosting green turtle populations,” said CI Philippines Country Executive Director Romeo Trono. Figures from the DENR show that since the previous high of 12,311 turtle nests recorded in 1995, Baguan’s nesting records have been declining and dropped to as low as just over 4,000 nests in 2003. Poaching by foreign fishermen, egg harvesting by local communities for food and trade, destruction and disturbance of habitats through illegal fishing methods and weak law enforcement were identified as the causes of the decline. “The increasing nest numbers show that when turtles are protected on their nesting beaches and in the water for long enough, they will recover,” said Dr. Bryan Wallace, director of Science for the Marine Flagship Species Program at CI. Meanwhile, The Philippine Turtle Islands’ enforcement team strengthened its marine management by providing trainings to park wardens, law enforcers and community volunteers. It also includes deployment of officers and personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Marines to the area. Bold protection measures such as the establishment of Baguan no-take zone and the complete protection status of the Turtle Islands Park in Sabah had been instrumental in ensuring a safe haven for turtles. Conservation initiatives in Baguan are partially supported by the Global Marine Division of Conservation International and the Coral Triangle Support Partnership funded by the United States Agency for International Development. “The hatchlings that emerge from the Turtle Islands still face great risks throughout their lives as they journey through the ocean, but at least here in the Turtle Islands, we are determined to provide them with a good start,” added Trono.

ARMM Gov appoints new agriculture chief from Tawi-Tawi

by BPI-ARMM/RVC-PIA9 ZBST


ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman appointed on January 17 former Provincial Agricultural Officer of Tawi-Tawi, Professor Sangkula A. Tindick, as Regional Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Bureau of Public Information reveals that the newly appointed secretary immediately held a meeting after taking his oath of office, with OIC Secretary Keise Tan Usman and other senior DAF officials where he was apprised of the status of the office including the preparations for the programs, projects and activities for the first 100 days of the Governor Hataman in office.

The formal turnover was done the next day at the covered court to allow for the attendance of the whole DAF regional manpower as well as those from DAF Maguindanao.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Usman bared the steps undertaken during his nearly one month caretaker stint such as facilitating measures for the release of program funds for rice, corn, livestock and high value crops which were not released by the Department of Agriculture Central Office to DAF ARMM since 2011.

The release of said funds would jumpstart projects to enhance agricultural productivity such as those identified for the first 100 days of the present regional leadership. Director Usman assured the full support of the fisheries bureau whose performance as top fisheries producer of the country was acknowledged by Secretary Tindick in his fatherly and jovial talk with the DAF family.

Secretary Tindick bared his marching order from Governor Hataman to institute an array of necessary reforms to make the agriculture and fishery agency more responsive to the developmental needs of the people of ARMM.

An accounting management Professor before becoming part of DAF, he intends to institute a system that would enhance the efficiency of the office in delivering its mandate “to make agriculture and agri-based enterprises profitable and help spread the benefits of development to the poor, particularly in the rural areas”.

The Regional Secretary emphasized the need for unity or teamwork by actually experiencing thru an exercise called “rocking the boat.” In the exercise, done after his acceptance remark, the Secretary proved that without teamwork, the whole agency capacity to deliver its mandate may be jeopardized. The “rocking the boat” showed the chaos, contradictions and danger that awaits an institution when there is poor communication, disunity and command breakdown.

ARMM OIC appoints new agriculture chief

by PIA Press Release


ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Jan 25 (PIA) -– ARMM Acting Governor Mujiv S. Hataman appointed on January 17 former Provincial Agricultural Officer of Tawi-Tawi, Professor Sangkula A. Tindick as Regional Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The Bureau of Public Information reveals that the newly appointed secretary immediately held a meeting after taking his oath of office, with OIC Secretary Keise Tan Usman and other senior DAF officials where he was apprised of the status of the office including the preparations for the programs, projects and activities for the first 100 days of the Governor Hataman in office. The formal turnover was done the next day at the covered court to allow for the attendance of the whole DAF regional manpower as well as those from DAF Maguindanao. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Usman bared the steps undertaken during his nearly one month caretaker stint such as facilitating measures for the release of program funds for rice, corn, livestock and high value crops which were not released by the Department of Agriculture Central Office to DAF ARMM since 2011. The release of said funds would jumpstart projects to enhance agricultural productivity such as those identified for the first 100 days of the present regional leadership. Director Usman assured the full support of the fisheries bureau whose performance as top fisheries producer of the country was acknowledged by Tindick in his fatherly and jovial talk with the DAF family. Tindick bared his marching order from Governor Hataman to institute an array of necessary reforms to make the agriculture and fishery agency more responsive to the developmental needs of the people of ARMM. An accounting management Professor before becoming part of DAF, he intends to institute a system that would enhance the efficiency of the office in delivering its mandate “to make agriculture and agri-based enterprises profitable and help spread the benefits of development to the poor, particularly in the rural areas”. The Regional Secretary emphasized the need for unity or teamwork by actually experiencing thru an exercise called “rocking the boat.” In the exercise, done after his acceptance remark, the Secretary proved that without teamwork, the whole agency capacity to deliver its mandate may be jeopardized. The “rocking the boat” showed the chaos, contradictions and danger that awaits an institution when there is poor communication, disunity and command breakdown. (JPA/BPI-ARMM/RVC-PIA9 ZBST)

