Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Yap Demolishes West Cove

This column sincerely congratulates Malay Mayor John Yap for his efforts made which led to the demolition of the West Cove Hotel and Resort in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan. The construction of West Cove was done with the absence of necessary legal documents, violation of environmental laws and building code among others.

Many Aklanons cheer Mayor Yap of what he did for West Cove. To those who have illegal constructions in Boracay, please comply with the law and all legal orders. To those who wish to “do the Crisostomo Aquino”, kindly forget your plan and comply with the law, rules, and regulations. 

May Mayor Yap proceeds to the equal application of the laws, rules and regulations to all illegal constructions in Boracay. Mayor Yap started at West Cove, many people especially the Aklanons cheer and encourage him to continue the demolition of the illegal structures in Boracay Island, the “number one island resort in the world”.

Fisheries Administrative Order

The proposed Fisheries Administrative Order No. 197-1, Series of 2012 will just result to the tremendous and unnecessary increases in prices of fishes and other sea foods in the market. It will be terribly bad for the consumers.

First, the Administrative order will reduce the period of lease from the usual 25 years to just 10 years. Upon its expiration, it may be renewed for another 10 years. After which the government will lease it to another applicant. How can a leaseholder recover his investment with profit within a 10 year period?

Second, the proposed Administrative Order increases the annual rental fee from P1,000 to P5,000 per hectare. This is an increase of  500 percent.

Morever, a cash bond deposit is required at the rate of P1,000 per hectare to be deposited with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources office. This cash bond maybe utilized after three (3) years if the fish farm is fully developed, the leased area is producing in commercial quantity, and all the terms and conditions of the lease contract are fully complied with. However, the cash bond can only be credited for the payment of annual rental.

These increase of rental fee and cash bond will trigger the additional increase of  the market price of fishes in the market thereby affect negatively the consumers’ pockets.

4:1 Mangrove To Fishpond Ratio

Section 12 (f) requires that the entire fishpond area must attain the prescribed “4:1 mangrove to fishpond ratio. This is a 25 percent reduction of the leased area. The government leases 10 hectares but only 7.5 hectares will be devoted for fish production while 2.5 hectares will remain as mangrove or be converted to mangrove.

It will be mutually agreeable if for every four (4) hectares, the lessee pays for three (3) hectares and be responsible to maintain and protect the one (1) hectare as mangrove.

On the other hand should the government compel the fishpond leaseholders to convert one (1) hectare for every four (4) hectares developed fishpond, there will be a reduction of 25 percent of the area devoted for inland fish production in the Philippines. This will be followed by the reduction of 25 percent fish supply in the market. Hence, prices of fish in the market will increase subject to the economic law of supply and demand.

While population steadily and constantly increases annually, food supply volume diminishes if not remains constant.

The framer of this Administrative Order No. 197-1, Series of 2012 may seriously consider the LGUs imposing and collecting from fishpond lessees the local taxes, fees, and other charges.

Reactions 

According to Cong-ressman Rene L. Relampagos – Bohol, and I-Care Sectoral Representative Salvador P. Cabaluna III, the “proposed administrative order appear(s) to be detrimental to our fisherfolks and fish farmers and are counterproductive to the thrust of His Excellency . . . of achieving food security . . .”

In a position paper of the Iloilo Fish Marketing Cooperative, Inc. the officers and members said of the proposed Administrative Order.

1. The imposition to produce two (2) metric tons of fish per hectare per year “is unattainable”. They conform to “500 kilograms per hectare per year” only. This 2000 kilos per hectare per year is possible if “talaba” is raised.

2. In the way of qualified to lease fishpond, they believed “politics is inserted into our freedom for free enterprise”.

3. Section 4, preference in the disposition of public lands for fishpond purposes “is unfair and unjust. They asked to honor the” time honored tradition of perpetuating properties for the sake of our own family”.

4. Section 6, the period of lease is “counter productive” that will trigger “dramatic decline in fishpond development and fish culture”. /MP