SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan pushed for stronger protection of small fisherfolk within the 15-kilometer municipal water zone amid declining catch and income among coastal communities following the Supreme Court’s August 2024 resolution affecting exclusive fishing rights.
In a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, Pangilinan cited Philippine Statistics Authority figures indicating a steady drop in marine municipal fisheries output from 879,961.58 metric tons in 2023 to 802,860.03 metric tons in 2024 and 749,366.40 metric tons in 2025.
In comparison, commercial fisheries production increased from 822,427.47 metric tons in 2023 to 868,324.25 metric tons in 2024 before slightly declining to 849,498.89 metric tons in 2025.
“So, malaki ang increase ng commercial fishing habang bagsak naman ang production ng inland municipal and marine municipal fisheries. So, doon pa lang makikita bakit gumanda yung huli ng commercial at bumagsak ang huli ng inland at small fishers,” he said.
Pangilinan told local chief executives that information from local government units is important in assessing the impact of the ruling on small fishers.
“Yung pagiging hindi makatarungan ay mapapatunayan dahil nga sa pagbagsak ng kita ng ating mga maliliit na mangingisda kaya yung impormasyon po na galing sa LGU—dahil kayo po ang frontliner sa ating serbisyo publiko—mahalaga po iyon,” he said.
The Supreme Court ruling stemmed from a case originally filed before the Regional Trial Court of Malabon, which declared unconstitutional provisions of the Fisheries Code granting exclusive fishing rights to municipal and small-scale fisherfolk within municipal waters.
The Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, through the Office of the Solicitor General, did not file appeals within the prescribed period.
A motion for reconsideration remains pending before the High Court.
Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro Mayor Walter Marquez said the decision affected the livelihood of small fishers in his municipality, including those near the Apo Reef Natural Park.
“So, ang decision pong ito—at ang pagpayag na makapasok ang mga commercial fishers—ay malaki pong epekto sa kabuhayan ng mga maliliit na mangingisda sa ating bayan,” he said.
Several organizations, including Rare Philippines, OCEANA, SINAG, and Samahang Magbabangus ng Pangasinan, also submitted position papers during the hearing.
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