![]Filipino fisherfolk ply their trade in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal earlier this month, although some have complained of being harassed by Chinese Coast Guard ships, making them feel like thieves in their own backyard. STORY: Fisherfolk wary of move to declare parts of West PH Sea as protected areas](/files/2022/10/368903.jpeg)
Filipino fisherfolk ply their trade in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal earlier this month, although some have complained of being harassed by Chinese Coast Guard ships, making them feel like thieves in their own backyard. (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Philippines 鈥� Militant fisherfolk group (Pamalakaya) on Monday expressed worry over a House bill seeking to declare portions of the West Philippine Sea as marine protected areas, saying it would deprive Filipinos of their rights to fish within municipal waters.
In a statement, Pamalakaya said House Bill No. 6373 filed by Rep. Edward Hagedorn last week would have a direct impact on the livelihood of municipal fisherfolk instead of preventing Chinese and other foreign poachers from entering the country鈥檚 territorial waters.
Hagedorn wants the Kalayaan Island Group and Scarborough (Panatag or Bajo de Masinloc) Shoal, and the three nautical miles around them declared as a protected area.
According to the lawmaker, the government should prioritize the protection of natural resources in the West Philippine Sea, citing the 鈥渟ignificant environmental degradation鈥� in the disputed waters.
鈥淲e must learn to cooperate as one region in the protection of our natural resources while we settle the territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea,鈥� Hagedorn said in a statement on Nov. 25.
But Fernando Hicap, national chair of Pamalakaya, said three nautical miles were equivalent to almost 6 kilometers of the 15-km municipal fishing grounds.
鈥淲hile we acknowledge the objective of the bill to protect the major features in the West Philippine Sea against destructive fishing practices, we fear that this might sweepingly cover small fishers, as the proposed marine protected areas will be within the municipal waters,鈥� Hicap said.
According to the group, the proposed law could restrict Filipinos from their traditional fishing grounds, 鈥渨hile actually failing to prevent China and other foreign fleets from conducting large-scale fishing, among other destructive activities beyond the municipal waters.鈥�
Hicap said local conservation measures would be 鈥渦nnecessary鈥� if only the Marcos administration effectively upholds the arbitral ruling recognizing the Philippines鈥� exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.
鈥淭here would be no need to explore risky alternative measures because there鈥檚 already the international tribunal, which is actually our strongest legal claim that we could enforce against China鈥檚 continued usurpation of our territorial waters,鈥� Hicap said.
He said the arbitral ruling would need 鈥渄ecisive action鈥� and 鈥渟incerity to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity鈥� from the Marcos government.
Pamalakaya said it would study the House bill and consult fisherfolk in Southern Tagalog and Zambales province, as well as with marine scientists to determine the potential impacts of the measure.