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PCG: No reports received that prohibits fishermen from entering in Bajo de Masinloc
PCG: No reports received that prohibits fishermen from entering in Bajo de Masinloc
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said on Wednesday, July 14, that he has not received any reports that prohibited the local fishermen from entering off Bajo de Masinloc, Zambales in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Balilo was asked by Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque in his press briefing on Wednesday after the statement of fishermen claimed that Chinese boats were still blocking their access to parts of the WPS, five years after the Philippines won the Hague ruling on the disputed waters.
“Wala naman po kaming report na natatanggap na hindi pwedeng mangisda doon sa area at in fact habang naguusap tayo sa mga oras na ito may report po sa amin na mayroon pong isang fishing boat na nasa loob mismo ng Bajo de Masinloc (We have not received any reports that it is not possible to fish in the area and in fact, while we are talking at this time we have a report that there is a fishing boat right inside Bajo de Masinloc),” Balilo said during the press briefing.
The PCG spokesperson bared that there are four Coast Guard ships currently patrolling and distributing relief packs to the local fishermen in the area.
Balilo, citing the report from the PCG personnel patrolling in the area, said that it is currently “payaw” season, traditionally known as fish shelters set along shallow sections of coastal waters, which majority of the fishermen choose to catch their fish in their fish shelters far from the Bajo de Masinloc.
“Isa pong sinabi sa akin ng mga people on the ground ay ‘payaw’ season na po ngayon kaya pinipili ng mga mangingisda na majority sa kanila ay nagiistay sa kanilang ‘payaw’ na medyo malayo po sa Bajo de Masinloc (One of the people on the ground told me that it is ‘payaw’ or fish shelter season now so the fishermen choose the majority of them to stay in their ‘payaw’ which is quite far from Bajo de Masinloc),” he added.
Last April 24, PCG’s ships including BRP Gabriela Silang and BRP Sindangan, have started the maritime training and patrol near Bajo De Masinloc off the waters of Zambales amid the aggressive presence of Chinese vessels in the disputed areas which include the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Balilo said the PCG has also activated its Task Force Pagsasanay to intensify the capacity building of its personnel and assets as it vowed to protect the country’s maritime territory amid the heightened tension in the WPS.