By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station in Bacolod, Lieutenant Jimmy Oliver Vingno, said they will soon begin mandating registration for all boats operating in Negros Occidental, in response to the recent Abu Sayyaf attack in Bohol, wherein the terror groups operated three motor boats to transport themselves to the island province from Mindanao.
In a phone call yesterday afternoon, Vingno said registration will be conducted at all PCG stations in Negros Occidental, although no date has been released yet.
He said they will introduce plates, similar to the ones used by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and will adopt a numbering system for boats in order to identify them.
Vingno explained the primary purpose of the project is to monitor all boat activity, in compliance with Memorandum Order No. 4, issued by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Under the said memorandum, a unified numbering system for all Philippine-registered vessels, watercrafts, and water transport will be implemented in order to suppress lawless violence at sea, including piracy, smuggling, among others.
Vingno added they will soon conduct an information drive among fishermen with regards to the president’s memorandum.
Earlier, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo also issued a similar order in his own province./WDJ