ILOILO – There are plans to establish “bay watch teams” in every coastal barangay of this province.
These teams, serving as the police’s vigilant eyes and ears, is a critical element in the fight against illegal activities, including the trafficking of illegal drugs along our coastlines, and illegal fishing, said Major Rolando Araño, spokesperson for the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
“This initiative will not only help monitor our shorelines but also foster a sense of security, confidence, and civic responsibility within the community,” he added.
A bay watch team will consist of Bantay Dagat (sea patrol) personnel and will be open to community members such as barangay officials, watchmen (tanods), and fishermen willing to volunteer, said Araño.
He revealed the plan after confirming that approximately 30 police officers from the IPPO, who are assigned to various Bantay Dagat Task Force units, had completed a training program aimed at enhancing their capabilities to combat illegal fishing.
The training session, which began on Wednesday and concluded on Thursday, was held at the IPPO headquarters in collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Justice, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
During the training, participants were introduced to new strategies and updated on existing maritime and fisheries laws, including Republic Act 9165(Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) because it is believed that some drug traffickers are smuggling illegal into the province through Iloilo’s coastlines.
According to Araño, the training program also aimed to enhance the technical and legal skills of organic Bantay Dagat personnel, making them more effective and efficient in enforcing fisheries laws and ordinances as well as combating drug trafficking.
“While the training focuses on combating illegal fishing, it also addresses the prevention of drug trafficking through local ports,” Araño said.
He further noted that this initiative complemented other efforts by the IPPO and the provincial government to strengthen border controls, including the establishment of checkpoints and the deployment of narcotic detection dogs at major entry points in Iloilo.
Colonel Ronaldo Palomo, IPPO director, emphasized the dual focus on suppressing illegal fishing and drug trafficking.
“Managing the extensive coastline of the province poses a substantial challenge. Thankfully, with well-trained Bantay Dagat personnel and the forthcoming addition of force multipliers, we are well-equipped to enhance coastal security, tackle organized crime, prevent drug trafficking, and protect our marine resources,” said Palomo./PN
