Fishers, traders set strike over new law

Medium- and large-scale commercial fishers are joining small operators in a nationwide “fishers strike” to push for the repeal of the amended fisheries code, which they say spells the death of the industry.

To protest the law and the recently finalized draft of its implementing rules, the Pederasyon ng mga Mangingisda sa Buong Pilipinas Inc. (PMBP), Samahan ng mga Buong Mangingisda sa Navotas (SBMN) and Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federation Inc. (APFFI) will not catch fish or bring fresh supplies to market from the evening of Sept. 22 until dinnertime of Sept. 24.

“This is a ‘welgang dagat’ that will cover markets not only in Metro Manila but also in Naga, Lucena, Navotas, Cebu, Iloilo and Zamboanga,” PMBP president Mario G. Pascual said in an interview.

At least 5,000 fishing boat operators, crew members, wholesalers and retailers will support the fish holidayon Panay island composed of the provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Aklan.

Together, the three fishers’ groups provide markets with supplies of alamang (krill), dulong (silver fish), squid, galunggong (hard-tail mackerel), tamban (sardinella), matangbaka (purse-eyed scad), tulingan (mackerel) and other species that are usual fare on Filipino dining tables.

Earlier this month, the PMBP led a so-called fish holiday along with rallies aimed at securing the support of lawmakers.

“We are suspending the delivery of supplies to market to help the market picture what is in store for us—fishers, traders and consumers—when we can no longer go out to sea to catch fish because of this new law,” Pascual said.

Paul Santos, APFFI vice president, said the main issue was that Republic Act No. 10654 that amended the Fisheries Code of 1998 was “cruel, oppressive and confiscatory.”

“The amendment of the code was an opportunity for our government to address the shortcomings of the previous fisheries code,” Santos said.