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  • 2 days ago
MGA MAG-AALIMASAG SA NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, NANGANGANIB MAWALAN NG TRABAHO. MGA DAMBUHALANG COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL KASI, KINATIGAN NG KORTE SUPREMA AT NG ILANG LGU NA MAKAPANGISDA SA KANILANG PROBINSYA


Isa sa top producer ng blue crabs o alimasag ang Negros Occidental. Sa katunayan, nasa bilyones ang halaga at for export sa ibang bansa ang laman nito!


Pero may banta ngayon sa mga maliliit na mag-aalimasag ng probinsya at sa lahat ng mga maliit na mangingisda sa buong Pilipinas. Ang mga higanteng fishing vessel kasi, mapapahintulutan nang makapangisda sa kanilang karagatan. Ang pangamba ng mga taga-rito, makakaagaw ang mga malalaking fishing vessel sa kanilang mahuhuling lamang dagat.


Si Jessica Soho, lumipad sa Negros Occidental para siyasatin ang isyu.


Sino nga ba ang dapat na maging prayoridad sa kanilang karagatan. Ang malalaking commercial fishing vessels o ang mga maliliit na mangingisda?


Himay-himayin natin ang isyung ito.


Panoorin ang Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Special Report sa video na ito. #KMJS




"Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" (One at Heart, Jessica Soho) is the Philippines' top-rating news magazine program, hosted by one of the most-awarded broadcast journalists in the country, Jessica Soho. It features human interest stories, food, news personalities, travel, trends and pop culture.'KMJS' airs every Sunday, 8:15 PM on GMA Network. Subscribe to youtube.com/gmapublicaffairs for our full episodes. #KMJS

