By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. intends to intensify the Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM) Program to provide better opportunities for Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Saturday.
In a weekly news forum in Quezon City, PCG Spokesperson for the WPS Commo. Jay Tarriela said the government would make sure that the conditions and livelihood of fishermen would improve.
The government on June 4 launched the KBBM Program in Palawan after its successful pilot run at the Panatag Shoal off Zambales last May 9.
“Kung makikita po natin ’yong mga mangingisdang Pilipino from Palawan, they are already contented with the idea na mangisda sa loob ng territorial sea dahil una sa lahat, mayaman na ang karagatan ng territorial sea natin sa Palawan. It’s more than enough for them para pumalaot pa,” Tarriela said.
“Ang problema sa kanila, kapag they go further and kukuha ng large bowl o fish catch, wala naman silang pagpapasahan because it will have additional operational cost because they will travel all the way to Palawan going to Navotas.”
He said the KBBM program streamlines the selling process by deploying a fish carrier to deliver the fishers’ fresh catch from sea to market.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is set to launch a food boat that has a carrying capacity of 20 metric tons each week and will provide logistics support and direct market linkage to WPS fishermen.
The WPS production accounts for 13% of the country’s total annual production on average, according to BFAR data.
The KBBM will be implemented in three phases until 2027, with the first phase covering the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
The second phase of the program will be carried out along Bajo de Masinloc, while the last phase will be implemented along portions of Northern Luzon, particularly in Benham Rise.
The initiative aims to give fisherfolk security in their traditional fishing grounds and bolster the country’s presence in the WPS amid China’s incursions in the country’s territorial waters.
Tarriela cited the need to continue protecting the WPS in the wake of China’s aggression, saying the issue goes beyond politics and social needs.
“Our national identity is actually at stake in our fight at the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
“Ang issue natin dito that is being challenged here is our identity as Filipinos. Ilang beses ko nang sinabi, ang ating kalayaan, ang independence natin, utang natin itong lahat sa ating mga bayaning Pilipino na nagbuwis ng buhay dito.”