More fun in these Southeast Asian hidden beaches

by HONOR BLANCO CABIE


MANILA — Often described as the Land of the Morning, from the Philippines' English version of its national anthem, this Southeast Asian archipelago takes pride in its paradise of beaches. Given its 7,107 islands from Batanes up north to Tawi Tawi in the far south, approximately the length of China's Great Wall, any tourist, foreign or local, can make a memory in any of its available beaches. And, with Philippine summer 2012 breathing down any tourist's need, the tourism department's "it's more fun in the Philippines" slogan is literally picking up. One can literally have Eden in the country's beaches during summer, when the scorching sun exhales 32 degrees Celsius. Good thing about these available beaches is the convenient proximity of beach resorts and cottages where tourists may stay for a couple of nights or more. Up north, in the northwestern zone of the country's main island of luzon whipped by winds from the Luzon Bay are the beaches of Pagudpud and Currimao towns in Ilocos Norte where the cable link between Luzon and Hawaii begins. In Pagudpud, 10 hours by bus from Manila, one can also have a glimpse of the power generating windmills in the nearby coastal town of Bangui, which also has its own class of resorts in the shadow of the Ilocos Mountain range. Farther south is the Pug-os Beach Resort in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, where one can go surfing in early morning before the tropic sun could breach the crowns of the Ilocos mountain range. There are several cottages on the beach side, with amenities of three-star hotels including convention halls. Only three towns away due north of Cabugao is Pinili, where warriors walked at the turn of the 20th century and during the Japanese occupation of the country in the 1940s. In the 1900s, better armed American troops met machete-wielding guerrillas of Catholic priest Gregorio Aglipat in hand-to-hand combat, spilling blood and chopping bodies along the 3-mile gravel road leading to the forested hill town. One of the best places for snorkeling and kayaking from sunup top sundown is Quezon Island in the locally popular Hundred Islands of Pangasinan. The place is near the Lingayen Gulf where US Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his Allied Liberation Troops landed on Jan. 9, 1945 against Japan's Imperial Forces then occupying the Philippines. While the group has been historically dubbed the Hundred islands, it has in fact 124 at low tide and 123 at high tide. Superstition suggests that first-timers on a boat ride to the islands will be safe if they kiss the stone statue of Princess Urduja, the legendary princess of Pangasinan at the Hundred islands National Park. Farther southwest of the Hundred islands is Nagsasa Cove, home to the Aeta -- sometimes spelled out Ayta -- aborigines of this country discovered for Europe by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. The Aetas have been relocated there after the bloody eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 after more than 600 years of slumber. From the cove, where one may share a meal with the hospitable Aeta community, one can have a side trip to the Camnara island, a white sandbar only seven minutes off Pundaquit shores. The area is not far from what used to be called Subic Naval Base, the erstwhile drydock facility of the giant US Seventh Fleet. There are also the Calaguas Islands in Camarines Norte in the palm-dotted Bicol Region northeast of the national capital of Manila. The group's main island is called Tinaga, which has the longest white sand beach called the Halabang Baybay -- literally long sand zone or long beach. Tourists who have been there, accessible by bus from Manila to the provincial capital of Daet and then a jeep to Calaguas, say there is a platform of orange clay colored rocks which makes the water cascade on their surfaces. In the central Philippine province of Cebu, tourists can have Bantayan island for paradise in Southeast Asia. At D'Jungle for dinner, one can have a taste, at very affordable prices, more than 50 dishes in their buffet spread. The buffet includes a sumptuous variety of seafoods, meat slices and greens cooked in different mouth-watering styles. For culture vultures, the town has old structures that have remained standing in the sun and moon despite a major fire in the 1970s. And the Bantayan Catholic Church has bas reliefs on the exterior and interior described by architects as rather intricate. It was in Cebu province where Magellan was slain by the first native, Lapu Lapu, to defy foreign domination of the islands in 1521. Now, if a tourist's pick is pink sand, he can proceed to Sta. Cruz island in Zamboanga City in Mindanao. The island's distinct pink color comes from the small pink coral fragments mixed with the white sand. There are two islands in the Santa Cruz island: the Little and the Great Island Protected Landscapes and Seascapes, with only 40 families, from the minority Samnal tribe, allowed by the government to stay in the protected area. The tourtist can also have a side trip to Camiguin off northeastern Mindanao. The uninhabited White island is dubbed the "Island Born of Fire" because of its eight volcanoes -- reason for a wealth of hot and cold springs. Any visitor can have a view of the sunken graveyard as well as the volcanoes Hibok Hibok and Vulcan Daan. The area can be reached by a flight to Cagayan de oro, devastated recently by a killer typhoon, then a van to Agora market, a bus ride to Balingoan port, a boat to Mambajao, the provincial capital and then a pump boat to White island. Truly, as tourist-returnees exclaim, it's more fun in the Philippines. (PNA) rsv/hbc/rsm