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Transcript
00:00Should there be a law that allows small and large fishermen to fish?
00:14This is a hot issue that is being discussed especially in the province of Negros Occidental
00:22where their industry of blue crab is already flourishing.
00:34If you love blue crab, this is for you.
00:38This sea creature is worth billions in the economy
00:42because it is for export to other countries.
00:47Negros Occidental is one of the top producers of blue crab.
00:52It is also the livelihood of small fishermen who catch it
00:58as well as those who work in the plantations
01:01where the crab meat is minced to become crab meat.
01:07But there is a threat now to the small fishermen of the province
01:12and to all the small fishermen in the entire Philippines.
01:18Because they can already steal huge commercial fishing vessels from their seas.
01:28Just this August, the Supreme Court already banned commercial fishing vessels
01:35in municipal waters where small fishermen are fishing.
01:41They only use their simple boats and boats.
01:47This decision of the Supreme Court
01:50includes and affects the municipal waters of all provinces throughout the country
01:57including 20 towns of Panay, 25 towns of Negros Occidental, and 5 towns of Guimaras.
02:06In total, 30,000 families of 5,000 blue crab fishermen.
02:13We are not afraid, we are not afraid!
02:19All of them are now worried about their livelihood and families.
02:25What is your position on the Supreme Court decision?
02:29We are really fighting.
02:32The blue crab industry should be saved.
02:36All of us are struggling to make a living every day.
02:42Let's put an end to this issue.
02:51This Thursday, I traveled to Panay, Negros Occidental.
02:55Because of the Supreme Court's decision,
02:57big fishing companies or commercial fishing vessels
03:03in small towns like Ibi, Magalona, here in Negros Occidental
03:09in the municipal waters of 15 kilometers from Dalampasigan.
03:15Even now, the fishermen here are suffering.
03:19They are not earning enough from the fish they catch.
03:23What if they are robbed by big fishermen?
03:31The blue crab meat production is a Php 2 billion industry.
03:37The Philippines is the third largest producer of blue swimming crabs
03:41and the second largest exporter of blue swimming crabs in the U.S.
03:44There are a lot of crabs, particularly blue swimming crabs, in Negros Occidental
03:49because they have a lot of food.
03:52And the first one here is the town of Ibi, Magalona.
03:57They produce up to 2 to 5 tons of blue crab here every day.
04:04There's a new boat coming. Let's see if there's any catch today.
04:09Good morning. Do you have any catch?
04:13A lot? A little?
04:183 kilos?
04:19Ma'am, how much will you sell it for?
04:21Php 160.
04:22Is this the usual size? Or is there a bigger one?
04:25There's a bigger one.
04:27Php 160 per kilo.
04:31So, times 3, Php 480.
04:33But it has a capital of Php 150, the one bought by Crudo.
04:37So, Php 480 minus Php 150, Php 230.
04:42Is that enough for your family's expenses?
04:47Not enough, ma'am.
04:48Is there any commercial in Laot?
04:51There is, ma'am, but not much.
04:54Since the ruling of the Supreme Court,
04:57big fishing vessels can now enter the municipal waters.
05:02But even before that, some of them are already seen.
05:07Here in Barangay Tumungtong, I met the fisherman, Mary J.
05:12Almost the whole barangay is connected to the fishermen.
05:19It's not just men who fish here, but also women like Mary J.
05:25Is that how many families are here?
05:27As of now, ma'am, there are 3.
05:30Like you?
05:31Yes.
05:32Okay.
05:33So, men can do it, you can do it too.
05:36Women can do it.
05:37What can I do, ma'am, even if it's hard?
05:39Why? Even women who are looking for a job?
05:42Yes, we are in need every day.
05:45How many children do you have?
05:47Three.
05:48Mary J.'s eldest son, Rami, has already graduated from Senior High School.
05:52But because of the hardship of life, he was not able to attend college.
05:57Their husband, who they have just met,
05:59is now busy with the education of their other two children who are already in Junior High School.
06:06That's what you're going to get?
06:07Yes, the squid.
06:09How many hours before you can catch the squid?
06:12The day after tomorrow, ma'am.
06:14So, you're going to drop it later?
06:15Yes.
06:16You'll just come back?
06:17Yes, in the morning.
06:18Oh, so that's how it is.
06:20That's why...
06:21And it's still a squid, sometimes it's not.
06:23Sometimes it's there.
06:24That's how it is.
06:25I thought it was right away.
06:26It's like a fish.
06:27But it's not.
06:30Mary J. has been catching blue crabs for two decades.
06:34Her husband, Rami, was just a fisherman back then.
06:38But so that he wouldn't have to pay for it, Mary J. herself became Rami's breadwinner.
06:45When the tide is high, it's hard.
06:48But now, it's okay.
06:56It's good when the weather is like this.
06:58When the weather is bad, it's like life.
07:03What happened, ma'am?
07:05Did it go in?
07:06Yes.
07:10We use a flag so we know that it's ours.
