PB okays incentives for fish wardens

Norlan Pagal, a fisherman and a fish warden, had been in three life-threatening situations while trying to preserve and protect the marine life in San Remigio town in northern Cebu.

At dawn of Dec. 5, 2010, eight unidentified men threw a dynamite at Pagal while he was patroling the seas. With his fast reflexes, he was able to throw the explosive back into the water.

Three years later, two men attempted to illegally fish in the fish sanctuary he was guarding. Pagal was hit in the head, leaving him with a wound that required 14 stitches.

On the night of Oct. 24, 2015, while on his way home from his coastal patrol duty, Pagal was ambushed and was shot multiple times. The bullets hit his spinal cord, disabling him.

The Provincial Board (PB), in hopes of recognizing the efforts of Pagal and other fish wardens, approved a resolution giving P2,000 monthly cash incentive to the fish wardens in the province.

The incentive is also meant to revitalize and strengthen the campaign of the Province in enforcing fishery laws and management of fishery resources.

The resolution authorizing Gov. Hilario Davide III to release grants to qualified fish wardens in Cebu province was approved during the Provincial Board session last Monday.

It will be implemented through the Fishermen-Scientist Training Program (FishSTP), a special project of the Cebu Provincial Agriculture Office.