Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Department of Agriculture (DA) has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse its decision allowing commercial fishing vessels to operate in municipal waters.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. revealed this during a meeting with fisherfolk organizations on Friday.
He said the DA filed a motion for reconsideration through the Office of Solicitor General.
Laurel expressed concerns about the decision鈥檚 potential adverse effects on the livelihood of small fishers and its impact on marine ecosystems.
鈥淎t a depth of seven fathoms, or 12 meters, corals are at risk, and our scarce marine resources could face further depletion,鈥� he said.
The SC鈥檚 First Division has upheld the Malabon Regional Trial Court鈥檚 decision declaring the Fisheries Code鈥檚 preferential access provisions unconstitutional, favoring the petitioner Mercidar Fishing Corp.
Fishers group Pamalakaya said approximately 90 percent of every municipal water would 鈥渂e open for exploitation of big-fishing firms鈥� if commercial fishing vessels were permitted to operate within the 15-kilometer municipal water zone.
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鈥淭his means only a small portion of municipal waters will be left for small-scale fishers,鈥� Pamalakaya said in a recent statement.