TACLOBAN CITY (CIO) — Authorities here seized 1.6 tons of fish from Calbiga, Samar on Wednesday, September 4, as part of the massive campaign of the City Government through Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez to enforce local ordinances.

The two cargo trucks loaded with fish from Calbiga, Samar with an estimated market value of Php 126,000 was seized by the joint team of the Fishery Law Enforcement Team (FLET) and the Tacloban City Police Office in Barangay 95-A Caibaan for violation of Ordinance No. 2015-12-19.

The two trucks containing 21 banyeras (containers) of fish were about to unload their cargo at the “Talipapa” in Caibaan when they were apprehended. Each fish container weighed approximately 80 kilos.

FLET Coordinator Carlos Dave Castello said that the bulk fish carrier violated section 11 of the “Ordinance Governing the use management and operation of the Tacloban City Fish port,” which prohibits, loading and unloading of fish products outside the Tacloban City Fish Port.

The violators were fined 2,000 pesos for each count of the violation.

Meantime, FLET has also intensified its campaign against illegal activities in the coastal areas in Tacloban City following orders from Mayor Romauldez.

The team recently caught a fishing vessel off the coast of Cancabato Bay conducting “hulbot-hulbot,” a fishing method that uses fine fish mesh nets, which is not allowed under the country’s fisheries law and conducted demolition of illegal structures along the coastlines.

– H.J. Roca with a report from D. Abarquez/CIO

Photos: A. Alamos/CIO