๐๐๐, ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง โ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐ฌโ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ก๐ข ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ง ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ง
NPCโs Buhi-Barit Watershed Area Team (BBWAT) along with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), DENR-Environmental Management Bureau, Philippine Coast Guard, Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), local government officials and the Public Attorneyโs Office QC conducted a three-day training to deputize selected participants in Buhi, Camarines Sur as โfish wardensโ for the implementation of the Bantay Lawa Program for Lake Buhi.
Republic Act No. 10654 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 requires a three-day training to deputize Fishery Law Enforcement Officers.
The training of โfish wardensโ was made to help the Municipality of Buhi restore, protect, and save Lake Buhi and preserve Sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis), the worldโs smallest edible fish prominent in the lake.
On the first day of the training, the Lake Development Officeโs targets and accomplishments were presented. Relatively, the DENR-Environment Management Bureau presented the status of the lakeโs water quality. A resource from BFAR, on the other hand, discussed the roles of Fishery Law Enforcement Officers (FLEO) and the prohibitions and penalties under R.A. No. 10654.
The Philippine Coast Guard discussed the safety and security boarding protocols in accordance with R.A. No. 9993 on the second day of the training. The Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) discussed Republic Act No. 11038 (An Act Declaring Protected Areas and Providing their Management) and Republic Act No. 9147 (An Act Providing for the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources and their Habitats). A representative from Rural Health Unit also gave a brief discussion with regards to sanitation measures.
BBWAT, headed by For. Jairus B. Amistoso, then discussed the National Power Corporationโs legal mandates and areas of jurisdiction. Mr. Amistoso highlighted the role and provisional services of the BBWAT in terms of restoring, protecting, conserving, and saving the lake Buhi and the Buhi-Barit Watershed Reservation as a whole. Several queries were also addressed by Mr. Amistoso, which gave clarifications to different concerns of the constituents and stakeholders especially on regulatory services.
On the third day, selected participants subject to deputation had a whole-day hands-on training at Lake Buhi to capacitate them more with the required skills needed to fulfill their roles.
The resource speaker from the Office of the Treasury of the LGU-Buhi discussed on the last day the taxation and fees in relation to the harvest and transportation of tilapia found in the lake.
R.A. No. 8371 also known as the Indigenous Peoplesโ Rights Act was also discussed by a resource person from NCIP. Lastly, Atty. Ramon C. Sabinorio from Public Attorneyโs Office in Quezon City provided a discussion on relevant laws for the protection of the lake.
The training ended with awarding of certificates of appreciation and participation to resource speakers and participants, respectively. The activity served as a good opportunity for coordination and consultation among the concerned agencies and stakeholders in Buhi, Camarines Sur.
Buhi-Barit Watershed is one of the 11 watersheds under NPCโs stewardship. It is in the municipality of Tiwi in Albay; Buhi, Sagรฑay; and Iriga City in the Province of Camarines Sur.
