Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan (Rep. Yamsuan’s Facebook)

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan is prodding the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to do more amid the difficulties being faced by Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

According to Yamsuan, the estimated 385,000 fisherfolk dependent on the WPS for their livelihood need to be protected from China’s “acts of intimidation and provocation”. 

“We are closely coordinating with BFAR  to find ways to improve  the capability of municipal fisherfolk fishing in the [WPS] as well as in protecting them and our marine resources from illegal activities,” said Yamsuan, chairman of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources 

“BFAR itself said that our fisherfolk can continue fishing in the [WPS]. But such pronouncements should be backed by action and concrete support for our fisherfolk,” he underscored.  

Yamsuan also cited BFAR’s recent statement that China’s “no-trespassing’ rule has no impact on the country’s fisheries production simply because the Philippines does not recognize this unilateral and baseless declaration. The BFAR also assured Filipino fisherfolk that they can continue to fish in portions of the WPS that form part of the country’s  exclusive economic zone (EEZ).  

During a recent briefing before the Yamsuan-chaired committee, BFAR reported that it is planning to procure two additional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance  (MCS) patrol vessels and one food boat this year in line with its initiatives  to support the government’s efforts to protect the country’s marine resources in the WPS.  

BFAR reported during the briefing that  it has allotted P1.8 billion in 2024  for its WPS-related programs, which also  includes strengthening  its Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System (IMEMS) to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF), implementing science-based policies on fisheries conservation and sustainability in the WPS, and improving the management of its data assets through an enhanced fisheries regulatory and information system.  

Yamsuan said that while these appear to be laudable initiatives, BFAR’s record shows that more needs to be done to ensure the efficient use of its funds to capacitate small fisherfolk in the WPS.  

BFAR’s budget has been consistently increasing by an average of 45 percent since 2022,  but its program to procure boats for municipal fisherfolk has always been delayed, Yamsuan noted.  

“We want to find out from BFAR what needs to be done to speed up the procurement so that it can provide the support that our fisherfolk need, especially those dependent on   the West Philippine Sea for their livelihood,” said Yamsuan.  

BFAR’s budget for 2022 was P4.57 billion, which increased by 49 percent to P6.82 billion in 2023, and further by 41 percent to P9.65 billion in 2024.  

Yet, the House Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea, of which Yamsuan is also a member, found out that  37 of the BFAR boats funded under the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA) were only issued their respective Authority to Pay on May 9, 2024. Only 15 of the 52 additional boats funded under the 2023 GAA are ready for distribution next month.  

Yamsuan said the government’s recent formal declaration before the United Nations (UN) of maritime entitlement to an extended continental shelf on parts of the WPS complement the current steps being undertaken to assert the country’s rights over the contested area and protect fisherfolk from China’s bullying activities.  

“All these measures demonstrate how the Philippines has resorted to restraint in dealing with this national security concern,” the party-list solon said.