ILOILO – A coalition of fisherfolk and environmental advocates has called on the Supreme Court to review and reverse its ruling allowing commercial fishing vessels to operate within the 15-kilometer municipal waters.
On the morning of March 26, the Fisherfolk and Environment Advocates Network (FIFTEEN), also known as “ATON ANG KINSE”, submitted a copy of its petition bearing 1,300 signatures to the Iloilo provincial government through Provincial Administrator Raul Banias and Provincial Legal Officer Dennis Ventilacion.
The group’s appeal specifically targets the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the Malabon Regional Trial Court’s decision favoring Mercidar Fishing Corporation (MFC), which permits the firm’s commercial fishing vessels to operate within municipal fishing zones.
FIFTEEN is composed of organizations including Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Panay, Bayan Muna party-list, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) Panay, Kabataan party-list, Youth Action for Environmental Protection (YouProtec), and Oikos Ecological Movement (OIKOS) Panay.
Nathaniel Baga-ut, coordinator of YouProtec, stressed the decision severely disadvantages small-scale fisherfolk, citing the stark disparity in catch rates between artisanal and commercial fishing vessels.
“While small fishers can only harvest around half a kilo of fish per hour, large commercial vessels can extract as much as 3,055 kilos per hour. That level of competition is impossible for small fishers to keep up with,” Baga-ut said in an interview with Panay News.
Baga-ut also warned of environmental consequences, such as potential water pollution and damage to marine habitats, citing research from the University of the Philippines.
Kabataan-Panay’s Crimson Labinghisa, who joined the petition submission, echoed these concerns, saying the ruling also burdens consumers.
“This is a business-driven move. The higher the control of commercial fishing, the higher the prices of fish become — a burden on ordinary consumers who rely on fish as a staple food,” Labinghisa said.
She also raised concerns about the destruction of coral reefs, which serve as spawning grounds for fish, noting that such damage could further threaten fish supply and marine biodiversity.
Bayan Muna’s Irma Espinosa described the ruling as a violation of fisherfolk’s rights and livelihoods.
“The entry of large fishing vessels threatens their daily income. We stand with them in calling for the Supreme Court to reconsider and issue a favorable ruling for our small fisherfolk,” she said.
The group’s petition includes several key points:
* favoring commercial interests at the expense of the small-scale fisherfolk who rely solely on municipal waters for their livelihood
* Artisanal fishers, who operate small, paddle- or motor-powered boats using basic fishing gear, have significantly lower catch capacities and cannot compete with industrial fishing operations.
* The SC ruling is undermining the authority of local governments to regulate and protect municipal waters, stripping LGUs, the PNP-Maritime Group, and the Philippine Coast Guard of their enforcement powers under the Fisheries Code (Republic Act 8550).
* The decision threatens national food security and marine resources by exacerbating overfishing, especially in areas critical to fishery production. According to a 2023 study by Cabral, municipal fisheries contribute up to 40% of the country’s total fishery output.
“In this context, we — fisherfolk and our communities, along with concerned sectors from consumers, academe, civil society, and the church — stand united in opposing this decision and urge the Supreme Court to reverse its ruling,” the petition stated./PN