Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 24) – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday urged Congress to amend the fisheries law to further protect fisherfolk and aquatic resources.
In his second State of the Nation Address, Marcos said the amendment must “guarantee sustainable development of our fisheries sector in harmony with environmental balance.”
“Our fisheries codes must be revised to incorporate and strengthen science-based analysis, and determination of fishing areas. This approach will protect both interests of our fisherfolks and fisheries and aquatic resources,” Marcos said.
Under the Fisheries Code of the Philippines, government should conserve and protect its fisheries and aquatic resources. It must also engage in sustained management while alleviating the poverty of fisherfolk. Post-harvest technologies must also be upgraded.
The Philippine Statistics Authority previously reported that fisheries contributed 12.7% of the total value of agricultural production in the first quarter of 2023.
The World Bank earlier approved a $600-million (about ₱33.2 billion) loan to help improve market access and income for almost half a million Filipino farmers and fisherfolk.
READ: World Bank OKs $600-M loan to support PH farmers, fisherfolk
Marcos’ goal is contradictory to the state of Mindoro fisherfolk
Environmental group Protect VIP expressed disbelief that Marcos failed to present his plan for the fisherfolk in Oriental Mindoro and other areas affected by the recent oil spill.
“President Marcos wants to “incorporate and strengthen science-based analysis” in the fisheries sector, but this is a contradiction to the real state of affairs in the oil spill-affected waters of the Verde Island Passage,” Protect VIP lead convenor Edwin Gariguez said in a statement.
According to the environmental group, more than 24,000 fisherfolk were affected by the oil spill, which first hit the waters of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro in February.
“The President’s repeated assertion of a ‘whole of society’ approach in the face of challenges must also be afforded to an environmental catastrophe as terrible as this,” Gariguez said.
“The oil spill is a crisis far from done, and we continue to stand with impacted fisherfolk and communities,” he added.
RELATED: Fishing ban now lifted in all Oriental Mindoro towns – governor
