TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 18 (PIA) -- A new set of officers of Bohol’s muti-awarded and recognized best practice in local governance on Coastal Law Enforcement Council (CLEC) took its oath of service before Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado recently.

The councils is Bohol’s ingenious solution to issues in the local drive on sustainable fisheries and coastal resource management.

There were times when fish wardens attempted to accost and board commercial fishers encroaching in municipal waters, but turned out that these were armed and sometimes dragged the Bantay Dagat across municipal boundaries that they lose jurisdiction while in the process of apprehending these poachers.

Cognizant of these issues and with Bohol’s sustainable coastal resource management and conservation at stake, legislators then put up the Bohol Coastal law Enforcement Council (CLEC), which is a multi-sectoral and multi-agency collaboration to address coastal issues like rampant illegal fishing activities and other related issues in municipal waters.

The council is omposed of representatives from the national, provincial, municipal, and non-government organizations (NGOs) involving the coastal barangays, puroks, and local communities.

The CLEC addresses the issues by including a cluster of town representatives, with government law enforcement and NGO representatives in a patrol single boat.

The council, being composite, deter political intervention and manipulation,

The council also taps local fishers as key intelligence network in providing information on illegal fishing activities, which strengthened the Municipal Teams.   

From three district-wide CLEC, law enforcement adapted to the changing times that after the 2nd Bohol Coastal Law Enforcement Summit in 2015, EO No. 1 series of 2015 enhanced CLEC and expanded its membership by creating the Provincial Coastal Law Enforcement Task Force (PCLETF), the Coastal Law Enforcement Provincial Technical Working Group (CLE-PTWG), as well as the Clustered LGUs increasing the clusters from three to eight. 

This also opened the doors from expanded memberships involving all the communities and stakeholders from the puroks in the coastal barangays, leading to garnering major awards and citations.

One of the modifications of the CLEC is integrating habitat conservation, protection and management per EO No. 47 series of 2022 in line with the establishment of Marine Protected Areas in municipal waters per Section 81 of RA 10654, according to Jovencia Ganub. 

This also ensured a sustainable resource management covering mangroves, sea-grass beds and coral reef areas.

To secure proper management, the Provincial CLEC reorganized the council, after cluster held elections recently.

The new cluster officers are: CLEC 1 Chairman, Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Censoria C. Yap; Vice Chairman, Atty. Adam Relson Jala, City Vice-Mayor; CLEC 2 Chair Loon Mayor Elvi Peter L. Relampagos and Co- Chairpersons, namely: Cortes Mayor  Lynn Iven P. Lim, Maribojoc Mayor Romulo A. Manuta and Calape Mayor Julius Caesar F. Herrera.

For CLEC 3, Chairperson is Tubigon Mayor William R. Jao and Co-Chairpersons: Buenavista Mayor Dave D. Duallo, Clarin Mayor Eugeniano E. Ibarra and Inabanga Mayor Jose Jono C. Jumamoy.

CLEC 4 Chairman is Carlso P. Garcia Mayor Fernando B. Estavilla, with Co-Chairpersons:  Talibon Mayor Janette Garcia, Getafe Mayor Cary M. Camacho, Trinidad Mayor Roberto C. Cajes and Bien Unido Mayor Rene Borenaga.

CLEC 5 Chair is Ubay Mayor Constantino H. Reyes, with co-chairs Candijay Mayor Thamar C. Olaivar  and Mabini Mayor Ongie Grace Bernales – Lim.

CLEC 6 Chair is Duero Mayor Al C. Taculad, with Co-Chairpersons: Anda Mayor Angelina B. Simacio, Jagna Mayor Joseph A. Rañola and Guindulman Mayor Albino Balo.

CLEC 7 Chair is Garcia Hernandez Mayor Filadelfo Jess III V. Baja and Co-Chairpersons: Valencia Mayor Dionisio Neil  A. Balite, Dimiao Mayor Randolph L. Ang and Lila Mayor Atty Arturo Piollo II.

CLEC 8 Chair is Dauis Mayor Capt. Roman B. Bullen and Co-Chairpersons Baclayon Mayor Atty. Alvin J. Uy, Panglao Mayor Capt. Edgardo F. Arcay, Loay Mayor Atty. Hilario L. Ayuban, and Alburquerque Mayor Don Ritchie P. Buates.  (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)