Mayor Strike B.

Revilla

Office of the Mayor

City of Bacoor, Cavite, CALABARZON

May 25, 2023

Dear Mayor,

Greetings to the office of the Mayor!

I am Aliyah Santos, a social worker at our coastal municipality, and I am writing

this letter to propose an assembly with the goals of raising awareness and finding
solutions to the contentious issue of the practice of dynamite fishing by our fisher folk in
our municipality. The purpose of this assembly is to raise awareness and find solutions
to the negative effects of dynamite fishing on the marine ecosystem and the livelihood
of our fisher folk. The assembly aims to encourage our fisher folk to stop the illegal
practice and promote sustainable fishing practices that will benefit both the environment
and the community.

The benefits we can achieve by addressing the issue are the following:

1. Protection of the marine ecosystem from the harmful effects of dynamite

fishing.

2. Preservation of the fish population for the long-term livelihood of fisher folk.

3. Promotion of sustainable fishing practices that will benefit the environment and
the community.

4. Increased awareness and the cooperation among the community in protecting

the marine ecosystem.
The target participants of the assembly include our local fishermen, community
members, community leaders, and representatives from environmental organizations,
local government officials, representatives from non-government organizations, and
other stakeholder groups. The cooperation of different people in different fields, we
believe, will help us achieve our goal for the assembly. The assembly will be held on the
26th of May of 2023, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Barangay Court.

The list of honorable individuals that we invited as resource persons who can give us
information based on their expertise during the assembly:

1. Ms. Micaya Alejandro

- A marine Biologists who graduated from Boston University in Massachusetts.

2. Ms. Sophia Dalusong

- A Conservationists professional with experience in marine conservation.

3. Ms. Love Denuevo

- Community leader from local fishing community of Aqua Marine.

4. Mr. Christian Gabo

- A member and representative in the department of Bureau of Fisheries and

Aquatic Resources in the Local Government.

To execute a successful and organize assembly, the following are the estimated budget
requirements:

1. Audio and Visual – Php 4,500

2. Handouts- Php 3,000

3. Transportation – Php 5, 000

4. Honorarium for Resource Persons- Php 8,000

5. Snacks and Drinks- Php 3, 700

The following materials and services will be needed for the assembly:

1. Sound System and Microphones

2. Projectors and Screens

3. Handouts- Flyers, Brochure, and Pamphlets

4. Chairs and Tables

5. Snacks and Drinks

6. People for Peace and Order

As a coastal city in the country, we are responsible on protecting the marine

environmental life. Dynamite fishing produces more profit compared to conventional
way of fishing. It has short-term benefit on the part of the fishermen but a long-term
devastation effect to marine life. The destructive nature of dynamite fishing poses a
significant threat to marine ecosystem, causing irreversible damage to coral reef and
the population of marine life.

Furthermore, dynamite fishing is prohibited under the law. RA 10654,

amendment to RA 8550 (known as “Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998,”) under section
92 (entitled “Fishing Through Explosives or Poisonous Substances or Electricity”) states
that, “It shall be unlawful for any person to catch, take or gather or cause to be caught,
taken or gathered fish or any fishery species in Philippine waters with the use of
explosives, noxious or poisonous substance such as sodium cyanide, which will kill,
stupefy, disable or render unconscious fish or fishery species.” Use of explosives will
result to imprisonment and fines from P30, 000 up to P3, 000,000 depending on the
scale of the operation carried out.

We are hoping you will approved and support this proposal for the protection and
sustainability of the marine life in our city. We hope that this proposal will raise an
awareness to the community and the government about the illegal practices of the
fishermen of this coastal city. We are hoping for a fast response regarding to this
matter. We are looking forward to our partnership and collaboration about this issue.

Thank you.

Sincerely Yours,

Aliyah Santos

Social Worker
Draft of the Handout:

Title: No to Dynamite Fishing for a Sustainable Future

Introduction:

Dynamite Fishing is a harmful practice that destroys the marine ecosystem and
threatens the livelihood of fisher folk. It is illegal and has a long term negative effects on
the environment. This handout aims to raise awareness about the harmful effects of
dynamite fishing and promote sustainable fishing practices.

Sections 1: Effects of Dynamite Fishing on the marine Ecosystem

 Explanation of how dynamite fishing destroys coral reefs, kills marine life,
and disturbs the balance of the ecosystem.

Section 2: Legal Consequences of Dynamite Fishing

 Explanation of the legal penalties for dynamite fishing, including fines,

imprisonment, and revocation of fishing licenses.

Section 3: Sustainable Fishing Practices

 Explanation of sustainable fishing practices, such as using fishing nets,

hook and line, and fish traps.
 Discussion of the benefits of sustainable fishing practices, including
preserving the marine ecosystem and ensuring long-term livelihood for
fisher folk.

Let us work together to stop dynamite fishing and promote sustainable fishing
practices. By protecting the marine ecosystem, we ensure a sustainable future for our
community.