A light boat used in payao fishing is repaired near the municipal fish port in Masinloc, Zambales

By Henry Empeño

MASINLOC, Zambales — Zambales fishermen would need bigger boats and modern fishing gear, alongside safe access to traditional fishing grounds like Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, so that they can compete with well-equipped foreign fishers that venture into the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

This was stressed by Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. at the public consultation conducted here on Friday by the House of Representatives’ Committee on National Defense and Security and the Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea to examine the impact of Chinese incursion into the Scarborough Shoal.

Fishermen who attended the dialogue complained of poor catch due to bullying by Chinese militia boats, as well as stiff competition from legitimate fishermen from Vietnam, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

Further, they said they have yet to receive assistance from the national government ever since the China took effective control of Bajo de Masinloc.

Ebdane, a former Secretary of Defense, pointed out that while the situation at the shoal has socio-economic, political, and security implications, the welfare of local fishermen is a primary concern.

He stressed that while the Philippines has won in the arbitration case over the Scarborough Shoal, the ruling has not been not acknowledged by China, thus rendering it unenforceable. “So, there has to be an alternative to this problem in Bajo de Masinloc,” he said.

Ebdane averred that as far as local fishermen are concerned, the Zambales government has short- and long-term programs in place to address their needs, including putting funds for fisherfolk to go into payao fishing, a system that uses fish aggregating devices in open sea.

“We’re laying the foundation to ensure development and progress for the next generation of fishers,” he said, adding that the long-term program starts with reorganizing fisherfolk into cooperatives to qualify for financing, followed by training and apprenticeship to ensure they are ready to undertake the project.

Ebdane said the provincial government is teaming up with local educational institutions, including the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, to train the youth in new fishing technologies, as well as fishing boat operations, to provide “a better foundation” for fisherfolks.

Citing a recent survey, Ebdane said some 65 fishermen’s groups in the province with about 4,500 members can qualify for financial assistance. “They can already get a big fishing boat with P1.5 million, and we can provide that at no interest,” he added.

Ebdane said that while access to Bajo de Masinloc is currently a “huge problem” to the government, the state of local fishing industry is also a major concern. “If our fishermen remain doing marginal fishing, then they become another problem to local governments because we have to dole out food or cash assistance every time they cannot go out to fish,” he added.

The recent threat by China to detain “trespassers” at the South China Sea is another concern that must be addressed within the parameters of international law, he added.

In Friday’s hearing, Congressman Dan S. Fernandez of the lone district of Sta. Rosa, Laguna observed that the problem of limited access to Scarborough is exacerbated by the use of outdated fishing gears and technology.

“We have to evolve,” he said. “If our fishermen would continue to use small traditional boats, they would really be in a dangerous situation.”

Ebdane said a fishers’ cooperative in the town of Sta. Cruz would be the first group to avail of the provincial government’s assistance to modernize their fishing boat and equipment.

He said fishers’ groups can avail of financial support starting at P5 for fishing implements, including payaos. He added that the provincial government can provide up to P60 million should fishers opt to own and operate bigger boats, depending on their developed expertise and capability. (30)