Former senator and senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan expressed his full support for reinstating the 15-kilometer municipal water zone that gives preferential access to small-scale fishermen.

Noting a current petition asking to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision to declare as unconstitutional the 15-kilometer municipal water zone, the former senator said it is unfair for commercial fishing vessels to enter the municipal waters.

"Hindi tama na ‘yung ating mga commercial fisher pwede na manghimasok sa loob ng 15 kilometers ng fishing waters na para sa municipal waters (It’s not right that our commercial fishers can already intrude within 15 kilometers of fishing waters designated for municipal waters)," he said in a press conference in Camarines Norte on Sunday, March 30.

"Yung maliliit nating mangingisda na wala naman ganun malalaking barko, yun ang bigyang priority doon sa municipal waters (Our small-scale fishermen, who don’t have large boats, should be prioritized in those municipal waters)," he added.

Pangilinan was responding to a question about the high court’s decision that prohibits local government units (LGUs) and agencies from enforcing the 15-kilometer limit on large commercial fishing boats in commercial waters.

The former senator lamented that the health of a locality’s aquamarine ecosystem relies on small-scale fishermen and the local government.

"Kapag inaalagaan ‘yan ay lalong nagiging recipient at gumaganda ang huli pero hindi kaya ng isang national agency na alagaan lahat itong municipal waters na ito (When it’s taken care of, it becomes more productive and the catch improves, but a single national agency can’t manage all these municipal waters on its own)," he said.

If he gets elected, Pangilinan vowed to continue his previous push to convert the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) into a government department rather than an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) so it can have its own budget.

The Philippines, he stressed, should also be focusing on its diverse marine resources because its territory is composed of 80 percent water and only 20 percent land.

"Tayo actually pwede maging fisheries powerhouse sa buong mundo. Ang Pilipinas ang sentro ng (We can be the world's fisheries powerhouse. The Philippines is the center of the) most diverse marine ecosystem of the planet," he said.

“Kapag ginamit natin nang maayos, mayaman ang ating aqua resources. Napakayaman. Kapag inalagaan natin, kaya natin ma-export ang mga produkto (We have rich aqua resources. If we use them well, we can export different products),” he added.

To further support small-scale fisherfolk, Pangilinan underscored the importance of providing them with cold storage and flash-freezing facilities and ensuring adequate power supply in their localities.

Being the principal author of the Sagip Saka Act, which supports local farmers and fisherfolk by allowing the government to directly purchase agricultural products without public bidding, the former senator and food security secretary is confident that he can deliver on his promises.