Masinloc fisherman: You know us during elections, not when problems arise

Fishermen in Masinloc, Zambales have lamented how their livelihoods have been affected by China's harassment in their fishing grounds, with one of them calling out politicians who seek their votes but seem to shun them when problems arise.

According to Oscar Oida's report on "24 Oras," Filipino fishermen sought government help amid China's harassment of fishermen and its threat to arrest trespassers in what it claims to be its waters even those inside the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

"Sino tutulong sa amin? Kapag eleksyon, kilala mo kami. Kapag dating sa problema, hindi niyo kami kilala," fisherman Nolly delos Santos said at a public hearing of a House joint committee looking into the alleged "gentleman's agreement" with China as regards the Ayungin Shoal.

(Who will help us? During elections, you know us. When it comes to problems, you no longer know us.)

“Sabi ko sa mga anak ko, ‘hinto muna kayo dahil di na kaya ng papa niyo’. Dahil ito po, dinadaan ko nalang sa luha, ito po dianadaan ko na lang po sa inyo,” said Nolly Delos Santos during a public consultation. 

(I told my children, ‘You have to stop your studies for now because your papa cannot do it anymore.’ What I can only do now is to cry and tell about our plight.) 

“Hindi po sapat ang ayuda, malayang pangingisda ang kailangan namin,” he added. 

(Any assistance will not suffice because what matters to us now is to be able to fish again.) 

Some local fishermen also cried foul that they were being fired with water cannons and the Chinese stole their good catches. 

“Kinukuha nila ang magagandang huli ng ating mga mangingisda. Kung ano ang di nila maibigan, ayun na lang ang naiiuwi ng ating mga mangingisda,” said Leonardo Cuaresma. “Ang pinapalit nila ay 5 kilos ng noodles na mae-expire pa ang binibigay nila.” 

(They get our fishermen’s good catches. Whatever they don’t like, that’s what our fishermen can only bring with them. The Chinese give them instead 5 kilos of noodles that are nearing expiration.) 

Beijing’s controversial regulation allows the China Coast Guard to detain “trespassers” in the South China Sea for up to 60 days starting June 15. 

“Kaya po ang kinakatakutan ko po, baka isa po diyan ang ipakulong, baka ang hirap natin tubusin yan. Pupunta pa tayo ng China kung paano tubusin,” said Masinloc Mayor Arsenia Lim. 

(I’m afraid that one of them might be arrested and it will be hard for us to bail them out. We might have to go to China just to set them free.) 

Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun assured that the government is doing its best to protect fishermen. 

“Naiintidhan namin ang kanilang takot at pangamba. Pero naniniwala kami sa kakayahan ng ating pamahalaan, sa kakayahan ng ating gobyerno na protektahan ang ating mamamayan,” he said. 

(We understand their fears and worries. But I believe in what our government can do to protect our people.) 

On the other hand, fisherfolk group Bigkis ng Mangingisda appealed to the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries Aquatic Resources to provide them security while fishing at the disputed waters. 

Fisherman Eddie Edora shared that he sustained wounds on his legs after he and his fellow Filipino fishers were told by the Chinese to walk on sharp corals. 

Some lawmakers are proposing that Filipino fishermen must be provided with equipped and large vessels. 

“I-consolidate ang ating mga grupo kung saan sama-sama tayo mangisda ng malaking barko na dala dala natin na complete with protect gear, systematic ang pagkuha ng lugar kung saan tayo mangingisda na makikita natin kung saan marami ang isda,” said Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez.  

(We should consolidate our group and catch fishes together aboard a big vessel that is complete with protective gear. We should be able to do systematic fishing in specific areas where there are many fishes.) 

China's expansive claims over the South China Sea overlap with the West Philippine Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal.

Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag Shoal, is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. —NB, GMA Integrated News