How far does the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) go in patrolling our waters and securing Filipino fishermen?

Vice presidential aspirant and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan raised the question as several fishermen narrated that the PCG does not go beyond 12 nautical miles from our shores in roving the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

"Polisiya ba ito o limitasyon? (Is this the policy or limitation?). We want to know whether this is a policy of the PCG or a limitation on its part to cover only this far in our exclusive economic zone," Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said it is the duty of the Philippine Cost Guard to protect and give security to Filipino fishermen.

‘’Paano nila ito gagawin kung sasabihin nila na hindi sila pwedeng lumagpas ng 10 nautical miles? (How will they do this when they could not go beyond 10 nautical miles?). Mas malayo pa yata ang nararating ang ating mga mangingisda kaysa barko ng PCG (It appears that Filipino fishermen go farther than PCG boats),” he said.

Bajo de Masinloc (also known as the Scarborough Shoal), which China has occupied since 2012, is about 120 nautical miles away from some parts of Zambales.

The international arbitral tribunal ruled that China’s historical claim to it and the rest of the West Philippine Sea is unfounded and invalid.

Scarborough Shoal is about 800 nautical miles away from Hainan, the easternmost Chinese land mass.

Pangilinan called on the PCG and the Navy to live up to their duty to secure Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and ensure protection for Filipino fishers.

He went to sea with several fishermen from Masinloc, Zambales on Saturday who narrated the hardships in making a living from fishing. They said the constant threat of harassment from Chinese vessels exacerbates their woeful plight.

Pangilinan called for greater protection for Filipino fishermen in the WPS, livelihood assistance, and aid in facilities such as cold storage to preserve their catch.