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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Zambales solon calls for probe on fishermen's complaints vs BFAR 

Zambales solon calls for probe on fishermen's complaints vs BFAR 

Published Jun 9, 2024 01:03 pm

At A Glance

  • Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun wants the House of Representatives to investigate the alleged failure of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to provide adequate boats and other necessary support for fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

9D845680-E053-47F3-ABE1-6C3B7662DF44.jpegZambales 1st district Rep. Jefferson Khonghun (Dexter Barro II/MANILA BULLETIN)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



A Zambales congressman wants the House of Representatives to investigate the alleged failure of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to provide adequate boats and other necessary support for fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun made the call in response to numerous complaints from the fishing community about the disparity between the assistance provided by BFAR and their actual needs for sustaining their livelihood. 

Khonghun, a member of the House “Young Guns" bloc, also stressed the importance of scrutinizing and potentially realigning the BFAR budget as Congress prepares to deliberate on the upcoming 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP). 

“It is crucial that we address the inadequacies in the support provided to our fishermen,” Khonghun said. “The fishermen in the WPS deserve the best resources to sustain their livelihoods and uphold our national interests in these contested waters.” 

Earlier this year, BFAR announced that it allocated P660 million for the purchase of 66 units of 62-footer fishing vessels to capacitate Filipino fisherfolk with bigger boats. 

The agency said that at least 10 of these large fishing boats are to be distributed to fishing cooperatives operating in the WPS. 

Khonghun expressed concerns over the effectiveness of BFAR’s current initiatives. He emphasized that the House must ensure the allocated funds are being used efficiently to support the fishing community. 

“Reevaluating and potentially reallocating BFAR’s budget will guarantee that every peso is directed towards genuinely improving the conditions for our fishermen,” Khonghun pointed out. 

“This is about more than just boats; it’s about securing the future of our fishing industry and reinforcing our sovereignty,” he added. 

Last May 24, the coastal town of Masinloc in Zambales hosted a joint House committee probe on the supposed "gentleman’s agreement" between former president Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the WPS. 

It was during the public consultation with the fishermen that the solons learned about BFAR's supposed shortcomings. 

READ THIS: 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/24/maniningil-ako-masinloc-mayor-asks-pbbm-to-help-town-s-fishermen 

Khonghun stressed the importance of a thorough review of BFAR’s 2025 budget, suggesting possible internal issues within the agency. 

“We need to examine BFAR’s budget closely to ensure it matches the fishermen’s needs. There seems to be an anomaly within BFAR, as they appear to be misleading our fishermen,” he said. 

He continued, “Congress has consistently provided funding to BFAR, and the President has repeatedly reminded them to address the real needs of our fishermen. It’s essential that BFAR genuinely engages with the fishing community to understand and meet their requirements.” 

According to BFAR, there are 385,300 fishermen in the WPS. These territorial waters account for 275,520 metric tons of fisheries production, which is equivalent to 6 percent to 7 percent of the whole fisheries sector. 
 

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Jay Khonghun West Philippine Sea masinloc
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