Plate numbers for fishing boats proposed

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Officer-in-Charge Commodore Joel Garcia plans to set up a plate number system for small fishing boats in Mindanao.

This is to create a system that will identify motor bancas of fishermen sailing across Mindanao waters and distinguish them from sea pirates.

Garcia believes this is one way to enforce security measures that will protect the local fishermen.

His proposal comes, following the killing of 8 fishermen by suspected pirates last Tuesday off Siromon Island in Zamboanga City.

He says, “mayroon na tayong mga mangingisda na nahuli na may dalang armas sa kanilang mga bangka (we have caught some fishermen who are bringing arms in their boats).”

PCG wants to have a data base containing the profiles of fishermen.