By Francis Allan L. Angelo
A coalition of fisherfolk, environmental groups, and civil society leaders submitted a petition Tuesday urging the Supreme Court to reverse its ruling allowing commercial fishing vessels to operate within the 15-kilometer municipal waters, a decision critics say threatens livelihoods and food security.
The petition, signed by over 1,300 individuals, was formally submitted by the Fisherfolk and Environment Advocates Network (FIFTEEN) to the Iloilo Provincial Government, in support of the province’s earlier move to challenge the high court’s decision.
The ruling in question upheld a lower court decision favoring Mercidar Fishing Corporation’s petition to invalidate key provisions of Republic Act No. 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
In August 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ (DA-BFAR) appeal and declared certain enforcement powers over municipal waters as unconstitutional, stripping local governments and enforcement agencies of regulatory control in favor of large-scale commercial operators.
FIFTEEN warned that the ruling undermines the legal framework protecting the rights of over 2 million small-scale fishers across the country.
“Kami ay naniniwala na ang ‘landmark decision’ ng Korte Suprema ay makaisang-panig at lubhang nakakasira sa kabuhayan ng mangingisdang nakaasa sa municipal waters,” the petition reads.
The signatories argue that allowing commercial fishing in shallow waters—some as shallow as 7 fathoms—could decimate fish stocks, disrupt marine biodiversity, and endanger national food security.
Small-scale fishers typically use non-motorized or small motorized boats under 3 gross tons and rely on gear like gillnets, handlines, and fish traps.
In contrast, the petition cited data showing that commercial fishing vessels can catch over 3,000 kilograms of fish per hour—far surpassing the half-kilo per hour catch of artisanal fishers.
“Lubhang napakaatrasado ang mga kagamitan ng mga maliliit na mangingisda at wala itong kapasidad na makipagkumpetensya sa commercial fishing,” the petition stated.
The group also raised alarms over the potential weakening of local governance.
The decision, they say, removes the authority of municipal governments, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the PNP-Maritime to enforce regulations in their own waters.
This, they argue, opens the floodgates for widespread exploitation of municipal fishing zones.
“Ito ay magiging basehan para baguhin ang kakarampot na batas na nagbibigay proteksyon sa kabuhayan ng maliliit na mangingisda,” the petition read.
They further cited ecological risks and a likely decline in national fish production, pointing to data from marine scientist Dr. Renato Cabral, who noted that municipal fisheries contribute around 40% of the country’s total fish output.
The organizations behind the petition include Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Panay, Bayan Muna Partylist, PAMALAKAYA Panay, Kabataan Partylist, Youth Action for Environmental Protection (YouProtec), and Oikos Ecological Movement (OIKOS) Panay.
Nathaniel Baga-ut, coordinator of YouProtec, said the petition represents “broad, unified resistance from coastal communities, consumers, church groups, and the academic sector.”
The petition urges the Supreme Court to revisit its decision and reinstate protections that preserve equitable access to marine resources, uphold local governance authority, and safeguard environmental sustainability.
