Verde Island Passage fisherfolk demand marine conservation, protection of rights ahead election 2025

Days ahead the midterm national election, twenty-nine fisherfolk organizations from Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon joined together in calling for the prioritization of fisherfolk rights and protection of global biodiversity hotspot Verde Island Passage (VIP) to candidates seeking positions in public office.

In a fisherfolk agenda sent to senatorial candidates and congressional and local government candidates in the five provinces of the VIP, the groups called for the safeguarding of the marine corridor and their livelihoods from the growing threats of commercial and illegal fishing, industrialization, and climate crisis.Among the written demands was to “enforce the exclusive rights of small-scale fisherfolk within the 15-kilometer municipal waters” following the Supreme Court decision to allow commercial fishing in this zone.

“Ang panawagan namin sa mga nakaupo sa pwesto at tumatakbong kandidato na bigyan sana ng pansin kaming mga maliliit na mangingisda. Itong agenda na aming inihahain ay para itaguyod ang karapatan ng mga mangingisda sa bansa, dahil unti-unti na kaming nawawalan ng karapatan, lalo at nangangamba kami ngayon na maagawan ng mga komersyal na barko sa municipal waters. Simple lang ang hiling namin, ibigay sa amin ang dapat na sa amin,” Rodrigo De Jesus, president of Bukluran ng Mangingisda sa Batangas (BMB).

[“Our call to those in power and those running for office is to give attention to the plight of small-scale fisherfolk. The agenda we are presenting aims to uphold the rights of fisherfolk across the country, as we are losing our rights to the seas, especially now that we fear the encroachment of commercial vessels on municipal waters. Our plea is simple: give us what is rightfully ours.”]

The agenda also seeks support in enacting protective legislations for the VIP, including its designation as a protected area under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) and as a World Heritage Site (WHS).

“Kawawa kaming mga mangingisda kung patuloy ang pagsira sa karagatan na tanging pinagkukunan namin ng kabuhayan. Kaya nanawagan din kami na maipaloob na ang VIP sa ENIPAS at maideklara ito bilang isang World Heritage Site. Ang pangangalaga sa karagatan ay pangangalaga rin sa kabuhayan naming mga mangingisda,” he added.

[“We, fisherfolk, will suffer if the destruction of the ocean continues. It is our only source of livelihood. That’s why we also call for the inclusion of the VIP under ENIPAS and for it to be declared a World Heritage Site. Protecting the ocean also protects our livelihood.”]

The fisherfolk-led agenda was an outcome of the “Piliin ang VIP” dialogues held last April in Batangas, led by the Protect VIP Network, CEED, De La Salle Lipa, and Caritas Philippines.

“We challenge aspiring leaders to show genuine commitment to protecting both our environment and vulnerable communities. Beyond electoral campaigns, we urge them to adopt this fisherfolk agenda as the foundation for their long-term advocacies,” said Father Edwin Gariguez, lead convenor of Protect VIP.

“As the primary stewards of our oceans, the concerns of the fisherfolk must always be heard. We hope this fisherfolk agenda will give way to greater representation of the unrepresented voices in the fisherfolk sector in the country,” Gariguez added.

Link to Fisherfolk Agenda