The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said it is “strongly committed” to fulfilling its mandate in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and other coastal communities in the Philippines.
This is amid the lingering presence of hundreds of Chinese boats in the West Philippine Sea WPS.
In a statement, BFAR said it is “committed to fulfilling its mandate of ensuring food security especially in this challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic, alleviating the economic conditions of the fisheries sector especially the fisherfolk, and addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing among other challenges that continue to hound the Philippine fisheries sector”.
Moreover, BFAR said it will continuously enforce programs that will benefit our fisheries and aquatic resources and the fisherfolk in coastal communities along WPS, which covers the Kalayaan Group of Islands in Spratlys and the Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal).
Right now, there are 600,000 Filipino fisherfolks who get their livelihood directly from WPS, based on the estimates of AGHAM Member and Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) Resident Fisheries Expert Jerwin Baure.
BFAR likewise reiterated Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s statement that encourages unity and whole-of-nation approach to uphold our rights over WPS and our Exclusive Economic Zone.
The other day, BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona has encouraged Filipino fishermen to keep sailing and fishing in the area.
“Yes, we are threatened but if you will ask me, I encourage our fishermen to go out and fish there to get our share of fisheries production there,” Gongona said during the Laging Handa briefing on Monday.
“We encourage them and not to be intimidated because our purpose is to fish and not anything else,” he added.
Gongona said that estimated production in these areas stood at 334,000 metric tons (MT), and out of the Philippines’ total fisheries production, 7.34 percent comes from there.
“It is true that WPS is important and we need to protect and develop this,” Gongona said. “We condemn illegal fishing there”.
On the part of the government, Gongona said there is a need to protect and support the small fishermen and the environment where they get their livelihood.
“We have to implement our Fisheries code, especially parts of WPS that is ours,” Gongona further said.
When asked if BFAR will file charges to encroachers in WPS, he said his agency will coordinate with the national task forces involved in watching over the area.
“If we spot an issue of encroachment, there will be recommendations ,” Gongona said. “We will continuously protest if we feel we are at a disadvantage”.
As of now, he said he is not aware of any report made by Filipino fishermen that they are being maltreated by encroachers in the WPS.
In provinces and coastal communities facing WPS, BFAR said that through its regional offices, it has been providing the necessary interventions under programs like fisheries development, fisheries regulation and law enforcement, and fisheries extension program.
It was reported that more than P73 million of livelihood implements and technology projects were turned over by BFAR Region I to fisherfolk and other fisheries stakeholders in Pangasinan.
BFAR Region III, on the other hand, has been distributing fish aggregating device or “payaos” and fishing vessels to fisherfolk in the 14 local government units of Zambales since 2016.
In addition, BFAR Region III has an open line with fisherfolk and commercial fishing vessel operators from the provinces of Bataan and Zambales, among others, in order to monitor and assess the situation in these fishing areas.
Last week, PAMALAKAYA refuted President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that there is not enough fish to quarrel about in WPS.
The group cited the data from the scientist group AGHAM that the entire WPS could contribute 2 to 5 percent of the domestic total marine capture fisheries output.
PAMALAKAYA added that Duterte’s approval of Chinese plunder of fishery resources in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and national territory is on top of the more serious destruction of the marine environment brought about by Chinese government's reclamation activities there.
AGHAM estimated that the total 62-square mile reclamation sites of China that destroyed coral reefs caused the country to lose P1.3 trillion annually.
For his part, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson Fernando Hicap cited a provision in the constitution to remind Duterte that he is “mandated” to protect marine and fishery resources.