The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), Oceana Philippines, Pangisda Pilipinas, Pangingisda Natin Gawing Tama and other groups, protested in front of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Monday (30 December), condemning the latter for its inaction and failure to adequately represent the small fisherfolk.

The protest stemmed from a controversial case that sought the removal of the 15-kilometer delineation, which bars commercial fishing vessels from entering municipal waters.

Last Friday, (27 December) PMCJ joined a press conference, organized by Oceana Philippines, decrying the Supreme Court’s (SC) affirmation of Malabon Regional Trial Court’s (RTC)s decision which allows Mercidar Fishing Corporation, a Malabon-based fishing company, to fish within 15-kilometer municipal waters, except in shallow areas that are less than 7 fathoms deep.

The same resolution upheld the Malabon RTC in declaring provisions of the Philippine Fisheries Code otherwise known as Republic Act 8550, as amended, as unconstitutional. The resolution was issued by the Supreme Court First Division presided by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

The 10-page SC resolution stated that the RTC’s decision became final since concerned government agencies, such as BFAR, failed to file their appeal on time.

“The resolution essentially declares our municipal waters ‘free for all,’ by a mere technicality, pushing our small-scale fisherfolks to battle big corporations in catching fish,” Atty. Aaron Pedrosa, Sanlakas Secretary General said.

Pedrosa, who heads PMCJ’s Legal Team, stressed that allowing commercial vessels into the municipal waters would not only legitimize a grossly lopsided and unfair competition but would result in a grave injustice; as the SC resolution in effect annulled relevant protections afforded to fisherfolks under the Philippines’ Fisheries Code.

Jing Villamente