Jhon,
Let us talk about Bohol in combination with the CDT that I heard is going to be implemented for MAC certified exporters ONLY.
I would presumed Jhon, that when you go somewhere to do some fact-finding mission you would prepare everything and demand for information from the person or organization that is sending you to prevent being use as a scapegoat or a patsy. You would also demand for any materials and records that you can study prior to the trip. You would also get a map study the geographic location of where you are going and learn what places or islands are nearby learning the relationship they have with site you are being sent to. You would try to learn about their culture and peculiar idiosyncrasies if you can because this is important. After having done this you will now study the nature of the problem that needs looking into and try to get as much information as you can to arm yourself, like a management plan, financial aspect, LGU’s outlook and data of shipments. You would now narrow down the scope of what you want first to look into and list down the “What if’s” of your agenda. I hope this is what happened because I do this every time before doing a project or a fact-finding mission. The same as you I will do my homework thoroughly as I can so that when I leave the place, my conscience is clean knowing that I did the whole work to the best of my ability. I would not dare ask you if this has been done. I presumed you did it.
Bohol is a torn on my side. I failed there. It was natural for me to do Batasan during the FS because another IMA field director trained in that area as well as grouper training in Clarin, not net-training (the reason I avoided Clarin and also I was told it was so bombed out that there is nothing left). I know of one person in Batasan who used to work with me collecting fish in the Moslem South of Palawan that I later transferred to Southern Luzon because his skills did not improve in collecting Blue Faces and other species a bit harder to catch by net. In short he did not have the “it”. I later made this guy a boat captain when he did not improve even in the Southern Tagalog site and later sent him home. When I opened up Batasan I was brought there by an IMA lady staff that was part of the IMA training team that did the training there. I was introduced to the IMA net trained beneficiaries and introduced the MAC FS. I met this guy again and he was telling everybody gathered around us how hard it was to catch Blueface angels and that he never learned even when we did a one on one with me in Palawan. When I asked this lady if these collectors where shipping to Manila I was told they were, through a middleman because they needed cash. When I asked about the species the answered was she did not know but that there were a lot. I asked the collectors and they said there were a lot and that they have been protecting their area. “My mistake here is not validating the whole thing and going into the water.” “I left it to the training staff to do it.” I told the collectors IMA and MAC was trying something and if they want to join I can talk to some exporter to put some fish payment money for a while just to see how things will go. Shipments came, it was bad, only a few species came in and no one would dare ship Blueface immediately because I would immediately catch on to what was happening. One Blueface was shipped out once later and I went into a fit buring the telephone lines. The feedback was it was caught by our taining staff whom I transfered to Palawan and asked to catch a Blueface. (He never caught one) After three shipments I started doubting the whole set up in Batasan. I knew that in the past this area was as rich as Cebu in species diversity. They had the Majestic and Bluefaces in volume. I went back there and question this IMA lady. I was shocked. The beneficiaries that were trained were not true collectors and had other means of livelihood. The IMA training was not handled properly according to her. They joined for free food and nets given to them during the IMA training. (Barrier nets can be use for catching food fish.) When I asked her why she did not report this to IMA she just shrug her shoulders. I reported this to IMA and the President blew his top. I did three or four more shipments from that place asking them to prove that they have more species and why I should not stop. Those shipments were also total disasters so I started doing a phase out. The story of depletion and almost total reef destruction in those areas was the reason why they cannot send in more variety of species. Then what got me speechless and disgusted was when I later found out that the area was reopened in a hush-hush way with the same lady now working full time for MAC and was told the person I trained a decade and a half ago was catching Bluefaces angels, the few that was left in that island. And to make matters worst I heard from somebody that the whole Batasan Island was declared a protected area during the Marcos regime. I asked this lady if it was true and to find out if it has been repealed because we would be technically doing illegal work and encouraging fish extraction that is not for personal consumption but for trade and for her to get back to me. She never got back to me on this so I told Mr. Peter Scott to find out and get back to me too. I did not get any feedback on this up to now. I really do not know if the entire Batasan is technically a protected area or not up to now. If it is true that the island was declared a protected area even if it is not enforce anymore repealing that law must be done.
