QUEZON CITY — Thousands of artisanal fisherfolk and civil society groups staged a protest march Tuesday to mark National Fisherfolk Day, condemning what they called government indifference to the sector’s struggles.
The mobilization was led by Katipunan ng mga Kilusang Artisanong Mangingisda sa Pilipinas, or KKAMPI, and Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas, or PAMALAKAYA. Demonstrators marched from Quezon Memorial Circle to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of Agriculture, carrying banners that read, “Itaguyod aming karapatan, kinse kilometro amin ito.”
KKAMPI chairperson Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon said there was little to celebrate. “Sa pambansang araw ng mga maliliit na mangingisda, walang dapat ipagdiwang, kasi mahirap pa rin ang sektor,” Ballon said. “Kami pa rin ang mahihirap sa Bagong Pilipinas ni BBM.”
The groups criticized the Department of Agriculture and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration for failing to protect municipal waters for small-scale fishers. They cited a Supreme Court ruling that allowed commercial fishing vessels to operate within the 15-kilometer municipal fishing zone, which they said favored large operators.
“Dahil sa kapabayaan at kutsabahan ng mga tiwali at maka-komersyal na opisyal ng BFAR, naagaw ng mga dambuhalang komersyal na pamalakaya ang 15 kilometrong munisipal na pangisdaan,” said Pablo Rosales, president of PANGISDA. “Ang lokal na pangisdaan ay para sa tao at hindi para sa negosyo.”
KKAMPI also pointed to reclamation, offshore mining, energy projects and public infrastructure as causes of displacement for coastal communities. Joseph Vargas, leader of Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda – AMA and head of CABATANG, said coal, LNG and LPG plants in Batangas have also affected fisherfolk livelihoods.
Women’s leader Miriam Petaclorin of HAYUMADORA in Quezon province criticized government aid as slow and insufficient. “Hindi ayuda ang tunay na solusyon,” Petaclorin said. “Ang dapat gawin ng gobyerno ay tiyakin na ang munisipal na katubigan ay ekslusibong ibigay at ipamahala sa maliliit na mangingisda at ibigay ang todong suporta sa lokal na pangisdaan.”
The program included songs, speeches and solidarity messages from Tambuyog Development Center, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Oriang and Pambansang Kilusang Kababaihan sa Kanayunan.
The protest ended with chants of “Kinse kilometro, amin ito” and dispersed peacefully, organizers said.
Photo: Jimmy A. Domingo
