Bantay Dagat has 2 new patrol boats

Rev. Fr. Bernabe Tutana (extreme right), parish priest of Concepcion, officials the blessing of two new Bantay Dagat patrol boats (at the background) of the Province of Iloilo in simple ceremonies at the SBS Iyang Beach Resort in Concepcion on Sunday, which was attended by Gov. Arthur Defensor, Mrs Cosette Defensor, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Board Member Jett Rojas, Provincial Agriculturist Ildefonso Toledo and local officials of Concepcion.

CONCEPCION, Iloilo – The Bantay Dagat team of the Province of Iloilo has two new patrol boats, bringing to four the number of patrol boats used in the campaign against illegal fishing.

The new patrol boats were inaugurated on Sunday in simple ceremonies at SBS Iyang Beach Resort attended by Gov. Arthur Defensor, Mrs Cosette Defensor and some provincial officials.

Rev. Fr. Bernabe Tutana, parish priest of Concepcion, sprinkles Holy Water on one of the two new Bantay Dagat patrol boats of the Province of Iloilo in simple ceremonies at the SBS Iyang Beach Resort in Concepcion on Sunday.

“We hope to send a clear message to illegal fishers – the Province of Iloilo is very serious in its campaign to protect our marine resources,” Defensor told reporters here.

“We really mean business,” he added. “With these new patrol boats, the Bantay Dagat can now go after fast fishing boats.”

Fr. Bernabe Tutana, parish priest of Concepcion, blessed the two patrol boats costing P750,000 each.

The fiber-glass patrol boats are equipped with a 6D14 175-horsepower engine with turbo, with a maximum speed of 20 knots (20 km per hour).

Measuring 45 feet each, their wooden parts are all made of lawaan.

As this developed, the Bantay Dagat apprehended seven fishing vessels along the waters of Carles, Estancia, Bayad, San Dionisio and Concepcion when it conduct seaborne patrol from November 30 to December 2.

Found using the Danish Seine fishing method or super hulbot-hulbot, the apprehended fishing boats include:

• F/B Lucky 5 and F/B Lucky 14, both owned and operated by Lucky Hedaño with ten crew each, all of whom are residents of Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
• W/BCA Saivy 1, W/BCA Saivy 2 and M/BCA Sheen, all owned and operated by Grace Bayoneta of Victorias City, Negros Occidental. They each have a crew of three.
• M/BCA Lackenel 1, owned and operated by Laquesto Francisco of Barangay Bitoon, Carles. It has a crew of 18.
• M/BCA Cherica, owned, operated and piloted by Ricky Macario, also of Barangay Bitoon, Carles. It has a crew of three.

Also present during the blessing of the patrol boats were Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Board Member Jett Rojas and Provincial Agriculturist Ildefonso Toledo.