Guiao offers to be Congress champ for shark protection

A CONGRESSMAN from Central Luzon yesterday pledged to support a proposal to declare the waters of the Philippine archipelago a “a contiguous shark sanctuary”.

“I’m volunteering myself as the point person in Congress,” said Pampanga first district Rep. Joseller Guiao, who offered to file the measure in Congress.

His pledge received loud applause from participants of the first Shark Summit held in Cebu City yesterday.

A shark sanctuary would ensure protection for the sea predator, which is being hunted for its fins, meat, and liver oil all over the world. The proposal is to ban hunting all species of sharks in Philippine waters.

The legislator, known for his on-court antics as a coach for a professional basketball league, was the lone congressman who attended yesterday’s event at the Capitol Social Hall.

“I am not a shark expert. I’m more of an expert when it comes to basketball. That was why when Anna (Oposa) and Vince (Cinches) talked to me about this, I asked them, what’s the strategy? Just like basketball,” said Guiao.

If there is anything I can do to push for the agenda of conservation of sharks and the environment in general, I’m ready and available,” he added.

Cinches of Greenpeace and Oposa, founder of the movement Save Philippine Seas, persuaded him of the “urgency of passing the legislation” to protect all species of sharks, said Guiao.

Two bills advocating a similar cause are pending in the House committee on environment and natural Resources.

The bills propose to ban the sale of shark meat and sting ray parts in the country were filed by Valenzuela 1st district Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian and Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga’s second district.

Guiao, who sits as a member of the environment committee, said a technical working group was formed to study this.

A number of bills on shark protection were filed in the 15th Congress but none prospered, he said.
Guiao asked for help of from marine conservation groups to draft the bill.

He said the agenda needs to be pressed in the consciousness of other congressmen who have other priorities.

“Kailangan ng taga-kulit and I volunteer to do that role,” he said.

Guiao said the bill may be opposed by the business sector, particularly those engaged in shark meat trade and food establishments that serve shark fin soup.

Guiao, in an interview, admitted that he only “recently learned about the need to protect sharks” from his daughter, environmental lawyer Niner Guiao who works with the Climate Change Commission.

“I like the beach, the sea, the outdoors. So if you like the sea, for your own personal satisfaction you want to know that the environment is working out well,” he said.