Leaders of fishing communities, fisherfolk organizations, and key stakeholders called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to push for the full implementation of the Philippine Fisheries Code.
In a news release on Monday, the National Anti-Poverty Commission Artisanal Fisherfolk Sectoral Council (NAPC AFSC) said the municipal fisherfolk have rejected the proposed amendments to Republic Act (RA) 10654 or the Amended Fisheries Code of the Philippines.
The groups specifically rejected a provision that allows commercial fishing in municipal waters based on depths of 20 fathoms, instead of the fishing site’s distance from the shore.
Under RA 10654, the local government units may allow small and medium commercial fishing vessels to operate in municipal waters from 10.1 to 15 kilometers based on specific conditions such as restricting commercial fishing in municipal waters with depths of less than seven fathoms, utilizing methods and gears for fishing that are determined
to be consistent with national policies, conducting prior consultations with Municipal/City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (M/CFARMC), and allowing applicant vessels which have not violated the Code or any related laws.
NAPC AFSC Vice Chairperson for the Basic Sectors Ruperto Aleroza held national and regional fora to broaden public awareness on the issue and to seek support for the call to protect the preferential right of municipal fisherfolk in municipal waters in response to the proposed code amendments.
It also organized a Policy Forum on the Mandatory Review of the Philippine Fisheries Code in Quezon City in late August 2023.
Local chief executives from some of the country’s coastal municipalities expressed their full support for the call of the AFSC to implement the Code instead of accepting the proposed amendments.
Aleroza enjoined Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. to protect municipal waters and listen to the recommendations of the fisherfolk sector.
“Hiling namin sa Kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Agrikultura na seryosong pangunahan ang pangangalaga sa ating katubigang munisipal sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatupad ng batas na nagbabawal sa lahat ng
proyekto at mga uring pangingisda na makasisira sa mga mahahalagang rekurso ng ating pangisdaan (We request the Agriculture Secretary to seriously lead the conservation of municipal waters through the
implementation of all policies prohibiting projects and fishing practices in important fisheries resources),” Aleroza said.
He noted the NAPC AFSC is looking forward to the realization of Tiu-Laurel’s statement that he will research about and address the fisherfolk’s needs.
“Narito kami ngayon at naghahain ng mga mungkahi na alam naming magsisilbing solusyon sa lumalalang kalagayan ng ating katubigan at mga artisanong mangingisda (We are presenting recommendations which we know could be the solution to the worsening conditions of waters and artisan fishermen),” he said.
Earlier, Tiu-Laurel said the Department of Agriculture is looking into the development and the management of marine and agro-industrial estates nationwide, ensuring ample food supply which is in accordance
with the Philippine Rural Development Program.
He added that the marine and agro-industrial estates would be one-stop shops housing ports, cold-storage facilities, silos and warehouses to store farm and marine products such as rice, sugar, vegetables, palm
oil and other basic commodities, and ensure their stable supply.