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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Governor's group chief opposes commercial fishing in municipal waters

Governor's group chief opposes commercial fishing in municipal waters

Published Jun 13, 2025 01:04 pm
(Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines)
(Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines)

The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) has strongly rejected commercial encroachment in municipal waters across the country, stressing that such activities threaten the livelihood of local fishing communities and undermine the sustainable management of coastal resources.

In a statement, ULAP President Dakila "Dax" Cua asserted that the local government units (LGUs) must come together to collectively defend "the rights of our fisherfolk and assert their mandate to govern the seas that feed our people."

"We will not allow municipal waters to become battlegrounds for commercial gain," Cua insisted.

He stated this as the ULAP recently convened the 108th National Executive Board Meeting in Boracay, Aklan as a pre-event to the initial session of the 2025 United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) executive bureau. 

The meeting brought together local leaders, national agencies, and development partners to tackle urgent issues in local governance, particularly maritime and coastal management.

DILG Assistant Secretary Jesi Howard S. Lanete reaffirmed the department’s commitment to strengthening LGU capacity in local maritime governance. 

During the meeting, Lanete also provided key updates on the reprogramming of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), including efforts to streamline indicators and revisit the annual awarding cycle.

"The meeting featured the presentation of ULAP’s formal legal intervention in response to the Supreme Court’s Minute Resolution in G.R. No. 270929, a ruling that has reignited debate over the entry of commercial fishing in municipal waters," ULAP said. 

The event also showcased the launch of ULAP’s national study on maritime governance, developed with support from The Asia Foundation and the Australian Government and the formal adoption of the Boracay Declaration and Call to Action, a unified LGU commitment to assert jurisdiction over municipal waters and champion integrated coastal management and blue economy initiatives.

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