SAGADA, Mountain Province – The Fisheries Management Area 1 policy making body has sought the inclusion of fisheries in the criteria for the conferment of a Seal given to local government units alongside with performance criteria on areas such as good financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness, social protection for the basic sector, business-friendliness and competitiveness, environmental management, and law and order and public safety set by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Recognizing the importance of the fisheries sector, Regional Director Angel B. Encarnacion, FMA 1 Management Board Chairperson urged for the review of the guidelines on the implementation of the Fisheries Compliance Audit (FishCA) took effect on August 31, 2018 through the creation of a resolution to be approved by the FMA1 policy-making body in time for the 15th Management Board Meeting cum Orientation on Policy Brief Writing on November 12-15, 2024.

Said initiative was highlighted during the presentation of the status on the implementation of the FishCA, issued by the interior department’s Circular No. 2018-147.  The FishCA is a pioneering monitoring tool created by the DILG to supervise coastal LGU’s compliance with the Philippine Fisheries Code (R.A. 8550), as amended by RA 10654 which aims to reinforce their responsibilities under the law, and to consolidate compliance data of LGUs in ensuring the sustainable and effective management of municipal waters.

Other key topics of the meeting include discussion of updates in lobbying the presentation of FMA1 Management Framework Plan by member-regions to the Regional Development Councils in their respective areas; accomplishments and activities of sectoral representatives; other pressing issues and  clarifications of gray areas that are vital in the implementation of the management area. 

Meantime, Atty. Arsenio S. Bañares, head of the FMA1 Secretariat shared their experiences and highlights of their trip as part of the country’s delegates to the 8th East Asian Seas Congress with the theme BLUE SYNERGY FOR A SHARED FUTURE: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean on November 6-8, 2024 in Xiamen, China.

Conducted in a blended format, the meeting was attended by sectoral representatives from FMA1 member-regions 2, 3, 4A, 5 and CAR, agency representatives from DENR and DILG.