Marilyn Cahatol

A fisherman mends his net after arriving from early morning fishing off the coast of Zambales on April 05, 2019. Jonathan cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178523048218920190405-zambales-coast-jc-2-7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A fisherman mends his net after arriving from early morning fishing off the coast of Zambales on April 5, 2019. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — OCEANA, an international marine protection organization, on Tuesday said, giving out financial assistance to fisherfolk affected by the series of oil price increase is not enough to cushion its impact.</p><p>During a counter-SONA delivered by municipal fisherfolk and Oceana at the UP-Diliman’s Ignacio B. Gimenez theater, Von Hernandez, vice president of Oceana described the SONA’s prescription of ayuda as false solution to the real problem.</p><p>“Tingin namin, kapos ito — yung sa pahayag ng pangulo hingil sa kung ano yung ginagawa ng kanyang administrasyon para i-reverse yung krisis ng ating pangisdaan. Totoo nagpabigay sila, nagpamudmod sila ng ayuda para sa mga magsasaka, mangingisda pero sa aming pananaw — hindi ito yung solusyon at hindi ito yung talagang magsasalba ng ating mga karagatan at pangisdaan,” Hernandez said.</p><p>Oceana believes that the government must address the root cause of unresolved poverty in the country, saying fisherfolk remain among the poorest sectors of the society.</p><p>“Pinapabayaan na imbes na protektahan ang mga karapatan ng mga sektor na ito para sa patataguyod ng pangingisda sa kanilang municipal water, hinayaan pa yung mga komersyong mangingisda to raid those municipal waters,” Hernandez explained.</p><p>It&#x27;s Ironic, Hernandez said, that the government is allowing commercial fishing companies to fish within the 15-kilometer municipal waters that are intended for small time fisherfolk.</p><p>“Parang ang nangyayari dito, ninanakawan natin yung mga pinakamahihirap na sektor ng lipunan eh tapos magbibigay ka ng ayuda. Sa aming palagay, hindi solusyon yung magbibigay ka ng ayuda — maaring makatulong yun panandalian pero sagutin natin yung tunay na dahilan kung bat meron tayong krisis sa pangisdaan,” according to Hernandez.</p><p>Hernandez said the Marcos administration and the government in general can do something to address the concern of affected fisherfolk.</p><p>“Let’s enforce the law, because the law already is very clear that itong municipal waters ay dapat ang nakikinabang dito mga small scale fisherfolks pero ang nangyayari, confusing yung signals na nakukuha natin sa pamahalaan particular sa BFAR na gusto nilang amyendahan yung fisheries code para pabayaan at hayaan itong malaking negosyate para pumasok don,” said Hernandez.  </p><p>“Ano bang legacy, ano bang pamana ang gustong iwan ng pangulong Marcos sa ating mga karagatan at ating mga pangisdaan. At parang lumilinaw na ang legacy na ito ay legacy of failure, legacy of collapse,” Hernande asked.</p><p>For Eduardo Diaz, president of Ugnayan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda (UMALMA) in Tayabas Bay said they want permanent solutions.</p><p>“Pansamantalang tulong, ang ano (gusto) namin ay pang-mahabaang tulong. Ang gusto namin maiayos yung karatagan. Matulungan ng maayos,hindi po yung ayuda lang,” Diaz told ABS-CBN News</p><p>Diaz admitted, some of its members have already received financial assistance from local government units (LGUs) but not from the Department of Agriculture or the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).</p><p>“May nakarating po sa amin (P3,000) pero hindi po galing sa DA. Siya po eh galing sa local government. Sa DA po ay wala kaming natatanggap kahit kami ay naka-register,” Diaz added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/13/bfar-climate-change-among-challenges-faced-by-ph-fisheries-production-1543">BFAR: Climate change among challenges faced by PH fisheries production</a></div><p>Meantime, Department of Agriculture spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa explained why some fishermen remain to have not yet receive financial assistance.</p><p>“Of course, limitadyo yung pondo natin, may mga prioritization na ginagawa ang BFAR kasi definitely hindi mabibigyan lahat. Kung marami sila, ang priority yung mga nasa 5th at 6th class municipalities ganon din sa mga mangingisda. Priority yung mga nasa 5th and 6th class municipalities — yung talagang nasa marginalize sector,” according to de Mesa. </p><p>During his 5th SONA, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., mentioned that the government so far have given assistance under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families ( PAFFF) to almost 2 million farmers and fishermen amidst oil price increases.</p><p>Under PAFFF, de Mesa explained, each qualified beneficiary have received P2,375.</p><p>The budget for PAFFF is P10 billion, of which, de Mesa said, P150 million were earmarked for farmers (P75 million ) and fisherfolk (P75 million)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mCg4SLCWT9g?si=IhCu4dD2ZI1xAdPV" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>OCEANA, an international marine protection organization, on Tuesday said, giving out financial assistance to fisherfolk affected by the series of oil price increase is not enough to cushion its impact.</p>

OCEANA, an international marine protection organization, on Tuesday said, giving out financial assistance to fisherfolk affected by the series of oil price increase is not enough to cushion its impact.

Marcos urged to defend 15-km municipal waters, boost assistance to fisherfolk

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Marcos urged to defend 15-km municipal waters, boost assistance to fisherfolk

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 28, 2026 05:27 PM PHT

Read More:

Von Hernandez

Oceana

fisherfolk

financial assistance

PAFFF

Marcos

Asec. Arnel de Mesa

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