Protecting coastal waters, sea resources a real problem for PH—Palace

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang has admitted the country has problems in protecting its coastal waters and aquatic resources from poachers.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda made the remark on Wednesday afternoon, a day after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said that coral reefs twice the size of Manila had been destroyed by poachers.

“We have a problem in protecting our archipelagic waters. That is a concern for us,” Lacierda said during the day’s news briefing at the Palace.

Lacierda said the government has been taking steps to beef up its capability in patroling the archipelago.