FOUR days before the third and last PiliPinas Presidential Debate, different fisherfolk leaders in the country gathered in front of the University of Pangasinan-PHINMA (UPang) to remind the five presidential candidates of the issues of the fishery industry.

Fisherfolk talk to the media. (Punchphoto by Willie Lomibao)

The fisherfolk on Wednesday, April 20, bared their 10-point Blue Agenda for Sustainable Fisheries, as they cited how El Niño, climate change, and many forms of illegal and unregulated fishing have greatly affected the sector, resulting in low catch, job insecurity and massive loss of income.

“We challenge the Presidential contenders to seriously consider our blue agenda for sustainable fisheries. We believe this is the right thing to do and is pro-poor and pro-environment,” said Iza Gonzales of the Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK).

Gonzales said PKKK’s 10-point agenda is to put forward the welfare of the fisherfolk and of the seas noting the decreasing yields from fishing, particularly of the small-scale fishemen.

She said the illegal acts of fishing of commercial operators such as the use of big fish-finders and dynamites have resulted in the destruction of the fishing ground.

According to Greenpeace, “out of the country’s 13 major fishing grounds surveyed by the Bureau of Fisheries, ten are already overfished.”

The 10-point agenda incudes 1) The implementation of the Fisherfolk Settlement Program, 2) Completion of the establishment of Community Fish Landing Centers with appropriate support services as post-harvest and training facilities, 3) Completion of the delineation of municipal waters, and 4) The establishment of a distinct department- the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Further, Gonzales said the government should also focus on providing shelters to fishermen.

Dennis Calvan of the NGOs for Fisheries Reform of the Agenda, said that despite the significant contribution of fisheries to the national economy, “we have yet to hear programs that support small-scale fisheries sector.”

Sonny Batungbacal of the Greenpeace Southeast Asia said there is a need to put up a network of large marine reserves to allow oceans to fully recover from human exploitation.

This morning, April 24, the day of the presidential debate, the fisherfolk will hold a fluvial procession to further put across their agenda to the presidential bets. (Johanne R. Macob)

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