Agri dep鈥檛 says Filipinos continue to fish听in West Philippine Sea听with gov鈥檛 support听
INCREASED government presence at听the听West Philippine Sea听has allowed听Filipino fishermen听to continue operating听in the area, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).听听听听
The DA鈥檚 Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said in a statement on Tuesday that 108 commercial fishing vessels from Bataan and Zambales, 20 from Pangasinan, 19 from Palawan, and听two听from Occidental Mindoro have been fishing in the West Philippine Sea since January.听听听听
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said the West Philippine Sea has a significant share to the country鈥檚 food security due to its abundance of fish supply.听听听听
鈥淥ur increased presence in the area, through the BFAR鈥檚 floating assets, is the DA鈥檚 way of ensuring that our fisherfolk are able to enjoy access to our fishery and aquatic resources in the West Philippine Sea, while ensuring at the same time that these activities are within sustainable and rational means,鈥澨齅r. Dar said.听听听听
BFAR said there are听currently听five monitoring, control, and surveillance听(MCS)听vessels and one multi-mission offshore vessel deployed at the Kalayaan Island Group and one MCS vessel at the area of Bajo de Masinloc to protect and assist venturing Filipino fisherfolk.听听听听
It added that programs on fisheries development听and听regulation are being provided to provinces and coastal communities facing the West Philippine Sea aside from patrolling activities.听听听听
Recently, militant fishers鈥櫶齡roup Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said the income of Filipino fishermen operating near the West Philippine Sea dropped 70% due to Chinese presence in Scarborough Shoal.听听听听
The group disclosed that the average income of a small fisherman fell to P300 compared to P1,000 per fishing trip and asked for government intervention.听听听听听
An arbitral ruling in 2016 rejected China鈥檚 claim that it had sovereign and historic rights in the South China Sea. Amid the ruling, the Philippines filed several diplomatic protests against China as a result of their intensified presence in the highly disputed area.听鈥斕Revin听Mikhael听D.听Ochave听
