Fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) and the MAGSASAKA Party-List (MPL) strongly denounced the Supreme Court decision allowing commercial fishing vessels within the 15-kilometer municipal waters.
In a statement, Pamalakaya warned that the municipal fisheries output in the first quarter of the year might “fall significantly” if the SC decision takes effect.
Based on records, the group said the total volume of the municipal fisheries production was estimated at 196.13 thousand metric tons or 20.3 percent of the entire fisheries production in the third quarter of 2024.
“Bagsak na ang produksyon ng munisipal na mangingisda dahil sa iba’t-ibang salik, at pinangangambahan pa ang higit na pagdausdos nito dahil sa pagligalisa sa pagpasok ng mga commercial fishing vessels sa aming tradisyunal na pangisdaan. Imbes na palakasin ang kapasidad ng mga maliliit na mangingisda na makapag-ambag sa kabuuang produksyon ng pagkain, lalo pang pinahina ito dahil sa hindi patas na batas sa pangisdaan (The production of municipal fishers has already dropped due to various factors, and there are fears of an even greater decline with the legalization of commercial fishing vessels entering our traditional fishing grounds. Instead of strengthening the capacity of small-scale fishers to contribute to overall food production, it has been further weakened by the unfair fisheries law),” said Pamalakaya Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo.
The group said it will persistently challenge the ruling through gathering of petitions from the affected municipal fisherfolk, and working with the local government units that share the same opposition.
Meanwhile, the FFF and MPL also opposed the SC First Division’s ruling which struck down a longstanding provision of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 reserving municipal waters for the exploitation and use by the country's two million small fishers.
The two groups criticized the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for "sleeping on the job” for failing to appeal the Court's decision within the required period.
FFF Board Chairman and MPL first nominee Leonardo Montemayor said a new bill should be filed and passed in the next Congress to correct the “grave injustice and economic injury” against the fisherfolk.
"The Fisheries Code clearly limits fishing from the municipal shorelines up to 15 kilometers in favor of municipal fishers. On a case-to-case basis only, a commercial fisher may be allowed starting at the 10.1-mark upwards, provided he meets the following conditions: water depth of at least 7 fathoms, use of sustainable fishing methods, prior consultation with artisanal fisherfolk and other stakeholders, and no previous violation of Philippine laws," said Montemayor, who co-authored the Fisheries Code (Republic Act No. 8550, later amended by R.A. No. 10654 in 2015 and served as Agriculture chief in 2001.
For his part, MPL chairman Argel Joseph Cabatbat warned of worsening degradation of fishery resources as a result of the recent SC decision allowing commercial fishing.
On Dec. 19, 2024, the Supreme Court nullified provisions of the Fisheries Code restricting commercial fishing within municipal waters and upheld a Malabon Regional Trial Court decision stemming from a legal challenge filed by commercial fishing operators.
Next week, the Pamalakaya will troop to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to denounce Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. over his “continued silence” on the issue.
“Bilang kalihim ng DA, dapat na mas manaig kay Laurel ang boses ng mga maliliit na mangingisda, imbes na ang interes ng kanyang mga kauring operator ng commercial fishing. Kaya hamon namin sa DA na agarang magsagawa ng hakbang para panatilihin ang eksklusibong karapatan ng mga maliliit na mangingisda sa 15-kilometrong munisipal na pangisdaan(As the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Laurel should prioritize the voices of small-scale fishers over the interests of his fellow commercial fishing operators. Therefore, we challenge the DA to take immediate action to uphold the exclusive rights of small-scale fishers in the 15-kilometer municipal fishing grounds),” the group said.