Batangas gathers 433 Bantay Dagat volunteers
BATANGAS – The Bantay Dagat organization currently has a total of 433 volunteer members from 15 coastal local government units in Batangas province who cooperate in patrolling and monitoring the beaches and oceans against illegal activities.
This was reported by the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), saying the Bantay Dagat volunteers wholeheartedly and courageously serve to protect the marine protected areas and the entire municipal waters against destructive activities, despite the dangers and possible threats to their lives.
They are accompanied by their respective towns, led by local chief executives, through the Municipal Agriculture Offices and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices, and enforcement agencies, such as the Philippine National Police (PNP), PNP Maritime Group, Philippine Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Office, in implementing the protection of the ocean covered by the province as well as the entire Verde Island Passage.
The Batangas provincial government, under the directive of Governor Dodo Mandanas, and through PGENRO, continues to work to provide the Bantay Dagat with the necessary assistance and incentives, such as medical and burial assistance, life and accident insurance benefits, valuables on patrol, and their Bantay Dagat official identification cards signed by their mayor and Mandanas and used while conducting patrols.
PGENRO partners with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and various non-government organizations, including First Gen Corp., Malampaya Foundation Inc. in extending such assistance and support and Conservation International-Philippines, according to the Batangas Capitol PIO.
