SUCCESS. A member of the advance team of the civilian group Atin Ito Coalition hands over fuel and other supplies to Filipino fisherfolk in the Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on May 16, 2024. Some 144 Filipino fisherfolk from six mother boats and 36 small fishing boats benefitted from this effort. (Photo courtesy of Atin Ito Coalition)
MANILA – The House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources is closely coordinating with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to capacitate Filipino fisherfolk and protect their livelihood in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a statement on Wednesday, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, panel chair, said BFAR should ensure the efficient use of its funds to provide full support to small fisherfolk in the WPS, considering that the agency's budget has been consistently increasing by an average of 45 percent annually since 2022.
He said over 385,000 fisherfolk dependent on the waters of WPS for their livelihood need to be protected from China’s “acts of intimidation and provocation” in the disputed waters, particularly with Beijing’s new anti-trespassing rule that reportedly took effect on June 15.
China has empowered its own coast guard to detain for up to 60 days without trial foreign trespassers who will cross what it claims are its borders, including those overlapping in the WPS which are within Manila’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“As chair of the House aquaculture and fisheries committee, we are closely coordinating with BFAR to find ways to improve the capability of municipal fisherfolk fishing in the West Philippine Sea as well as in protecting them and our marine resources from illegal activities,” Yamsuan said.
He said BFAR has assured Filipino fisherfolk that they can continue to fish in portions of the WPS that form part of the country’s EEZ.
“BFAR itself said that our fisherfolk can continue fishing in the West Philippine Sea. But such pronouncements should be backed by action and concrete support for our fisherfolk,” he said.
BFAR reported to the House panel that there is an allocation of PHP1.8 billion in its 2024 budget for WPS-related programs, which include strengthening its Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System (IMEMS) to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF), implementing science-based policies on fisheries conservation and sustainability in the WPS, and improving the management of its data assets through an enhanced fisheries regulatory and information system.
BFAR also reported that it is planning to procure two more Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) patrol vessels and a food boat this year in line with its initiatives to support the government’s efforts to protect the country’s marine resources in the WPS.
Yamsuan, however, said the procurement of boats for municipal fisherfolk has always been delayed.
He said 37 of BFAR boats funded under the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA) were only issued their respective "Authority to Pay" on May 9, 2024, while only 15 of the 52 more boats funded under the 2023 GAA are ready for distribution next month.
“We want to find out from BFAR what needs to be done to speed up the procurement so that it can provide the support that our fisherfolk need, especially those dependent on the West Philippine Sea for their livelihood,” he said.
Yamsuan, meanwhile, said the government’s recent formal declaration before the United Nations of maritime entitlement to an extended continental shelf on parts of the WPS complement the current steps being undertaken to assert the country’s rights over the contested area and protect fisherfolk from China’s bullying activities.
He also commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for continuing to protect Filipino fisherfolk in the WPS.
“All these measures demonstrate how the Philippines has resorted to restraint in dealing with this national security concern,” he said.
“Our calibrated response will help us sustain the support we have earned from the international community as shown by the latest pronouncement of the G7 bloc condemning China’s increasing use of dangerous tactics in the WPS,” he said. (PNA)
