According to Malacanang a top-level negotiating team has been created to seek lifting of ban on tuna fishing. Undersecretary Virgilio L. Leyretana Sr., chair of the Mindanao Economic Development Council, informed that he and retired General Efren L. Abu, the Special Envoy to BIMP-Eaga, have been in touch with Indonesian officials for the possible lifting of Jakarta’s tuna outbound ban policy.
Leyretana told that the government is resorting to “creative options” to resolve the issue. There shall be reciprocity in a spirit of amity, equity and fairness. According to him necessary steps are taken on concerns that the ban may affect tens of thousands of families dependent on the local tuna industry, adding that fishermen from North Sulawesi, Indonesia may also be affected.
Leyretana told that they soon meet the foreign counterparts in Indonesia to work on a mutually-benefiting agreement. Francisco J. Buencamino Jr., executive director of the Tuna Canners Association of the Philippines, earlier told that Indonesia implemented the ban to encourage investments in its tuna industry. It is said that the Philippine negotiating team is also expected to work out the renewal of the bilateral fishing agreement with Indonesia.
The bilateral fishing agreement would allow Philippine tuna fleets to catch tuna and tuna-like species within the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
