By By Juliane Judilla
In response to a recent Supreme Court ruling that permits commercial fishing vessels to operate within municipal waters, various municipal fisherfolk organizations gathered in a ‘National Assembly of Municipal Fisherfolk’ at Quezon City, on Tuesday, February 4, expressing the sector’s “united opposition” to the ruling.
Militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) emphasized the significance of this event, calling it a rare opportunity for various groups of small fisherfolk to unite and protect their traditional fishing grounds.
“Sa pambihirang pagkakataon, magsasama-sama ang iba’t-ibang grupo ng maliliit na mangingisda sa nagkakaisang panawagan na protektahan ang 15-kilometrong munisipal na pangisdaan mula sa mga malalaking negosyante. Makabuluhan ang pagtitipon na ito dahil pag-iisahin ng mga maliliit na mangingisda ang iba’t-ibang karanasan sa panghihimasok ng mga commercial fishing sa aming pook-pangisdaan,” said PAMALAKAYA Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo.
The purpose of the National Assembly is to call on the Supreme Court to reverse its decision and to bring attention to the difficulties faced by small fisherfolk under current government policies.
“The assembly not only urges the Court to reconsider its ruling but also raises awareness of the struggles faced by small fishers due to government policies that favor commercial fishing,” Arambulo added.
The event was attended by numerous fisherfolk organizations, including the Katipunan ng mga Kilusan ng mga Artisanong Mangingisda sa Pilipinas (KKAMPI), Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan (PKSK), Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Mangingisda (PANGISDA), Samahan ng mga Maliliit na Mangingisda Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (SAMAMA-AMA), Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka at Mangingisda (PAMANGKA-PAKISAMA), Philippine Alliance of Tuna Handliners for Sustainability (PATHS), Tanon Strait Fisherfolks Alliance, and Visayan Sea Fisherfolk Alliance.
In addition, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were also present, including NGOs for Fisheries Reform (NFR), Institute of Social Order (ISO), Tambuyog Development Center (TDC), BALAOD Mindanaw, ICSI, PRRM, Zoological Society of London, and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ).
The assembly served as a platform to coordinate the municipal fishing sector’s responses to current challenges, amplify their voices, and foster unity to protect their rights over municipal waters.
The landmark SC ruling arose from a petition by Mercidar Fishing Corporation, a large commercial fishing vessel operator, before the Regional Trial Court of Malabon, challenging the preferential rights of small fisherfolk in the municipal waters. The ruling has sparked widespread concern among local fisherfolk who fear that commercial fishing will further threaten their livelihoods.
In a petition filed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the government agencies claimed that the ruling invalidates provisions of the Fisheries Code and DA Admin Order No. 1 s. 2015, which limit commercial fishing operations within municipal waters to protect subsistence fishing. DA and BFAR contend that the Malabon RTC misinterpreted the law by suggesting that large commercial vessels could operate freely within municipal waters, but it specifically restricts commercial vessels and allows exceptions only for small and medium-sized vessels within a designated area, emphasizing protection for local fisherfolk.
Under the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, the 15-kilometer municipal waters are designated as protected areas to safeguard marine habitats and ecosystems, and to support marginalized communities. This protection has been vital for small-scale fisherfolk, who are often members of the poorest sectors of the country.
Based on the Provincial Fisheries Profile 2023, Iloilo has a total of 60,470 fisherfolk across 19 coastal municipalities, boasting a coastline of 613.32 kilometers, rich in various fish species and beautiful coral reefs./PT