We should not repeat history because if we do I fear we will be driving in the last nail into the coffin of an already ailing industry in this country. Our government almost put a ban on this industry because they felt they were scammed. The training of another organization gave birth to collectors waiving their certificates under the noses of LGU’s and enforcers and was allowed to fish anywhere and everywhere by unsuspecting enforcers. CDT certificates that had results that showed NEGATIVE were sent abroad with shipments, even if mortality was heavy with fish so groggy with cyanide. It spawned graft when collectors where caught red-handed using cyanide and CDT certificates being altered and recycled. It was the golden era for the use of cyanide and recycled CDT results. Honest net-caught collectors were denouncing cyanide using collectors and exporters that encouraged its use. It reached a point where what was going on could not be hidden anymore that it almost produced a nationwide ban had IMA not step in. Exporters rushed back and forth offering incentives if collectors can speak out in support of the lobby against the ban. Now there are a lot of LGU’s banning ornamental fish collection and if not they ban the use of hookah being misinformed that hookah use is automatically link to cyanide.
We have to be very careful about our statements. It will harm the industry. If MAC turns into the same kind of organization that brought on the stigma into this industry by doing Certification that has so many flaws that you can see “USA from the Philippines” with the holes it has then I now issue the challenge that I can destroy the credibility of their certification and the methods of their certifying arm or certifier easily any time they are want to if and when they accept this challenge. I DARE MAC ON THIS!
Now I heard that MAC is going to do CDT ONLY FOR THE MAC CERTIFIED EXPORTERS. I hope this is not true. I could die laughing if this is funny but it is not. Now MAC wants to be the judge, jury, and executioner. What is the hidden agenda on this? Is MAC the only agency that can institute change in the industry? Have they proven themselves? Does MAC think that “computer pushing” to bring out thick documents and ideas are the solution to the problem? When I was still working for MAC their certification director was not transparent with the methods and interpretation of how they certify exporters. I was begging for this and I was begging for the Collection Area Management Plan of Batasan too. I never got anything from them how much more the public. Okay, use the CDT test on certified exporters, who do not even have certified fish. If they have, it is a few clown fishes from Bohol that can be caught by hands. These clowns are free swimming because anemones have been wiped out from these areas. If these fishes can talk they will say "take me I am homeless and tired of just swimming around.” How many net-caught fish are going into the certified facilities? Not even 1%. If this is not a serous I think MAC should attach the name of CLOWN in their name. Infected clown fishes from Bohol are what they are known for anyway. Yet the tragedy is they could have done better if they were willing to listen.
What we need is an organization that is more dynamic and can evolve with the change of time. Honest and ready to accept mistakes so things can be corrected. Willing to listen and have the integrity and purpose that net collectors can relate to and is capable in influencing non-net collectors who would on their own have the urge to join and reform. An organzation that everybody will be proud of. We do not need an organization that would try to subvert the movement of reform by devious means. We do not need an organization that wants to threatened those who do not want to join them because of their flaws and agendas that are against the best interest of the over exploited collectors. We do not need an organization that tries to ram down the throats of these oppress people ideas and systems that can never work. Implementing a flawed system that will only teach collectors and exporters to cheat. An Organization who does this is as guilty as collectors who uses cyanide and as guilty as exporters who encourages it and exploits the collectors. Most important is we do not need organizations that will set back the movement of reform that is already on the way long before MAC existed. And if MAC thinks that they can get their way just because they have a very good relationship with the BFAR National Director due to the special relationship their country director has withhim, then they have another thing coming. This can go as high as the Ministers and as high as the Executive branch if they want. I AGAIN DARE MAC to be partial to just one group and we shall see. If MAC can show that they can be a better organization, transparent and sincere I am willing to help. If not, then we shall see how this thing goes.
Next I will write about things ILLEGAL or almost ILLEGAL. Who acted as the catalyst?
