OCT 29, 2015

NR # 4002B

Livelihood, an effective antidote to criminality Hon. Loong

A Sulu lawmaker stressed that providing people with productive economic activities
would greatly help curb criminality and lawlessness, especially in depressed areas.
It is hypothesized that poverty breeds criminality, Rep. Tupay T. Loong (1 st
District, Sulu) noted as he lauded the recent third reading passage of HB 6175.
HB 6175, in substitution of the original HB 2565 initiated by Rep. Loong, is
entitled An Act establishing modified Mariculture Development Parks in suitable areas in
the First District of Sulu, authorizing Municipal Local Government Units to manage the
parks and appropriating funds therefor.
The proposed statute seeks to provide an opportunity for the people of Sulu to
break free from abject poverty and thereby distance themselves from the extremist groups
and lawless elements, the author explained.
Loong said that as science advances, its benefits to the people, particularly the poor,
must be made available at the soonest time possible, citing that the technologies of the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) must be cascaded to the fisherfolks
without delay.
This will definitely mitigate the poverty being experienced by our people, Loong
stressed, adding that the same or similar programs should be duplicated in many parts of
the country, being an archipelagic nation.
Since Sulu is an archipelagic province within and archipelagic country, it has very
rich marine resources that need only to be utilized efficiently, he said.
Setting up a modified mariculture development parks in suitable locations in the
district will definitely provide its people sustainable sources of livelihood, he said.
With a modified approach, this will likewise ensure that the environment is
protected and ecological biodiversity maintained, the author added.
With the wanton and unsystematic approach to fishing and aquamarine resources
gathering, it is indeed possible that there will come a time when bodies of water of Sulu
will no longer be able to provide substantial economic benefits, he pointed out.
Using the modified approach will reverse this situation and guarantee a sustainable
livelihood for the fisherfolks, Loong said.

Under the House-approved HB 6175, LGUs in Sulu are authorized to manage their
respective development parks in coordination with the BFAR-DA and the private sector.
Furthermore, it mandates that the BFAR-DA shall provide technical assistance to
the LGUs and concerned private sectors in the establishment and maintenance of
development parks.
Furthermore, the Mindanao State University Sulu Campus (MSU-Sulu) is
mandated top act as research and development arm of the BDFAR-DA.
The BFAR-DA, in coordination with the MSU-Sulu and the concerned LGUs,
shall conduct continuing experimentation for the purpose of improving the mariculture
development parks and for maximizing the income potential of the fishermen in the area.
They shall take steps necessary to promote and attract investments in the development of
these parks, the proposed statute provides.
Funding for the parks shall be included the DAs annual appropriations, while the
local government units shall set aside any available local revenue an amount deemed
appropriate for the operationalization of their respective parks. (30) dpt