By Ric Arellano Abedin

ILIGAN CITY – The local government unit (LGU) of Iligan City has required operators or owners of motorized bancas (small canoes) in the city to register their boats with the LGU and be placed under Color Coding.

In an ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, owners or operators of bancas, will be advised to paint their boats a color prescribed by authorities so that they will be easily recognized in case they will be waylaid to other areas.

It is learned that to register a banca, the operator or owner must pay P300 valid for three years. Bancas are also advised not to engage fishing in other areas to avoid being apprehended by Maritime Police and the Coast Guard who will seize fisherfolks fishing outside the areas they are permitted for fishing.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz reiterated the advice of City Councilor Sol Bacsarpa who chairs the Sangguniang Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries.

“Fishermen are prohibited to engage in illegal fishing like using small fishing net, compressor machine ug dynamites so that fish ling and fish fries or small fishes shall not be affected and diminish fish population,” added the vice mayor.