Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas led members of the Makabayan bloc in filing House bills (HB) that seek to provide financial subsidies and land protection to fisherfolk.

Brosas, ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro, and members of the Anakpawis Party-list filed HBs 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027 on Monday, July 18.
These pursue a P15,000 production subsidy to small fisherfolk, increased protection for coastal areas from destruction, a mandate to declare the Manila Bay as a reclamation-free zone, and a revocation of the San Miguel Aerocity franchise in Bulacan which has displaced farmers and fisherfolks, respectively.
"We need to provide urgent relief to the 1.1 million Filipinos employed in the fisheries and aquaculture sector who are now battered by steep oil prices and the Department of Agriculture's thrust of massive importation of fish," said Brosas on Monday, July 18.
"Napapaligiran tayo ng katubigan pero laging naisasantabi ang kapakanan ng ating mga mangingisda, na kabilang sa pinakabulnerableng sektor ng ating lipunan (We are surrounded by water but we neglect the welfare of the fisherfolk, who are one of the most vulnerable sectors in our society),” she continued.
On the same day, Castro led protests outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City after the filing,
Protesters demanded that Congress increase the budget for the safe reopening of schools and higher pay for education workers.
Read: https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/18/makabayan-sparks-calls-for-safe-school-opening-wage-hike-for-teachers/