Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Fishermen who joined the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175023263325120240516-atin-ito-wps-MT-52.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Fishermen who joined the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner">Fishermen who joined the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) successfully installed fishing aggregating devices (FADs) or payaos in the West Philippine Sea this week.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/14/west-philippine-sea-is-now-on-google-maps-1643">West Philippine Sea is now on Google Maps</a></div><p>As of Wednesday, June 18, 20 FADs have been strategically deployed in Hasa Hasa Shoal and Kanduli Shoal. </p><p>Hasa Shoal or Half Moon Shoal is located 60 nautical miles from mainland Palawan, while Kanduli Shoal or Royal Captain Shoal is approximately 45 nautical miles southwest of the province. Both shoals are within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). </p><p>“Ang PCG at BFAR ay nakapagbagsak successfully ng 20 na payao—11 in Hasa Hasa Shoal and 9 in Kanduli… Ito ay pasok sa ating EEZ and we have sovereign rights over these waters,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela told reporters in an interview in Manila on Wednesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/24/chinese-incursions-in-west-ph-sea-pull-down-pinoy-fisherfolks-catches-bfar-1510">Chinese incursions in West PH Sea pull down Pinoy fisherfolk&#x27;s catches: BFAR</a></div><p>During the operation, several Filipino fishing boats participated in the deployment of the FADs. </p><p>“Sa tulong ng sampung mangingisdang Pilipino, ang PCG and BFAR were able to identify yung mga pangisdaan talaga ng ating mga mangingisda from Palawan. They supported us sa pagbagsak ng mga payao na ito,” Tarriela noted.</p><div><strong>HOW IT WORKS</strong></div><p>The initiative aims to enhance fish catch and address the difficulties faced by fishermen from Palawan, while contributing to the national government’s Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM) program.</p><p>The KBBM initiative encourages Filipino fishermen to venture beyond territorial waters for better earnings. The BFAR will assist in bringing their catch directly to markets, cutting down on transportation expenses. </p><p>“Ang KBBM project goes beyond ang pamimili ng MV Mamalakaya ng isda from our Filipino fishermen. Kasama na rito ang different approaches para mas mapataas ang fish supply na mapapakinabangan ng ating mga mangingisdang Pilipino,” Tarriela explained. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/24/bfar-assessing-damage-to-ship-after-water-cannon-says-damage-can-reach-up-to-a-million-pesos-1315">BFAR assessing damage to ship after water cannon; says damage can reach up to a million pesos</a></div><p>For the mission, the PCG deployed three 44-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs), namely the BRP Malapascua (4403), BRP Cape San Agustin (4408) and BRP Cape Engano (4411).</p><p>The BFAR sent out its multi-mission offshore patrol vessel, the BRP Lapu-Lapu. The government-funded fish carrier MV Mamalakaya was also used. </p><p>Tarriela said that throughout the operation, the PCG and BFAR vessels received radio challenges and faced dangerous maneuvers from four China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels—with bow numbers 5101, 5103, 21549 and 21558—attempting to obstruct the installation of the FADs.</p><p>Another CCG vessel with bow number 21615 even tailed the BRP Malapascua as it made its way to Lawak Island, one of the nine Philippine-occupied features in the Kalayaan Island Group. </p><p>“We arrived at Hasa Hasa Shoal on June 16… It took us more than a day para makapagbagsak ng payao dito. When we arrived, yung isang PCG vessel natin, 4403, proceeded to Lawak. This was the first time we monitored the presence of the CCG 21615. That was the first time we saw the CCG while doing the operation,” the official explained. </p><p>“Sinamahan siya ng CCG sa pagshadow sa kanya hanggang makarating siya [sa Lawak Island].” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/22/china-coast-guard-used-water-cannoned-sideswiped-ph-research-vessel-bfar-1652">Philippines says China Coast Guard fired water cannon, &#x27;sideswiped&#x27; govt vessel</a></div><p>He then continued, “Around 2000 June 16, nakita na natin ang pagdating ng mga CCG—5101, 5103, 21558 and 21549. Ang ginawa ng CCG vessels na ito… CCG 5101, it is carrying out dangerous maneuvers, crossing our bow, and CCG 21558 seemingly separating the Filipino fishing boats from the PCG and BFAR.” </p><p>“They also subjected the PCG vessels to radio challenges. Sinasabi nil ana what we are doing is unlawful and a violation of their sovereignty,” he further said. </p><div><strong>PROFESSIONALISM</strong></div><p>But the Filipino crew responded with professionalism and composure, maintaining the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the waters.</p><p>“Sinasagot naman ito ng ating mga barko na this falls within our own EEZ and that the illegal patrols being conducted by the Chinese is a violation of the UNCLOS, Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” Tarriela said. </p><p>Tarriela admits that the surge of CCG vessels in Hasa Hasa Shoal and Kanduli Shoal during the operation is concerning. </p><p>“Para sa akin, concerning siya dahil lumapit sila nang ganun, but hindi naman sila stationary. I would like to believe na ang dahilan lang ng pagsurge ng CCG doon is to monitor and ensure na wala tayong ginagawang kung anumang pinaniniwalaan nila. But this is a clear violation regardless of their actions there,” he said. </p><p>&quot;Kung magbabagsak tayo ng mga payao doon, this falls within our own sovereign right. Wala silang dahilan para ichallenge tayo dito or isupervise dahil sila mismo ang nagvaviolate ng international law for being there.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/31/huge-waves-shorten-fishing-expedition-aiming-to-assert-rights-in-west-philippine-sea-1101">Huge waves shorten fishing expedition aiming to assert rights in West Philippine Sea</a></div><p>“Despite such presence and dangerous maneuvers ng CCG, nagawa pa rin nating maibagsak ang mga payao natin to support the livelihood of our Filipino fishermen,” he added. </p><p>The PCG official also stressed the shared responsibility of protecting the FADs or payaos between the government and fishermen. </p><p>“So far, sa ating experience pag nagbagsak tayo dito, mga payao wala namang napapabalita pang napuputol. It’s because of the vigilance ng ating mga mangingisdang Pilipino to make sure na nandito pa rin ang mga payao na nabagsak natin, even last year pa,” Tarriela noted. </p><p>Currently, around 300,000 Filipino fishermen are operating in the West Philippine Sea.<br/><br/></p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lljreiU6UMU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ar-0zTV1BsA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The initiative aims to enhance fish catch and address the difficulties faced by fishermen from Palawan.</p>

The initiative aims to enhance fish catch and address the difficulties faced by fishermen from Palawan.

PCG, BFAR install 20 payaos in West PH Sea to boost fish catch

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PCG, BFAR install 20 payaos in West PH Sea to boost fish catch

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 18, 2025 05:01 PM PHT

Read More:

fishing aggregate device

payao

Philippine Coast Guard

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Hasa Hasa Shoal

Kanduli Shoal

West Philippine Sea

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