Kalinaw News: Military holds fishermen’s forum, raises awareness on Maritime Safety And Security

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 17, 2021): Military holds fishermen’s forum, raises awareness on Maritime Safety And Security



Camp Aquino, Tarlac City – Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) hosted a Fishermen’s Forum in Infanta, Pangasinan last Friday as part of their capacity-building efforts to raise maritime safety and security awareness amongst fishermen.

Forty fishermen from all over Pangasinan participated in the one-day event. Several subject matter experts from different government agencies were invited to discuss matters concerning the country’s maritime domain.

Lectures on the Northern Maritime Domain, Ship Identification, Reporting System, Security and Safety Protocols were thoroughly discussed for the whole duration of the forum.

Brigadier General Krishnamurti A Mortela, Commander of the Philippine Army’s 702nd Infantry Brigade and the keynote speaker of the event encouraged the participants to make use of what they’ve learned from the forum to ensure their safety and well-being while they are fishing and at the same time assist in providing vital information to authorities of any significant activity on the country’s northern maritime territory when he said that “Kayong mga andito ngayon gamitin ninyo ng maayos yung mga natutunan ninyo, para sa inyong seguridad at kaligtasan habang kayo ay nasa laot. At para na rin kayo ay makatulong sa ating pamahalaan na bantayan ang ating karagatan.”

Lieutenant General Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr, the Commander of NOLCOM and the concurrent head of Area Task Force – North said that “The forum provides a venue for our local fishermen to acquire essential knowledge and skill which can help them in ensuring their safety while at sea. The forum paved the way for the security sector to engage the fishermen and encourage them to actively support NOLCOM in its efforts to secure the country’s sovereignty in its northern maritime territory.”

Lt Gen Burgos reassured that “We will remain committed and steadfast in ensuring the safety and well-being of our fisherfolks, for them to navigate freely on our territorial waters without threats or intimidations.”

The AFP’s Northern Luzon Command is responsible of safeguarding the sovereign rights and territorial integrity of the country’s northern maritime domain, which encompasses the vast, resource-rich maritime areas of the West Philippine Sea’s Bajo De Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), the Philippine Rise (Benham Rise), and the Luzon Strait in Batanes.

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