Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. joined the municipal officials of Estancia in launching and deploying fish aggregating devices locally known as "arong" or "payao" on the municipal waters last Friday, June 8.

The fish aggregating devices were realized using the financial assistance provided by the provincial government.

Defensor allotted financial assistance amounting P200,000 for Estancia fishers after they signed a manifesto stating that they would stop conducting illegal fishing activities such as Danish seine fishing or "hulbot-hulbot".

Also present during the activity were Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Fifth District Board Member Jett Rojas, Batad Mayor Pedro Alarcon, and Estancia Mayor Rene Cordero.

Defensor assured the fisherfolks comprising five associations that more fish aggregating devices would be deployed in the area and that his administration would give more support to other sound coastal resource management (CRM) practices.

Provincial Agriculturist Ildefonso Toledo said the deployment of "arong" or "payao" is a big help to the fisherfolks since it would revive the habitat of fishes and other aquatic resources which have been greatly reduced to due to wanton illegal fishing practices.

Around 140 "payao" were deployed in the marine waters along barangays Gogo, Pa-on, and Tanza.

Estancia municipal agriculturist Hector Magtiza said, the fishermen could already benefit from the areas where the fish aggregating devices were deployed after five months.

To note, all coastal municipalities in Northern Iloilo have already committed to support the provincial government's no non-sense drive against illegal fishing activities. (ECGarcia/ Capitol News)