A total of 52 personnel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) completed their three-month law- enforcement training in Quezon, Bfar said on Monday.
Bfar, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said this brings the total number of personnel ready for deployment in Philippine waters to 293.
“Class Masilak,” whose training started in February this year, is the fifth batch of volunteer personnel to complete the three-month law-enforcement boot camp at the National Brackishwater Fisheries Technology Center in Pagbilao, Quezon.
Maida de la Cruz of Bfar-Region 8 is the batch’s valedictorian.
“The growing number of our passionate and committed fishery law enforcers is a testament that the government is serious in protecting our waters and improving the livelihood opportunities of our fishermen,” Bfar said in a statement.
The law-enforcement training program, which started in October 2014, equips prospective enforcers with skills and discipline to safeguard the country’s teeming marine and inland aquatic resources against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.
The training was divided into two parts: the 30-day transition period, where participants are indoctrinated in discipline, conduct and values, basic tactical and physical training and the 60-day training on BFAR operations and protocols, fishery laws and aquatic protection, shipboard operations and practicum, advance tactical training, water search and rescue, field training exercises and physical development program. The trainees were closely supervised by Bfar’s Law Enforcement Unit.
