Metro Manila, Philippines – Fisherfolk who suffer damage to their boats, engines, fishing gear, or catch from foreign harassment in Philippine waters may stand to receive special insurance protection under a bill filed at the House of Representatives.
House Bill 11752, filed by Pinoy Workers Rep. Karl Legazpi on Wednesday, Oct. 21, seeks to direct the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to provide coverage for qualified fisherfolk and fishing vessels affected by incidents involving foreign vessels in maritime zones.
The bill provides that fishing vessel owners, operators, crew members, or individual fisherfolk may report interference by foreign maritime vessels. However, the mere presence of a foreign vessel does not qualify as a loss or damage claim.
The measure identifies acts of foreign maritime interference such as “ramming or collision; water cannoning; blocking or other dangerous maneuvers that directly result in physical damage; seizure, confiscation, destruction, or loss of fishing gear, equipment, or catch; forced grounding or other acts resulting in damage to a fishing vessel; and acts directly causing bodily injury, disability, or death.”
To qualify, fisherfolk must be registered under the Municipal Fisherfolk Registration System or another applicable national or local registration system and must be lawfully engaged in fishing or fishing-related activities.
The Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will assist in verifying incidents, while the PCIC will process claims.
“If they suffer actual damage while lawfully earning a living in Philippine waters, there should be a clear mechanism to help them recover and return to sea,” Legazpi said in a statement.
He added that defending the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea must also mean protecting the fisherfolk who depend on its waters for their livelihood.
NewsWatch Plus intern Justin Allanigue contributed to this report.
