FISHERS SLAM FISHING RESTRICTION, DREDGING OFF ZAMBALES

THE activist fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) slammed a fishing restriction off San Felipe town in Zambales, amid the repair and maintenance work of Chinese-flagged vessel on a submarine cable. 

On February 5, supply vessel Feng Hua 21, which is owned and operated by FH Offshore Engineering, arrived in San Felipe, to conduct repair and maintenance activities for the Luzon Festoon Cable Repair and Maintenance Project.

“Hindi katanggap tanggap na ipagbabawal ang pangingisda para sa operasyon ng isang dayuhang barko. 

Sadyang perwisyo na sa mga mangingisda ng Zambales ang mga barko ng China tulad ng isinasagawang dredging sa kaparehong bayan,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.

Hicap was referring to the dredging operations of a Chinese company in San Felipe, that have “effectively destroyed” the marine resources and “disrupted” fishing activities. 

The fishers’ group also questioned the provincial government of Zambales on why it has allowed the fishing restriction despite the absence of a provincial ordinance or an official declaration from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

“Arbitraryo at walang legal na batayan ang pagbabawal ng pangingisda hangga’t walang pormal na deklarasyon mula sa kinauukulang ahensya ng pamahalaan.

Higit sa lahat, hindi dapat isinasakripisyo ang kabuhayan ng maliliit na mangingisda para lamang sa operasyon ng mga dayuhang barko na wala namang kabuluhan para sa mga Pilipino,” said Hicap.

The repair and maintenance activities are expected to last about two months until March, and will also affect other coastal areas, including Dasol town in Pangasinan, Luna town in La Union, and Nasugbu town in Batangas. 

PAMALAKAYA said that they will coordinate with the affected fishing communities for appropriate actions.