Let us talk about Bohol in combination with the CDT that I heard is going to be implemented for MAC certified exporters ONLY.
I would presumed Jhon, that when you go somewhere to do some fact-finding mission you would prepare everything and demand for information from the person or organization that is sending you to prevent being use as a scapegoat or a patsy. You would also demand for any materials and records that you can study prior to the trip. You would also get a map study the geographic location of where you are going and learn what places or islands are nearby learning the relationship they have with site you are being sent to. You would try to learn about their culture and peculiar idiosyncrasies if you can because this is important. After having done this you will now study the nature of the problem that needs looking into and try to get as much information as you can to arm yourself, like a management plan, financial aspect, LGU’s outlook and data of shipments. You would now narrow down the scope of what you want first to look into and list down the “What if’s” of your agenda. I hope this is what happened because I do this every time before doing a project or a fact-finding mission. The same as you I will do my homework thoroughly as I can so that when I leave the place, my conscience is clean knowing that I did the whole work to the best of my ability. I would not dare ask you if this has been done. I presumed you did it.
Bohol is a torn on my side. I failed there. It was natural for me to do Batasan during the FS because another IMA field director trained in that area as well as grouper training in Clarin, not net-training (the reason I avoided Clarin and also I was told it was so bombed out that there is nothing left). I know of one person in Batasan who used to work with me collecting fish in the Moslem South of Palawan that I later transferred to Southern Luzon because his skills did not improve in collecting Blue Faces and other species a bit harder to catch by net. In short he did not have the “it”. I later made this guy a boat captain when he did not improve even in the Southern Tagalog site and later sent him home. When I opened up Batasan I was brought there by an IMA lady staff that was part of the IMA training team that did the training there. I was introduced to the IMA net trained beneficiaries and introduced the MAC FS. I met this guy again and he was telling everybody gathered around us how hard it was to catch Blueface angels and that he never learned even when we did a one on one with me in Palawan. When I asked this lady if these collectors where shipping to Manila I was told they were, through a middleman because they needed cash. When I asked about the species the answered was she did not know but that there were a lot. I asked the collectors and they said there were a lot and that they have been protecting their area. “My mistake here is not validating the whole thing and going into the water.” “I left it to the training staff to do it.” I told the collectors IMA and MAC was trying something and if they want to join I can talk to some exporter to put some fish payment money for a while just to see how things will go. Shipments came, it was bad, only a few species came in and no one would dare ship Blueface immediately because I would immediately catch on to what was happening. One Blueface was shipped out once later and I went into a fit buring the telephone lines. The feedback was it was caught by our taining staff whom I transfered to Palawan and asked to catch a Blueface. (He never caught one) After three shipments I started doubting the whole set up in Batasan. I knew that in the past this area was as rich as Cebu in species diversity. They had the Majestic and Bluefaces in volume. I went back there and question this IMA lady. I was shocked. The beneficiaries that were trained were not true collectors and had other means of livelihood. The IMA training was not handled properly according to her. They joined for free food and nets given to them during the IMA training. (Barrier nets can be use for catching food fish.) When I asked her why she did not report this to IMA she just shrug her shoulders. I reported this to IMA and the President blew his top. I did three or four more shipments from that place asking them to prove that they have more species and why I should not stop. Those shipments were also total disasters so I started doing a phase out. The story of depletion and almost total reef destruction in those areas was the reason why they cannot send in more variety of species. Then what got me speechless and disgusted was when I later found out that the area was reopened in a hush-hush way with the same lady now working full time for MAC and was told the person I trained a decade and a half ago was catching Bluefaces angels, the few that was left in that island. And to make matters worst I heard from somebody that the whole Batasan Island was declared a protected area during the Marcos regime. I asked this lady if it was true and to find out if it has been repealed because we would be technically doing illegal work and encouraging fish extraction that is not for personal consumption but for trade and for her to get back to me. She never got back to me on this so I told Mr. Peter Scott to find out and get back to me too. I did not get any feedback on this up to now. I really do not know if the entire Batasan is technically a protected area or not up to now. If it is true that the island was declared a protected area even if it is not enforce anymore repealing that law must be done.
