Marcos sees progress in fishing talks between PH, China

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday noted progress in the fishing talks between the Philippines and China despite recent reports of Filipino fishermen being blocked by Chinese vessels off Pag-asa Island.

In an ambush interview in Quezon City, Marcos was asked for update on the fishing talks between Manila and Beijing amid the concerns of local fishermen and the latest incident where a Chinese military vessel tailed the government's BRP Francisco Dagohoy.

Marcos said unlike before, the Chinese vessel just tailed the Philippine vessel.

"'Yung latest na report ay sinundan na lang, hindi na kagaya ng dati na hinaharang, so there's a little progress there," the President said.

Marcos added that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has even projected bigger haul for Filipino fishermen due to the improved situation in the area.

"That is because we are continuing to talk to the Chinese government, President Xi [Jinping], in every way," Marcos said.

He said when he met with Xi in January this year, he focused on the issue of fisheries instead of the territorial dispute involving the West Philippine Sea.

"Ang inuna ko talaga noong kami ay nagkita, unahin na lang natin 'yung ating fisheries. Huwag na natin pag-usapan 'yung teritoryo dahil hindi naman tayo makakapag-decide ngayon dito na nag-uusap tayo. Unahin natin 'yung mga fisheries, dahil sinasabi ko, wala namang kasalanan ang mga tao bakit natin paparusahan," Marcos said.

(I prioritized fisheries when we met and not the issue on the territory because we will not be able to reach a decision. I said let's prioritize fisheries because it affects innocent people.)

'Compromise'

During his trip to China in January, Marcos said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to find a compromise and find measures that will be beneficial to Filipino fishermen so that they could fish in the natural fishing grounds.

In an interview with reporters last month, Marcos said discussions should continue until an agreement would be met regarding the fishing grounds.

He earlier tasked the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Coast Guard to identify and create a map of the Philippines’ fishing ground in the West Philippine Sea.

Meanwhile, Marcos also said they have been informing local fishermen whenever fishing bans are being imposed by the government, adding that the government will also provide a source of income to the affected fisherfolks.

"We are making some progress in that regard and also the coordination pagka may fishing ban, may coordination na tayong ginagawa sa kanila, para hindi na bigla fishing ban na ngayon, makapagplano naman tayo (we are coordinating  with them so we will not just impose fishing ban)," he said.

"Pagsasabihin may fishing ban in two months time, planuhin na natin ano gagawin ng mga mangingisda so bigyan natin sila ng livelihood and other source of income," Marcos said.

(If there will be a fishing ban in two months time, let's plan what the fishermen would do, let's give them livelihood and source of income.) — KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News