The Philippines Agricultural Secretary, Luis Lorenzo, said fishermen must learn international rules governing territorial waters.
Secretary Lorenzo issued this statement to small fishermen who were apprehended by Indonesian authorities due to encroachment on their territorial waters.
During the “MINDANAO SCOPE†radio forum, Secretary Lorenzo said there is a need for government agencies concerned to undertake information drive regarding Indonesian policies on fishing activities in its territorial waters to prevent the incidents from happening again.
“There is also a need for legislation so we can prevent our small fishermen from encroaching into territorial waters of neighboring countriesâ€, he said.
In February, last year, the government brought home some 49 Filipino fishermen apprehended by Indonesian Navy, most of whom were residents of General Santos City.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development helped in the repatriation of the Filipino fishermen, some of who were charged before Indonesian courts.