HOUSE Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Representative Leila M. de Lima has filed a measure seeking to establish the exclusive right of small-scale fisherfolk within the 15-kilometer municipal waters and prohibit commercial fishing within the same zone of municipal waters.
Through her proposed House Bill No. 5856 or the “Kinse Kilometro Para sa Mangingisdang Pilipino Act”, De Lima underscored the need to protect the livelihood of small-scale fisherfolk by promoting sustainable fishing practices, and protecting our waters from destructive and environmentally harmful commercial fishing operations.
“Nakapanlulumo na sa kabila ng malaking ambag sa food security, nananatiling pinakamahirap na sektor sa bansa sa loob ng ilang dekada ang maliliit na mangingisda; kapos na nga ang kita, ipinagkakait pa sa kanila ang proteksyon sa kanilang kabuhayan,” De Lima, a staunch human rights and social justice advocate.
“Malinaw na ang pagbubukas ng municipal waters para sa mga commercial fishing vessels ay pagkakait ng hustisya sa maliliit nating mangingisda. Hindi ito makatwiran, hindi ito makatarungan. Kabaligtaran ito sa diwang isinusulong ng ating Saligang Batas.”
“Parang ipinagkanulo natin ang kanilang buhay at kabuhayan sa malalaking korporasyon, at bahala na silang magtiis sa kung ano ang matira,” she added.
Republic Act No. 8550, or “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998,” provides preferential use of the municipal waters to municipal fisherfolk and generally prohibits commercial fishing in the municipal waters, subject to exemptions from the local government units upon compliance with certain requirements.
However, in 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the Malabon Regional Trial Court (RTC) decision declaring several provisions of RA 8550, including the provision on the preferential access of municipal fisherfolk to the 15-kilometer municipal waters unconstitutional.
It can be recalled that De Lima was among those who took issue on the said SC decision and called for its reversal.
“Tila hindi pa sapat ang problema sa kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan, inalis pa ng Korte Suprema ang proteksyon sa mga maliliit na mangingisda sa 15-km municipal waters, nang binalewala nito ang batas sa pagbawal sa commercial fishing. Commercial fishing within municipal waters destroy lives of small, subsistence fisherfolk. Ibalik ang municipal waters sa maliliit na mangingisda!” she earlier said.
“There is no doubt: If we continue to allow the encroachment of commercial fishing vessels into municipal waters, we are not just abandoning our duty and ignoring the welfare of our small fishers, we are also accelerating the depletion of our fish stocks and putting our food security at risk,” the Bicolana lawmaker stressed.
Based on the 2024 Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report, there was a recorded decline in the country’s total fisheries production to 4.05 million metric tons, a 5% drop from 4.26 million metric tons in 2023, representing the lowest output in two decades.
The PSA attributes this overall decline in production to the declines in marine municipal fisheries, inland municipal fisheries, and aquaculture, as only the commercial fisheries sector showed growth in 2024.
In pushing for the passage of HB 5856, De Lima stated: “Sa pagsasabatas ng panukalang ito, itatakda at lilinawin natin sa batas: Ang kinse kilometro ng katubigan sa mga munisipyo ay para sa malilit na mangingisdang Pilipino. Hindi ito dapat labagin, hindi na ito dapat baligtarin.”
“Kung tutuusin, maliit na bahagi lamang ang hinihingi ng ating mga mangingisda, pero malaking tulong para sa kanilang pamilya at kabuhayan. Hindi pa ba natin ito maipaubaya para sa kanila?” she added.
Under HB 5856, local and national fisheries advisory bodies will be established. These advisory bodies shall include representation from municipal fisherfolk, small fisherfolk organizations, the municipal agriculture office, people’s organizations, sectoral organizations, the aquaculture sector, fish workers, traditional fishing associations and cooperatives, and other relevant stakeholders.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), in close cooperation with the established municipal fisherfolk representations, shall ensure and monitor the implementation of this measure, according to the De Lima’s bill.
