Fishers group protests vs SC ruling on commercial fishing

Members of the fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA protested at the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday, condemning the Supreme Court's (SC's) decision to allow commercial fishing within 15 kilometers of municipal waters.

The group accused the DA of failing to uphold the preferential rights of small-scale fisherfolk to traditional fishing grounds.

“Tahimik ang DA sa gitna ng malakas na ingay ng mga maliliit na mangingisda laban sa panghihimasok ng mga malalaking negosyo sa aming pangisdaan,” PAMALAKAYA Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said in a statement.

(The DA remains silent while small fisherfolk raise their voices against the encroachment of big businesses into our fishing areas.)

“May pananagutan ang naturang ahensya kung tuluyang maipapatupad ang kautusan ng korte dahil mismong ang kalihim nito na si Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. ang nagsusulong ng pagbabago ng hangganan na pwedeng pasukin ng mga commercial fishing vessels sa municipal waters,” Arambulo added. 

(The agency is accountable if the court's order is implemented, especially since Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. is pushing for changes to municipal water boundaries that would permit commercial fishing vessels to operate there.)

GMA News Online sought comment from the DA, but the department had yet to respond as of posting time.

The SC First Division recently upheld a regional trial court (RTC) ruling that declared certain provisions of the Fisheries Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) unconstitutional. 

The RTC had permanently barred authorities from enforcing the 15-kilometer municipal waters limit.

In response, last Thursday, multiple parties filed a petition seeking to intervene in the case between the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Mercidar Fishing Corporation, the sole respondent.

The petitioners include the Municipality of Santa Fe, represented by Mayor Ithamar Espinosa; Oceana Philippines International, represented by its Vice President Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos; and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice.

In their 28-page filing, the petitioners requested that the SC remand the case to the RTC for trial and direct the respondent to implead all indispensable parties. They also sought permission to formally intervene in the proceedings. — DVM, GMA Integrated News