PH Consulate General in Manado Hosts Inter-Agency Video Conference on Measures to Promote the Welfare of Filipino Fishermen in Distress in Eastern Indonesia

Philippine Consul General to Manado Oscar G. Orcine leads the discussion of the root causes and measures to address the arrest of Filipino fishermen beyond Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). (Manado PCG photo)

MANADO 12 August 2020 – The Philippine Consulate General in Manado hosted an inter-agency video conference participated in by 11 Government offices and a major organization in the fishing industry to discuss the arrests of Filipino fishermen in waters beyond the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and related issues on 07 August 2020. 

Participants included representatives of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of General Santos City, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Navy (PN), SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA), DFA Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO), DFA Mindanao, Philippine Embassy in Indonesia, and DFA Consular Office General Santos City (CO GenSan).

The discussion covered fishing practices of small-scale fishermen along the Philippine EEZ border, cases of arrest of Filipino fishermen and seizure of Philippine fishing boats beyond the Philippine EEZ, assistance extended by the Consulate General in Manado to Filipino fishermen in distress, and the short-term and long-term measures to address the problem and its detrimental effects on the fishermen, their families, and to the fishing industry.

Participating agencies agreed to work closely to transform the ideas discussed in the conference into concrete action to reduce the cases of arrests and deliver appropriate assistance to affected fishermen and their families.

Participants from a number of government agencies discuss ways to promote the welfare of Filipino fishermen in distress in eastern Indonesia. (Manado PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.manadopcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinManado/.