NTF-WPS vows to protect Filipino fishers in West Philippine Sea

The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea is prepared to protect Filipino fishers who plan to fish in the fishing grounds which are also being claimed by China, an agriculture official said on Tuesday.

According to Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero, the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea is prepared to back local fisherfolk inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

"Meron po tayong exclusive economic zone na napapangalagaan po 'yan ng ating Konstitusyon so 'wag po tayong matakot mangisda at nandiyan po ang ating fisheries group at ang buong organisasyon ng National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea to help out in securing the protection," she said in a virtual briefing.

(We have an exclusive economic zone protected by our Constitution so do not be afraid to fish. We also have the fisheries group and the whole organization of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea to help out in securing the protection.)

This comes amid heightened tensions between the Philippines and China because of the presence of Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef, which is inside the Philippine territory.

The NTF-WPS last week spotted at least six Chinese warships and 240 Chinese militia vessels scattered in the territorial water off Kalayaan in Palawan and in the Philippine EEZ.

The NTF-WPS estimated that the continued presence of Chinese fishing vessels could catch a ton of fish amounting to a conservative total of 240,000 kilograms of fish illegally taken from Philippine waters.

"Based on unvalidated reports, there are some that fish for their consumption and this needs to be substantiated because these areas are not reached by our fisherfolk, they are only around, so that has to be contextualized how much if they fish," Caballero said in a mix of English and Filipino.

"Ating napagalaman na noong mga nakaraang taon ang ating mga giant clams ay na-harvest so siguro ito ay isa ring kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin when it comes to poaching and getting this protected marine species," she added.

(It came to our attention that in the past years they harvested giant clams to this should also be looked at when it comes to poaching and getting this protected marine species.)

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he would send the Philippine warships to the West Philippine Sea if China starts drilling for oil and other resources.

He also said that he was not too keen on fishing in the area.

"I'm not so much interested in fishing. There's not enough fish to quarrel about. But when we start to mine, get whatever it is in the bowels of the China Sea, by that time I will send my gray ships there to stake a claim," Duterte said.

The NTF-WPS said the presence of 240 Chinese militia vessels had the potential to poach 240,000 kilos of fish in the area.

Meanwhile, the DA's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said it would continue to "exert efforts" to achieve food security in cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard and other concerned agencies.

Among the measures it said it would implement is to ensure rational and sustainable ecosystems-based management of aquatic resources in Philippine waters including the EEZ and adjacent high seas, as well as to protect the rights of municipal fisherfolk in the preferential use of their respective municipal waters. --NB, GMA News