Fisherfolk hit the sea to protest fisheries law

CEBU, Philippines - At least 100 fisherfolk yesterday renewed their call against alleged destructive projects facilitated by the current Fisheries Code of the Philippines by swimming in the waters of Barangay Tanke in Talisay City.

They called on lawmakers to intervene on issues that reportedly do not only dislocate them, but also threaten food security.

Fernando Hicap, national chairperson of the widest organization of grassroots fisherfolk, said the government has failed to protect the country’s marine resources since it implemented the Fisheries Code in 1998.

“For us fisherfolk, it’s been 12 years of failure for the policy to protect our marine resources, and address the worsening poverty situation among poor and marginal fisher folks,” he said.

Hicap said the Fisheries Code is only successful in facilitating destructive oil explorations, construction of coal-fired power plants in coastal zones, reclamation projects in Cebu and Bohol, destruction of mangrove areas to build fish ponds, privatization of fishing grounds and coastal areas for recreation and unsustainable eco-tourism practices including intrusion of commercial and destructive fishing vessels in municipal waters.

Meanwhile, Victor Lapaz, chairperson of Panaghugpong sa mga Gagmay’ng Mananagat sa Sugbo (PAMANA-SUGBO), the province-wide federation of fisherfolk, said “the current status of Cebu as the tourism hub of the south was at the expense of poor fisherfolk who were violently dislocated from their homes and fishing grounds to gave way to resorts and other profit-driven institutions.”

“We have Borbon issue, the Lapu-Lapu and Cordova reclamation projects, including construction of coal-fired power plants, which showcases corruption or encouraged by the policy, by allowing the provincial government of Cebu to anomalously purchase a property submerged in water so they can dump cancer-causing coal ashes,” Lapaz said.

Paula Destor, leader of BOKKANA-Bohol, who has been at the forefront in the fight against the 35,000 hectares Seaweed project and the reclamation of Panglao Island, also said the policy did not only fall, but also violated all its own provisions.

“The government has been telling us that we need to protect the environment, but they themselves are the ones doing large-scale destruction. For example, the government is closing its eyes to the scientifically proven negative impacts of off-shore mining by allowing Nor-Asian to drill the waters of Borbon,” she said.

“Climate change that is severely affecting us now is induced by carbon intensive governmental policies, such as the Fisheries Code and the government should be made accountable and pay for the losses of the community,” she added.

Participants in yesterday’s activity claimed the anti-fisherfolk development thrust of various governing agencies negates community conservation efforts and compromising their rights and the nation’s patrimony.

Hicap added that they will do everything to rescind the law responsible for the problems being experienced by the fisherfolk by pushing for the Genuine Fisheries Law. They are reportedly set to file cases before the Ombudsman on the controversial the Balili land deal and off-shore mining. — Niña G. Sumacot/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)