We should not repeat history because if we do I fear we will be driving in the last nail into the coffin of an already ailing industry in this country. Our government almost put a ban on this industry because they felt they were scammed. The training of another organization gave birth to collectors waiving their certificates under the noses of LGU’s and enforcers and was allowed to fish anywhere and everywhere by unsuspecting enforcers. CDT certificates that had results that showed NEGATIVE were sent abroad with shipments, even if mortality was heavy with fish so groggy with cyanide. It spawned graft when collectors where caught red-handed using cyanide and CDT certificates being altered and recycled. It was the golden era for the use of cyanide and recycled CDT results. Honest net-caught collectors were denouncing cyanide using collectors and exporters that encouraged its use. It reached a point where what was going on could not be hidden anymore that it almost produced a nationwide ban had IMA not step in. Exporters rushed back and forth offering incentives if collectors can speak out in support of the lobby against the ban. Now there are a lot of LGU’s banning ornamental fish collection and if not they ban the use of hookah being misinformed that hookah use is automatically link to cyanide.
We have to be very careful about our statements. It will harm the industry. If MAC turns into the same kind of organization that brought on the stigma into this industry by doing Certification that has so many flaws that you can see “USA from the Philippines” with the holes it has then I now issue the challenge that I can destroy the credibility of their certification and the methods of their certifying arm or certifier easily any time they are want to if and when they accept this challenge. I DARE MAC ON THIS!
Now I heard that MAC is going to do CDT ONLY FOR THE MAC CERTIFIED EXPORTERS. I hope this is not true. I could die laughing if this is funny but it is not. Now MAC wants to be the judge, jury, and executioner. What is the hidden agenda on this? Is MAC the only agency that can institute change in the industry? Have they proven themselves? Does MAC think that “computer pushing” to bring out thick documents and ideas are the solution to the problem? When I was still working for MAC their certification director was not transparent with the methods and interpretation of how they certify exporters. I was begging for this and I was begging for the Collection Area Management Plan of Batasan too. I never got anything from them how much more the public. Okay, use the CDT test on certified exporters, who do not even have certified fish. If they have, it is a few clown fishes from Bohol that can be caught by hands. These clowns are free swimming because anemones have been wiped out from these areas. If these fishes can talk they will say "take me I am homeless and tired of just swimming around.” How many net-caught fish are going into the certified facilities? Not even 1%. If this is not a serous I think MAC should attach the name of CLOWN in their name. Infected clown fishes from Bohol are what they are known for anyway. Yet the tragedy is they could have done better if they were willing to listen.
What we need is an organization that is more dynamic and can evolve with the change of time. Honest and ready to accept mistakes so things can be corrected. Willing to listen and have the integrity and purpose that net collectors can relate to and is capable in influencing non-net collectors who would on their own have the urge to join and reform. An organzation that everybody will be proud of. We do not need an organization that would try to subvert the movement of reform by devious means. We do not need an organization that wants to threatened those who do not want to join them because of their flaws and agendas that are against the best interest of the over exploited collectors. We do not need an organization that tries to ram down the throats of these oppress people ideas and systems that can never work. Implementing a flawed system that will only teach collectors and exporters to cheat. An Organization who does this is as guilty as collectors who uses cyanide and as guilty as exporters who encourages it and exploits the collectors. Most important is we do not need organizations that will set back the movement of reform that is already on the way long before MAC existed. And if MAC thinks that they can get their way just because they have a very good relationship with the BFAR National Director due to the special relationship their country director has withhim, then they have another thing coming. This can go as high as the Ministers and as high as the Executive branch if they want. I AGAIN DARE MAC to be partial to just one group and we shall see. If MAC can show that they can be a better organization, transparent and sincere I am willing to help. If not, then we shall see how this thing goes.
Next I will write about things ILLEGAL or almost ILLEGAL. Who acted as the catalyst?
) I am now reading with great interest Horge's input.
