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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos condemns establishing of so-called 'nature reserve' over Bajo de Masinloc

Marcos condemns establishing of so-called 'nature reserve' over Bajo de Masinloc

Published Oct 27, 2025 02:21 pm
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels hand out fuel, grocery packs, and crushed ice to Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc and Escoda Shoal, West Philippine Sea on Oct. 13, 2025 as part of the “Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” (KBBM) humanitarian mission. The Philippine Coast Guard says a radio challenge is issued by the China Coast Guard (CCG), claiming that the presence of Filipino fishing boats in Bajo de Masinloc could harm their so-called "nature reserve." (Courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard)
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels hand out fuel, grocery packs, and crushed ice to Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc and Escoda Shoal, West Philippine Sea on Oct. 13, 2025 as part of the “Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” (KBBM) humanitarian mission. The Philippine Coast Guard says a radio challenge is issued by the China Coast Guard (CCG), claiming that the presence of Filipino fishing boats in Bajo de Masinloc could harm their so-called "nature reserve." (Courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—President Marcos has lamented the establishment of so-called "nature reserve" in Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, which, he said, violates the traditional fishing rights of Filipinos.
In his intervention at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-United States Summit, without naming names, Marcos called out some actors' move to prevent fishermen from fishing in the country's maritime territory in the guise of building a nature reserve.
"The attempt of some actors to establish the so-called 'nature reserve' status over Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, which is a longstanding and integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction, clearly violates not only Philippine sovereignty, but also the traditional fishing rights of our people guaranteed by international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, and affirmed by the final and binding 2016 Award on the South China Sea Arbitration and relevant domestic laws," Marcos said in his speech.
Marcos also raised the same issue during his intervention at the East Asia Summit on Monday, Oct. 27, stressing that the Philippines has the exclusive authority to establish environmental protection areas over its territory.
"Just recently, our northern neighbor has declared a so-called 'National Nature Reserve' in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal," the President said.
This statement was similar to his earlier remark at the ASEAN-US Summit, where he did not explicitly name the country implementing the project.
"We strongly protested such a declaration," Marcos said. "Bajo de Masinloc is a longstanding and integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction."
"The Philippines likewise has the exclusive authority to establish environmental protection areas over its territory and relevant maritime zones," he stressed.
The President has once again expressed his sentiments on the incidents in the West Philippine Sea which have continued to cause threats in the lives of Philippine personnel.
"On the South China Sea, it is regrettable that incidents continue to occur in the West Philippine Sea which endanger the lives of Philippine personnel and compromise the safety of our vessels and aircraft," he said.
These incidents, he further said, include dangerous maneuvers and the coercive use of tools and equipment to interfere with or obstruct legitimate and routine Philippine activities in the country's own maritime zones and airspace, as guaranteed under international law.
He stressed that the Philippines will continue to remain firm, calm, and resolute in its commitment to the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and to pursuing productive negotiations towards a Code of Conduct that is effective, substantive, and consistent with international law, particularly UNCLOS.
"This commitment is shared throughout all levels of the government, which desires to conclude an effective and substantive Code of Conduct that can effectively govern the behavior of parties at sea," Marcos said.
Last month, the Chinese government approved the proposal to establish a national nature reserve covering 3,500 hectares in Scarborough Shoal.

Related Tags

President Marcos ASEAN Summit Bajo de Masinloc Scarborough Shoal nature reserve
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