Bataan buys helicopter to combat illegal fishing

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    BALANGA CITY – Bishop Socrates “Soc” Villegas on Thursday led the blessing and test-ride of the new P21.5 million helicopter bought by the provincial government for its massive drive against illegal fishing and logging.

    Archibald Po of Lionair, dealer of Robinsons helicopters, said Bataan has the distinction of being the first local government unit in the country to acquire such type of helicopter for use in the campaign against illegal fishing and illegal logging.

    He said that Robinsons helicopters are the most saleable in the world and it takes more than a year for an order to be delivered. The Bataan 4-seater helicopter is Robinsons R-44 series, Raven II.

    After a few minutes ride on board the new aircraft around the city with Gov. Enrique Garcia and two pilots, Bishop Soc praised the local officials saying “very good” when asked how the trip was.

    Garcia said “bilib na bilib si Bishop Soc while we were travelling at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour.” The helicopter took off and returned to Camp Tolentino, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Bataan.

    He said the provincial government has to institute serious campaign against illegal fishing, slash and burn farming (kaingin) and illegal logging for the protection of the livelihood of those in the fishing and farming industry as well as the protection of lives and property of residents.

    “Reports of illegal fishing and logging in a given area will be given immediate action with the use of the helicopter and our resolve to stop these illegal activities will be strengthened,” the Bataan governor said.

    He said he has even recommended to Sec. Lito Atienza of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the closure of the whole of Manila Bay to commercial fishing.

    “Seryoso ang ating kampanya sapagka’t gusto nating dumami ang isda sa ating karagatan at manumbalik naman ang taba ng ating mga sakahan sa pamamag-itan ng reforestation at mahigpit na pagbabantay ng ating kagubatan,” Garcia said.

    The helicopter will also be used in aerial seeding of millions of forest seeds in the bald forests of Bataan.

    He said that the provincial government has to act now so as not to suffer the experience of other provinces where thousands of lives and millions of pesos-worth of property were lost due to calamities as result of the destruction of the environment.

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