Ang Pahayagan

MANILA — Various fisherfolk groups led by Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) and Katipunan ng mga Kilusan ng mga Artisanong Mangingisda sa Pilipinas (KAMPPi) staged a protest at the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday, May 28, to oppose the reported increase in commercial fishing operations within the country’s 15-kilometer municipal waters.

The groups criticized Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. over the alleged failure of the DA to challenge the court ruling that allowed commercial fishing vessels to operate in municipal waters.

According to PAMALAKAYA, monitoring data from the Karagatan Patrol showed that detections of commercial fishing vessels within municipal waters reached a five-year high in March 2026, with 3,853 detections recorded in a single month.

PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson Fernando Hicap said the increase in commercial fishing activities has severely affected the livelihood of small-scale fisherfolk.

“Higit na lumaganap ang operasyon ng mga commercial fishing sa municipal waters dalawang taon matapos ang desisyon ng Korte kaugnay sa pangangasiwa rito. Nagdulot ito ng malubhang epekto sa kabuhayan ng maliliit na mangingisda dahil mabilis na sinasaid ng mga malalaking bangkang pangisda ang isda at iba pang rekurso sa pangisdaan,” Hicap said in a statement.

He added that there were reports of commercial fishing vessels operating as close as five to seven kilometers from the shoreline.

“Sa kabila nito ay walang konkretong aksyon ang DA at BFAR para protektahan ang kabuhayan ng mga mangingisda mula sa malalaking negosyo. Tila pinabayaan na ng mga naturang kagawaran na dambungin ng mga kumersyal na pangisda ang tradisyunal na pook-pangisdaan ng maliliit na mangingisda,” he added.

The protesting groups called on the DA and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to strengthen the protection of municipal waters and safeguard the livelihood of small fisherfolk. (Ang Pahayagan Reportorial Team)