DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro urged people to protect the country’s fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea during the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Ruling on July 10.
MASINLOC, Zambales – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has urged people to protect the country’s fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea.
Teodoro aired the appeal in a visit here on July 10 for the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Ruling with the theme "Bayanihan sa Karagatan: Liwanag ng Kalayaan, Tanglaw, ng Karagatan."
“That is why we should preserve our own (fishing grounds) and we should not allow ourselves to be controlled by foreign intruders with other motives. Otherwise, those wouldn’t be enough for our future generations," Teodoro said.
Teodoro said these fishing grounds would not flourish until all Filipinos, acting as one, accept the efforts of the government to maintain them in all contested areas in the West Philippine Sea as stated in the 2016 Arbitral Ruling.
Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said that the West Philippine Sea and its resources belong to Filipino people and they should defend these against foreign intruders and aggressors. Ebdane said the province fully supports efforts to protect the West Philippine Sea and allow fishermen to fish in the area.
The anniversary is not only a celebration but also a recognition of the courage and heroism of the Filipino fishermen and the government’s continuing pursuit for peace in the West Philippine Sea, he added.
Teodoro was welcomed by Ebdane, Zambales Rep. Doris Maniquiz, soldiers, and fishermen during the occasion. The Defense chief, with Ebdane and Maniquiz, distributed batteries, fishing equipment, and food packs to 3,500 fishermen. A free concert capped the event.