Human trafficking victims rescued

by Bong Garcia


OPERATIVES of the Maritime Police Command have rescued 36 victims of human trafficking aboard a commercial ferry in the province of Tawi-Tawi, an official said.

Inspector Wilfredo Abellon, operations chief of the Maritime regional office, said the victims were rescued Wednesday in the town of Bongao, the capital of Tawi-Tawi province.

Abellon said the victims were rescued aboard a commercial ferry that came from Zamboanga City and was on its way to Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia.

The vessel was on a stopover when they rescued the victims, Abellon added.

He said the victims were composed of 27 males, nine females and a minor, who come from Maguindanao, Cotabato, Bicol, and other parts of Luzon and the Visayas.

He said the rescued victims were immediately taken to Zamboanga City and are now in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Investigation, aimed unmask the recruiter of the group who was not in the vessel when the victims were rescued, is ongoing, Abellon said.

Bureau of Immigration to deport 2 foreigners

by Helen Flores, Rudy Santos


MANILA, Philippines - Two foreigners are set to be deported by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for allegedly entering the country through the “back door,” an official said yesterday. BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said agents separately arrested Steven Nicol Herbert, an Australian, and Gul Hussain, at their residences in Zamboanga City last Dec. 20. The two men are being held at the immigration jail in Bicutan, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings. Herbert arrived at the port of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi from Sampona, Malaysia last Oct. 1. He was able to return to the Philippines despite being blacklisted by the BI in March last year for failing to pay his visa extension fees due to financial distress. Hussain refused to divulge how he entered the country and was not able to produce any travel papers.

Caravan of good governance reaches Eastern Samar, Tawi Tawi

by WENDELL C BALDERAS, Contributor


MANILA, Philippines — Continuing its efforts to promote good governance and ethical leadership among the youth in our country, Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership co-founder Grace Padaca and its champions, former Southern Leyte Governor Rosette Yñiguez Lerias and former Tamparan, Lanao del Sur Mayor Jan Disomimba, visited Eastern Samar and Tawi recently and spoke before 10,000 students from Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) — Salcedo, Maydolong & Borongan Campuses, MSU-Tawi-Tawi, Mahardika Institute of Technology (MIT), and Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College (TRAC).

In her talk, Lerias made a distinction between political families and political dynasties. Lerias herself comes from a political family which is known to have brought honor and have done a lot of good for their province. Being a disaster risk reduction management expert herself, Lerias was able to rebuild their town of St. Bernard after the landslide in 2006 that killed over 1,100 people, with the help of private partners. Lerias has received awards and recognition for effective local governance and participatory governance. In her talk, she encouraged all the students in the three ESSU campuses to take an active role in nation building by educating themselves well so they will be equipped to understand what is happening in our country.

Struggle of a Woman Moslem Leader

Bae Janaree Disomimba, former mayor of Tamparan in Lanao del Sur, also shared her leadership journey as a woman Moslem leader of Tamparan, a male-dominated society.

