BFAR launches fisherfolk alliance to fight WPS misinformation

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has launched an alliance of fisherfolk aimed at countering false information about the West Philippine Sea.

The Alliance of Fisherfolk for Truthful Information and Narratives on the West Philippine Sea (ATIN WPS) trains fisherfolk on factual and legal issues concerning the contested waters.

As part of the alliance, fisherfolk are expected to help disseminate accurate information about the West Philippine Sea in their respective communities, BFAR said.

"ATIN WPS recognizes that Filipino fisherfolk are among those most directly connected to—and affected by—the developments in the West Philippine Sea," the bureau said in a statement.

"Through the initiative, BFAR equips fisherfolk with factual, evidence-based, and legally grounded knowledge on the West Philippine Sea, enabling them to counter misinformation and disinformation while serving as trusted sources of information within their respective communities," it added.

BFAR said the initiative also aims to strengthen fisherfolk's critical thinking and promote responsible communication while deepening their understanding of their rights and responsibilities under Philippine and international law.

"Beyond increasing awareness, ATIN WPS seeks to cultivate critical thinking, responsible communication, and greater appreciation of the rights and responsibilities of Filipino fishers under Philippine law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," it said

Participants underwent technical training on the legal and historical background of the West Philippine Sea, the 2016 arbitral award, maritime entitlements, and ways to combat misinformation, BFAR said.

The National Security Council and the US Embassy's Fish Right Project have expressed support for the initiative.

The alliance was launched following an incident at Ayungin Shoal in which two Philippine Navy personnel were injured during a confrontation with the China Coast Guard.

In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines and invalidated China's sweeping claims over much of the South China Sea, finding no legal basis for its claim to historic rights within the so-called nine-dash line.

China has rejected the ruling and continues to refuse to recognize it. — MCG, GMA News