SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform, urged stronger safeguards for municipal fisherfolk as the Senate opened a hearing on key fisheries measures.
Pangilinan cited a report he said reached his office about an incident in April 2025 in Bohol, where some fishermen from Bien Unido died after their boat was hit by a speed boat of the Bantay-Dagat of Pitogo, also in Bohol. He said the complaint came from Sam Baculao, whom he identified as being from the area.
Recalling what he said was reported to him, Pangilinan said the fishermen were allegedly “hinuhuli, kinukulong, pinagmumulta, at pinagpipiyansa” at P5,000 each, and were also allegedly made to pay “fifteen thousand pesos” to redeem their boats. “Bawal daw silang maghanapbuhay doon,” he added.
He contrasted that with what he described as the same group’s complaint that they were seeing large commercial fishing vessels operating nearby, “hindi man lang pinakiki-alaman ng BFAR.”
Pangilinan then asked: “Ang tanong, sino dapat ang pinoprotektahan ng batas?”
Pangilinan also read a message he attributed to the affected families after they were reportedly given a sow by the barangay as an alternative source of income.
“Paano naman po kami mabubuhay sa pang-araw-araw hangga’t mabenta ang baboy? Wala po kaming alam gawin na hanapbuhay kundi mangisda. Sana po ay mabibigyan po kaming linaw kung ano po talaga ang guidelines ng BFAR tungkol sa pangingisda,” the letter said.
He said the hearing seeks to surface the stories of small fisherfolk and answer why, despite the country’s vast marine resources, many remain poor and “halos wala silang maiuwi sa pamilya” after days at sea.
Pangilinan cited data he said showed 27.4% of nearly 2.3 million fisherfolk were struggling in 2023, among the highest poverty incidence levels, even as fisheries still contribute about 1.3% to 1.5% to GDP.
He also said more than half of the country’s protein source comes from fishing and fisherfolk, yet many in the sector cannot properly feed their own families.
He said the committee would prioritize a Senate resolution he filed, along with a proposal by Senator Loren Legarda, to look into the conditions of small fisherfolk who usually fish within the 15-kilometer municipal waters.
He said the hearing would also tackle proposals by Senators Joel Villanueva and Raffy Tulfo seeking SSS, PhilHealth, fuel subsidy and calamity relief for fisherfolk; a proposal by Senator Imee Marcos seeking a new definition of municipal waters and allowing foreign fishing companies in Philippine seas; proposals by Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada on housing for fisherfolk and insurance, PhilHealth, hazard and subsistence allowance, and legal aid for Bantay-Dagat volunteers; and a proposal by Senator Alan Cayetano seeking a full national government department focused on fisherfolk concerns.
Calling the seas “Paminggalan at kabang-bayan nating Pilipino ang ating karagatan,” Pangilinan said the hearing aims to push urgent and long-term solutions for small fishers who face storms, rising costs and, at times, “nakikipagpatintero pa sa mga Chinese Coast Guard at sariling commercial fishing vessels.”
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