With deeply rooted values and principles and great influence from her father, Mayor Jan veered away from the traditional politics in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and chose to do what was right no matter how difficult it was. Her leadership style has proven that not all leaders in ARMM are abusive and corrupt. In all the three schools in Tawi-Tawi, Mayor Jan might have awakened every Moslem in the audience by reminding everyone that to be corrupt and selfish is un-Islamic and that what the Quran really says is that to be Islamic is to be honest and truthful.

Her hometown of Tamparan has not seen a municipal hall for the many decades it has existed. But Mayor Jan believed that the municipal hall is an important symbol of governance and a sign that her administration meant business and wanted to truly serve the people. She involved all community stakeholders in the construction of Tamparan’s first municipal hall. By having the political will and the right principles, Mayor Jan was able to transform Tamparan to what it is today and brought back dignity to her people.

In the caravans, KN co-founder Grace Padaca spoke strongly on issues of mining and human trafficking.

Padaca likened the issue of mining to a home that has been robbed. She emphasized to the students that they should not just allow people to rob them of their natural resources and leave them with nothing afterwards.

Dreams and Wishes

Before the forums started in the schools in Tawi-Tawi, all students were asked to write what their dreams and wishes were and what they would do if they were mayors or governors of their areas.

The students’ dreams ranged from having a complete family this Christmas to having their own laptops.

Padaca inspired everyone to dream big and work hard to fulfill their dreams. She said that she never imagined going out of Isabela as a physically handicapped girl. Now, she has been to Tawi-Tawi and has gone to many other places in Europe and the United States.

The students gave impressive answers as to what they would do if they were mayors or governors. One student said that he’d strengthen the fishing industry in Tawi-Tawi to provide livelihood for the people. Another said that he will have a government that is not corrupt and give the people what is due to them.

“Akala ko lahat ng mga politicians dito sa Pilipinas ay corrupt at sarili lang ang iniisip, but upon having a chance to know Gov. Grace, binago nya ang perspektibo ko sa pulitika. Sana lahat ng namamahala sa gobyerno at pamahalaan ay gaya ni Gov Grace at iba pang Kaya Natin champions na nasa puso ang pagiging public servant na transparent at accountable sa pagiging leader,” remarked Abdulkadil Misra, one of the participants of the forum.

The Caravan of Good Governance in Eastern Samar is in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, PLAN International and the ESSU Federated Student Council Organization, Inc. and the Caravan of Good Governance in Tawi-Tawi is in partnership with Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the Office of Governor Sahali through Mr. Nurjay Sahali.

ARMM gets P49.6-M aid for tree planting program

by Louella D. Desiderio


THE ENVIRONMENT department is providing P49.6 million worth of financial assistance to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to implement a tree planting program in the area under the National Greening Program. In a statement on Monday, the department said Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje had committed P49.6 million to allow the ARMM government to carry out the program in the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The department said an agreement was signed by Mr. Paje with ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman to reforest 2,500 hectares of denuded forest land in the area under the program.

Mr. Paje said the partnership is in line with the instruction of President Benigno S.C. Aquino III to assist in the management of the region's natural resources.

"This collaboration sets a critical milestone in ecological governance for the region and bodes well for addressing the social and economic challenges which the region undoubtedly faces," he said.

In February last year, Executive Order No. 26 was issued which created the National Greening Program.

The program which seeks to harmonize all the greening efforts in the country aims to plant 1.5 billion tree seedlings in 1.5 million hectares nationwide from last year until 2016.

Last year, some 69.37 million tree seedlings were planted on 117,688 hectares of open and denuded forest land, higher than the 100,000-hectare target.

For this year, the program aims to plant tree seedlings on 200,000 hectares of land.

USAID Provides Holistic Assistance to Remote Tawi-Tawi Islands to Sustain Long-Term Health Interventions

By manilatimes.net


Apart from being remote and difficult to reach, Turtle Islands and Mapun are the second and third poorest municipalities in Tawi-Tawi, with poverty incidences of 49.7 percent and 48.9 percent, respectively (2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates, National Statistical Coordination Board). Realizing the impact of poverty on sustaining health interventions in the long term, USAID partnered with multi-sectoral agencies to provide holistic and integrated assistance to 8,267 people in three most populated villages. Close to a thousand people were provided with preventive and promotive health services by USAID-trained health providers. Of the 120 men and women who participated in Tumpukan Na! group action sessions, 50 were given family planning services while the rest were referred for more counseling. USAID worked with the provincial government to counsel pregnant and lactating mothers, and provide kits containing assorted practical items. With health outcomes directly affected by the islands’ environmental situation and livelihood opportunities, mangrove reforestation in critical areas was held simultaneously with the medical missions to rehabilitate the aquatic habitat and provide healthier food and regular sources of income to the people. School children were fed, counseled on hygiene and family health, and given books and school paraphernalia while repairs were done on their classrooms. With the success of these comprehensive interventions, USAID is set to replicate similar health-environment-education-livelihood packages in distant islands in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to reinforce and coordinate sectoral efforts for greater impact.

