Fisherfolk want repeal of Fisheries Code

MANILA, Philippines – The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has appealed to the Aquino government to repeal the 17-year old Fisheries Code of 1998 and all its amendments, arguing this is the cause of the decades-long poverty afflicting the sector.

In a statement, Pamalakaya said the repeal would be the best gift to the fishers this season as it cited a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report that said the sector has the highest poverty incidence in the country, with a 39.2-percent poverty rate.

“Through the Fisheries Code, large commercial fishing fleets can go in and out of the municipal fishing waters that are supposed to be for the small fisherfolk. The law only legalizes the exploitation and monopolization of our fishing waters,” the group said.