AMID CHINA ALLEGATIONS

BFAR: Payaws do not damage WPS corals, environment

The Philippine government on Monday denied a Chinese Communist Party publication's allegation that fish aggregating devices, locally known as payaws, were damaging the environment.

According to Mav Gonzales' 24 Oras report, the communist publication claimed that payaws cause over-fishing and damage coral reefs.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said that this was untrue as payaws were just floaters filled with palm fronds attached to a line.

The fronds attract small fish, which in turn attract large fish which fishermen then catch.

"Stationary siya so hindi siya nakakasira ng corals kasi naka-float lang naman siya at ilalagay siya, doon saan makaka-float ang payaw," explained BFAR Spokesperson Nazario Briguera. "So usually hindi ito sa mga coral reefs. So sustenableng pamamaraan yung paglalagay ng payaw."

Furthermore, payaws help save fuel as fishermen no longer have to sail around looking for fish.

"Pag may payaw, pupunta na lamang sila sa isang permanenteng lugar kung nasan andun ang payaw," added Briguera.

Last April 4, Filipino fishermen, assisted by the BFAR and the Philippine Coast Guard, placed 10 payaws at the Rozul Reef despite harassment from the Chinese Coast Guard

Likewise, the National Security Council dismissed Chinese claims that Filipinos were damaging the West Philippine Sea.

"Kung ang ginagawa po ng Pilipinas ay crushing the corals, or gumagawa ng artificial islands, pwede sabihin ng China na tayo ay nakakasira sa kalikasan. Pero wala tayong ginagawang ganon," responded NSC Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.

For his part, Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones Chairman Senator Francis Tolentino, retorted bluntly that China was "lying."

"Ginawa nga nilang airstrip yung Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross. Wala silang karapatan magsabi na nakakasira tayo sa kalikasan. Sila nakakasira ng kalikasan," said Tolentino.

Last year, Tolentino presented photos of discolored and damaged corals at the Escoda Shoal and Rozul Reef - damage allegedly caused by Chinese activities in the sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard meanwhile said it would protect the payaws that were placed at the Rozul Reef.

"Alam naman natin, China Coast Guard, baka putulin lang nila ito the moment na i-drop natin, a few days tayong umalis," said PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela

As to Chinese harassment of Philippine ships, and even small Filipino fishing boats at the Rozul Reef, the NSC's Malaya said, "This only shows na ang gusto talaga ng Tsina ay buong South China Sea."

"Since pasok po [ang Rozul Reef] sa EEZ, tayo lang po ang bansang may eksklusibong karapatan na mangisda diyan." — DVM, GMA Integrated News