P2.4M for marine project to develop Basilan areas

By James Konstantin Galvez



THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) launched the Siasi Mariculture Park and Aqua-Tourism project in Tara Island as part of a comprehensive strategic plan to transform the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA) into a progressive area.

Atty. Asis Perez, BFAR director, said the 30-hectare mariculture park is securely located close to the middle of the crescent-shaped cove margined with pinkish white sand and pristine waters teeming with marine life.

“Tara Island is one of the eight island-municipalities in the second district of Sulu Province. The beach alone could easily rival the country’s fine beaches including the world’s favourite Boracay,” Perez said. The project showcases 40 units of fish cages, 32 of which were constructed from the P2.4 million fund provided by the BFAR and with the municipal government providing all other amenities such as the mooring system, the floating multi-purpose hall, fingerlings and service boats.

It would benefit a quarter of the 400 family-residents in the island alone, the BFAR chief said.

“The partnership forged between the BFAR and Siasi LGU is the first of its kind worth emulating. What is more significant is that it involves our Muslim brothers who had long been deprived of benefiting most from the richness that abounds their coastal waters,” he said.

With additional counterpart funds coming from the LGU, Perez told the local officials that BFAR will initially provide 100 sets of ropes and floaters to jumpstart the farming of seaweeds in Tara Island, while local government will provide for the seaweed propagules.

In order to strengthen their coastal protection program, Perez said that BFAR will also provide motor engines for the same number of banca that will be provided by the LGU.

“One unit will be given to each of the coastal Bantay Dagat volunteer group in the 28 coastal barangay of Siasi,” he said.

The BFAR chief noted that ARMM and Mimaropa had consistently been the top 2 fish producing regions in the country. However, the two regions received the least of budgetary support for the past many years.

Perez lamented the fact that many of the expensive fish caught in these areas end up being dried which reduces not only its volume but the prices of the fish as well.

“A kilo of lapu-lapu in Manila is pegged at no less than P250. Here in Siasi, a kilo of dried lapu-lapu sells at only P160/kilo or even less,” he added.

He said that in the meantime that the viability of a cold storage plant is yet to be studied by the agency; a mini-ice maker will be provided by the BFAR to assist local fishermen in keeping the quality of their fresh catch.

Perez also indicated that the present administration is very serious in coming up with a comprehensive strategic plan to transform the BASULTA, which make up the Sulu Archipelago into a progressive area where the locals themselves would directly benefit from its rich resources.

32 persons rescued off Tawi-Tawi

By Bong Garcia


THE Philippine Navy rescued 32 people, including eight Marine soldiers, aboard a fishing boat off Tawi-Tawi, a top Navy official said Monday.

Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) commander Rear Admiral Armando Guzman said the fishing boat, F/B Kent-Ford 2, was rescued around 8 p.m. on New Year's Day.

The boat departed last Wednesday from the port of Mapun, Tawi-Tawi, en route to Zamboanga City. Its engine, however, conked out the next day, causing it to drift at sea.

Guzman said his command has dispatched two vessels backed by an aircraft upon receipt of distress call from the fishing boat to conduct search and rescue operation.

A vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), manned by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel, also joined the search and rescue operation, Guzman said.

He said it took them four days to locate F/B Kent-Ford 2 since the fishing boat's Global Positioning System (GPS) also malfunctioned and “the only means of contact is through radio transceiver.”

Twenty of the 32 people aboard the boat arrived at the NFWM's Majini Pier Monday afternoon aboard a Navy vessel while the fishing boat is being towed by another Navy boat.

F/B Kent-Ford 2, with its seven-man crew and remaining five passengers, who opted to stay aboard the fishing boat, arrived Monday night at the port of Jolo, Sulu.

“The passengers were all exhausted but in high spirits when they were rescued,” Guzman said.

“The personnel aboard the rescuing vessels gave them basic provisions such as food and water. They also tendered medical attention to some passengers who have been ailing,” Guzman added.

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