135 members of Bantay-Lawa receives honorariums from Gov. Hernandez

by Lily Gut June 27, 2021 The LGU of Sta. Cruz, Laguna, is providing honoraria to Bantay-Lawa members. (Photo from Sta. Cruz PIO) STA. CRUZ,...

by Lily Gut
June 27, 2021

The LGU of Sta. Cruz, Laguna, is providing honoraria to Bantay-Lawa members. (Photo from Sta. Cruz PIO)

STA. CRUZ, Laguna - Gov. Ramil L. Hernandez gives honorariums to 135 members of the province's Bantay-Lawa, including the Laguna Lake Integrated Fish and Aquatic Resource Management Council (LIFARMC) and the Seven Lakes Integrated FARMC (SLIFARMC), on June 22 at the Laguna Provincial Capitol in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Bantay-Lawa is a volunteer organization who partner with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC) to conserve Laguna Lake.



The organization was founded in 2009 and currently serves five Bay barangays - Brgy. Maitim, Brgy. San Antonio, Brgy. San Isidro, Brgy. Sto. Domingo, and Brgy. Success. For the first quarter of the year, each member received P3,000.00.

They are responsible for enforcing the Municipal Fishery Ordinance. Part of this is to protect Laguna Lake from illegal fishing. They also occasionally assist in rescue operations and with fishermen whose boats capsize at sea.



The Provincial Government recognizes and appreciates the lake keepers' dedication to ensuring that there is no illegal fishing in the lake and enforcing the rules in each of its jurisdictions.

"Tandaan natin na ang mga lawa sa ating lalawigan ay dapat pagmalasakitan at pangalagaan dahil isa ito sa pinagkukunan ng pangunahing kabuhayan ng mga Lagunense. Nagpapasalamat din tayo sa Sectoral Concern Office na namahala sa naganap na distribusyon." Gov. Hernandez said.



Meanwhile, according to Nicanor Librojo, Chairman of the Bantay-Lawa volunteers in Bay, Laguna, they are also the advisory body that recommends policies to the Sangguniang Bayan for the benefit of the fisheries sector. One example is the increase in fines for illegal fishing activities such as the use of electricity and nets with excessively small holes.

According to Librojo, they discovered that increasing the fine for each violation would make the prevention of illegal activities more effective.

According to Librojo, one of the challenges they face today in fulfilling their duty during the pandemic is the need for some fishermen to continue sailing despite the quarantine protocols implemented by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). They understand the situation of their fellow fishermen.

The pandemic also has an impact on employment and livelihoods. As a result, it is said that some people who have lost their jobs are forced to fish in Laguna Lake in order to survive and earn a living. The number of registered and unregistered fishermen in the Lake has increased, eventually becoming their share.

He stated that the government uses a Municipal Fisherfolk Registry System to collect data on fishermen, including what type of fishing they use or do. Forms for fishermen to fill out are lowered by members of the Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic Management Council (BFARMC).

Librojo also stated that it is difficult for them as fisherfolk leaders to update because they occasionally encounter glitches in accessing and encoding it. Add to that the constraints imposed by the pandemic.

According to Richie Vasquez, a fisherman and Bantay-Lawa volunteer, they sometimes feel sorry for those who are caught using illegal fishing methods because they, too, have a meager income.