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Protest at the Department of Agriculture
The biggest organizations of small-scale fishers in the Philippines gathered at the University of the Philippines on February 4 to show their resolve to defend the 15-kilometer municipal waters from the encroachment of commercial fishing vessels.
This action arose from a court ruling allowing commercial fishers into the 15-kilometer municipal waters. By Philippine law, municipal fisherfolk whose fishing vessel is three gross tons or less, are given the preferential right of access over the 15-kilometer municipal waters in all coastal cities and municipalities in the country.
The Court ruling stemmed from a petition of Mercidar Fishing Corporation (MFC), an operator of large commercial fishing vessel, before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Malabon, seeking to declare certain provisions of the Fisheries Code as unconstitutional. With the ruling, fishing of commercial vessels within the municipal waters is allowed. This was affirmed by a Supreme Court division, after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources under the Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA) was unable to respond, within the bounds set by the lower court, to the ruling.
This will deprive the small fisherfolks, one of the poorest sectors in the Philippines, preferential access to municipal waters.
“The gathering of the major small scale fishing organizations is historical,” Tambuyog Executive Director Dinna Umengan said. “After 35 years, they will gather again, as a united group to fight for their rights and livelihood.
The National Assembly of Municipal Fisherfolk is designed to coordinate responses of the municipal fisherfolk sector and strengthen their unity to pursue a common goal at a nationwide level.
The February 4 meeting was capped with a protest march to the Department of Agriculture.
The group reiterated their plans to stage bigger mobilizations in the coming weeks.
PARTICIPATING MUNICIPAL FISHERS’ ORGANIZATIONS:
National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Artisanal Fisherfolk Sectoral Council (AFSC)
PAMALAKAYA-PILIPINAS (Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakay ng Pilipinas-National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organizations in the Philippines)
KKAMPi (Katipunan ng mga Kilusan ng mga Artisanong Mangingisda sa Pilipinas)* PKSK- Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan (National Union of Rural Based Organization)
* PANGISDA -Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Mangingisda
* SAMAMA-AMA Samahan ng mga Maliliit na Mangingisda Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura
* PAMANGKA-PAKISAMA Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka at Mangingsda (National Movement of Organized Farmers and Fishers)
* PATHS Philippine Alliance of Tuna Handliners for Sustainability – PATHS
* Tanon Strait Fisherfolks Alliance
* Visayan Sea Fisherfolks AlliancePARTICIPATING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS:
University of the Philippines College of Social Work and Community Development (UP-CSWCD)
NGOs for Fisheries Reform (NFR)
* BALAOD Mindanaw
* Center for Empowerment and Resource Development (CERD)
* John J Carrol Institute on Church and Social Issues (ICSI)
* Institute of Social Order (ISO)
* Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM)
* Sentro para sa Ikauunlad ng Katutubong Agham at Teknolohiya (SIKAT)
* Tambuyog Development Center (TDC)Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ)
Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc
RARE Philippines
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