Amid recent Cabinet movements, Oceana has underscored the urgency of appointing resolute leaders at the DA and BFAR to implement Republic Act 10654, which prohibits commercial fishing within municipal waters reserved for small-scale fishers. The call comes as commercial fishing groups continue to push for the revocation of this critical protective measure.
The group raised concern following a Supreme Court First Division resolution upholding a Malabon Regional Trial Court decision favoring Mercidar Fishing Corp. The ruling declared restrictions on commercial fishing in municipal waters unconstitutional—though it is not yet final or executory, Oceana acting vice president Atty. Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio said in a statement.
“The government is still legally obligated to enforce the law. We need DA-BFAR officials who will stand firm, especially in deploying vessel monitoring measures [VMM],” Osorio said.
VMM is a critical technology that tracks the movement of commercial vessels and helps prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Oceana advocates pairing VMM with electronic catch documentation to ensure sustainable fisheries management.
Romblon Mayor Atty. Gerard Montojo echoed Oceana’s concerns. He urged the national government to support local government units (LGUs) by granting access to VMM data and the list of registered vessels and known violators.
“As LGUs, we are mandated to manage and protect our municipal waters and marine protected areas. But we can only be effective if we are armed with the right information,” Montojo explained.
In a letter to BFAR, Montojo requested access to enforcement tools to monitor and act against commercial fishing intrusions. He stressed that VMM would allow local officials to build strong legal cases and fulfill their mandate.
Oceana reiterated its commitment to collaborate with government agencies, fisherfolk, and stakeholders in safeguarding the Philippines’ marine biodiversity. “Together, we can protect our seas and secure a sustainable future,” Osorio said. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
