• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates have expressed concerns on the decision of the Supreme Court to allow commercial fishing vessels to operate within the 15-kilometer municipal territorial waters.
They said it would not only affect the livelihood of thousands of fisherfolk, but also jeopardize marine biodiversity.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, former Senate President Tito Sotto and former Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos pushed for amendments in the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Code, through legislation, which aims to clearly specify the distance of the local government unit (LGU) territorial waters.
Tolentino said that a motion of reconsideration has already been filed before the Supreme Court.
He added that allowing commercial vessels to enter municipal waters is a direct competition to blue crab producers, not only in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, but also in other fishing communities all over the country.
Villar stressed the need of having collaboration between LGUs and non- government organizations as well as the possible passage of legislation that creates specific conservation areas and sanctuaries for blue crabs.
In the meantime, she said to protect the livelihood of crab producers and small fisherfolks, “we have to strengthen them through micro-financing and additional training so that they can support themselves and sustain their livelihood.”
In a statement, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing commercial fishing vessels within the 15-kilometer municipal waters is a “serious concern for our local government, fisherfolk, and coastal communities.”.
This decision threatens livelihoods, marine biodiversity, and decades of efforts in sustainable fisheries management, he added.
Lacson called on all stakeholders, including government agencies, academe, civil society and the public, to stand with the provincial government in safeguarding the welfare of artisanal fishers and ensuring the sustainability of coastal and marine ecosystems.
The governor requested the Provincial Board to pass a resolution expressing concern over such decision of the Supreme Court.
He said the provincial government is committed to protect its 45,000 municipal fisherfolk in 472 associations in 25 coastal towns and 187 barangays in Negros Occidental.
In a press briefing with six other administration senatorial candidates in Talisay City, former Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and former Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that to protect small fishermen, the delineation of territorial waters of LGUs must be clearly defined.
Even if there is a Supreme Court ruling, it cannot stop Congress and Senate from enacting laws as such, Abalos said. | GB
