BALANGA CITY (PIA) -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recognized Balanga City and Samal in Bataan as among the top regional performers in this year’s Fisheries Compliance Audit (FishCa).

They met the indicators set by DILG in preserving their municipal waters thus protecting their fisheries. In the entire region, Balanga placed first and Samal ranked third. Sasmuan town in Pampanga landed second.

“FishCa indicators include an existing city fisheries ordinance, ordinance on entry of commercial fishing vessels inside the 10.1-10.5km of the municipal waters, water delineation, coastal resource management plans, and registry of municipal fisherfolk and municipal fishing vessels and gears,” DILG Bataan Manila Bay Focal Person Russel Jasper Rabacio said.

Also, issuance of auxiliary invoices; functional post-harvest facilities for the fish landing sites, fish ports, ice plants, and cold storage; provision of technical support; existing collaboration on coastal resource management; creation of Municipal/City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council; and fish wardens.

“These validation tools are aligned with the Philippine Fisheries Code which aims to protect all water areas,” Rabacio added.

“Source of income of most Bataeños comes from sea. This is one of the best ways to protect their source of income and livelihood,” he furthered.

FishCa top performer local government units will receive cash incentives that will help them support their respective development projects in preserving their water areas.

Balanga will receive P150,000. Sasmuan gets P100,000 and Samal takes home P70,000. (CLJD/Camille Anne S. Bartolome-PIA 3)