The Atin Ito Coalition called on local governments to help protect Filipino fishers’ livelihoods and safety in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), saying coastal communities need support from both national and local authorities.
At a forum in Quezon City on Monday, September 28, Akbayan Party President and Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David stressed the role of local governments in standing with fishers and other frontliners.
“Mahalaga ang paninindigan ng ating mga LGU dahil ipinapakita nitong hindi lamang national government ang kumikilala at nagtatanggol sa ating karagatan. Kasama rito ang mga komunidad at lokal na pamahalaan na direktang nakatindig kasama ng ating mga mangingisda,” David said.
Atin Ito and the Center for Information Resilience and Integrity Study (CIRIS) also recognized local officials and representatives for supporting WPS advocacy.
Among those honored were representatives of local government units (LGUs) that passed resolutions declaring July 12 as West Philippine Sea Victory Day.
The awardees included Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, 1st District Councilor Joseph Juico, 2nd District Councilor Ally Medalla, Pasig City Councilor Paul Senogat, Bulacan Board Member Arthur Legazpi, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Councilor Rosalyn Pordan, Zamboanga City Councilor Kim Villaflores, and representatives of the local governments of Navotas and Cebu.
The forum formed part of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) celebration and carried the theme “West Philippine Sea: Mana Natin: The State and Legacy of Filipino Fishers and Those Who Stand With Them.”
Fisherfolk associations at the forum shared accounts of restricted access to traditional fishing grounds, livelihood insecurity, rising operating costs, and concerns about their safety and welfare amid continuing tensions in the WPS.
Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) President Edicio dela Torre said recognizing fishers as frontliners must be accompanied by support for their livelihoods and protection at sea.
“Kailangan silang suportahan at protektahan, mula sa kanilang kabuhayan hanggang sa kanilang kaligtasan sa dagat. Kung nais nating maging makabuluhan ang pagtatanggol sa West Philippine Sea, dapat ramdam ito ng mga Pilipinong araw-araw na pumapalaot at naghahanapbuhay dito,” said Dela Torre.
Akbayan Partylist Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismulah also called for stronger laws and sustained government support to protect fishers’ livelihoods, access to traditional fishing grounds, and safety at sea.
She said defending the WPS must go beyond asserting Philippine sovereign rights.
“It must also mean protecting the rights, welfare, and livelihoods of the Filipino fisherfolk who depend on these waters,” she said.
