PROVINCIAL officials launched an outpost that would monitor illegal fishing activities in Bantayan town yesterday.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III led the groundbreaking of the outpost at Sitio Mambacayao, Barangay Lipayran, the farthest and last islet of Bantayan town. The structure is scheduled to be finished before the year ends.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said the outpost will help protect the marine sanctuary in Bantayan and the rest of northern Cebu.
He said most of the illegal fishers caught in the Tañon Strait and Visayan Sea are not from Cebu.
Last September, 19 thresher sharks were illegally caught in Tañon Strait by a vessel that was registered in Negros province.
Provincial Board Member Sun Shimura, who attended the event, said the outpost will be equipped with speedboats and staffed by the Bantay Dagat Task Force.
A daycare center built by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will serve as a temporary outpost.
Bantayan town Mayor Art Despi said he asked RAFI for permission to use the daycare center as outpost. He said the center will open in June next year.
“I’ll also request the province to put a tower so the Tañon Strait and Visayan Sea will be monitored from the outpost,” Despi said.
He said a one hectare islet donated by the Mabug-at family to Bantayan town measuring 200 square meters will be used for the outpost.
There are about 79 households in Sitio Mambacayao that rely on fishing for their livelihood.