By JEN BAYLON
The Negros Occidental provincial government called for a national intervention following a Supreme Court (SC) ruling that allows commercial fishing vessels access to municipal waters.
“We would like to make sure that our position will also be heard by the SC,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said in an interview yesterday.
“But I think it is really up to the national government to represent the fisherfolk against commercial fishing … We will just make it known that we are behind these small fisherfolks, and we will see what we can do more to get back that old law to respect the 15-kilometer radius,” Lacson added.
The governor said the provincial government will likely not file a petition but instead appeal to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Justice to represent the small fisherfolk.
The SC decision has sparked concerns over the livelihoods of small-scale fishers and the health of marine ecosystems.
Earlier, Lacson was optimistic that the recent SC decision would be overturned.
“This will put our fisherfolk at a disadvantage. It will only benefit the big players, who are the commercial fishers,” he said.
The ruling will threaten the livelihood of more than 45,000 marginalized fishing communities in 25 coastal towns of Negros Occidental.
He said allowing commercial fishing vessels within municipal waters will disrupt marine biodiversity and undermine decades-long efforts to maintain responsible fisheries management.
The SC First Division, in a resolution dated August 19, 2024, upheld a Malabon Regional Trial Court decision declaring the Fisheries Code’s preferential access provisions unconstitutional.
The trial court had rendered the ruling in the suit filed by Mercidar Fishing Corp., a commercial fishing firm in Navotas City, which filed a petition for declaratory relief on October 25, 2023.
Lacson noted that the reply came after the 15-day period.
Hence, the case was lost because of technical issues.
“It wasn’t based on merits, but based on technicality, which I think could be overturned by the SC,” he added.
Last week, the provincial government, in an official statement, reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the continued preferential access of small-scale fishers to these waters, recognizing their vital role in marine conservation and the local economy.
“We call on all stakeholders — government agencies, academe, civil society, and the public — to stand with us in safeguarding the welfare of our artisanal fishers and ensuring the sustainability of our coastal and marine ecosystems,” the statement said.
The local government stated that the ruling “presents a serious challenge for local government units, fisherfolk and coastal communities.”
It further underscored that safeguarding these waters ensures food security, biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries management.
“We must uphold their preferential rights to municipal waters, allowing them to sustain their livelihoods while contributing to the nation’s food security,” the statement said./JB, WDJ