07:16It's a bit heavy.
07:17It's just holding up the weight.
07:19You can only get what you need.
07:21The big one, the crab.
07:24In two days, we were able to lay it on the shore.
07:29We only caught two kilos.
07:33We only caught a few.
07:38There are more if it's the peak season.
07:40What month is that?
07:41May 2nd.
07:42How much is that per day?
07:43We can get 15 kilos, 18 kilos.
07:48Morning.
07:52It's already 1 kilo, ma'am.
07:53Mary J's income is P160.
07:57It's not enough for their needs.
08:00Don't reduce the crude oil.
08:02Just buy rice tomorrow.
08:06You already know the price.
08:08Yes, ma'am.
08:09I hope they won't let us in.
08:12It's expensive.
08:14Our income is not enough for two days.
08:17Some students are still sending us to school.
08:20If we let them in,
08:22we won't be able to finish 12th grade.
08:25It's hard for us to make a living every day.
08:30The catch of the fishermen of Ibi Magalona
08:34It's a beautiful catch.
08:36It was just caught a while ago.
08:38is sold to countries like Kinaanalin.
08:42Then, it's cooked.
08:45It's put in a pot.
08:46It's cooked.
08:47It's cooked.
08:48It's cooked.
08:49It's cooked.
08:50It's cooked.
08:51It's cooked.
08:52It's cooked.
08:53It's cooked.
08:54It's cooked.
08:55It's cooked.
08:56It's cooked.
08:57It's put in a pot.
08:59We'll pour it in.
09:03Put it in a basket.
09:04For one catch, how many kilos is that?
09:06That's 36 kilos.
09:0736.
09:08It's 15 minutes.
09:10We follow the time,
09:12because if the time is too long,
09:14the quality will not be good.
09:18The catch is steamed for 15 minutes.
09:22You said the price depends on the price in America.
09:26Is that where your product goes, Mark?
09:29Yes.
09:29Is it written, made in the Philippines?
09:31No, because for me, I'm just a bali supplier of crabmeat.
09:36There, it's beautiful.
09:38When it's cooked, the crabs are brought to the house.
09:42It's also known as the crab milk.
09:45Okay, so we're going to put on a net first.
09:47Let's go inside, ma'am.
09:48Because the crabs are processed so that there won't be any hair.
09:53There's a lot of women power in the process of making crabmeat.
10:00How are you?
10:02Oh, there's also a man.
10:04Crabmeat really has a big impact.
10:07This is the most expensive part.
10:10The one that comes from the body itself?
10:12Yes.
10:13Actually, the small ones are more tasty.
10:16But the body is more meaty.
10:19The crabs are peeled before they are brought to Cebu,
10:23where they are placed in cans before they are exported.
10:27Ate, you're so good.
10:29What do you use, Ate Kuchilio?
10:31What's the hardest part?
10:33The claw?
10:34Yes, that's the hardest part for her.
10:36It's really hard, ma'am.
10:39Can I try it?
10:40Yes.
10:41How is it?
10:47It's really hard, ma'am.
10:48Yes, it's okay.
10:49I'm sorry.
10:50I'm sorry.
10:51Here, ma'am?
10:52Yes.
10:53It fell off.
10:54It's broken.
10:55It's not a ghost flower.
10:56The value went down.
10:57Yes, the value went down.
10:58I made a mistake.
10:59Yes.
11:00I can't do it here.
11:02How do you make sure that the quality is good?
11:06It needs to be new.
11:08After processing, are you strict?
11:11Yes.
11:12How?
11:13There's a QC for those two.
11:15Oh, there's a quality control.
11:17There are 22 crab meat pickers here in Ana Lin's plant.
11:22It's an additional income for their families.
11:25When commercial fishing vessels are allowed to fish in their waters,
11:31here in Ibi Magalona,
11:32Ana Lin is worried that her business might be affected,
11:37especially her 60 workers.
11:40I don't think we'll be allowed to enter.
11:42Because if we're allowed to enter,
11:44there will be a lot of pollution.
11:46This is how we live.
11:51We're at the sea that surrounds the islands and provinces of
11:56Panay, Iloilo, Negros, and Guimaras.
11:59This part of the sea is known for its rich waters
12:03that provide not only millions
12:06but also billions to the country's economy
12:10because of the industry of blue crab.
12:15That's where we lay our nets.
12:19Tomorrow, we won't be able to catch any more crabs.
12:22In Laot, our banker taught us
12:25about a big boat that does illegal fishing.
12:30For fishermen, they'll get to know each other even in Laot.
12:35For now, our banker said,
12:37they already know that there are illegal fishermen here in the area.
12:42Just like back then in Malayo,
12:44they say it's a troll.
12:46Those big fishers,
12:48their equipment,
12:50even the small fish will get caught.
12:54According to the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998
12:58or the Republic Act 8550,
13:01small-scale fishing vessels are considered
13:04to be able to catch 500 kilos to 3 tons of fish per day.
13:12Medium-scale fishing vessels are bigger,
13:15weighing 20.1 to 150 gross tons.
13:21They are usually used by more advanced fishermen
13:25like trolling.
13:27While those with 150 gross tons,
13:31or those giant boats
13:33that can reach deeper seas,
13:37are considered large-scale commercial fishing.
13:41Commercial fishing vessels can catch up to 3,000 kilos per hour.
13:47Our fishermen only use simple nets,
13:51weighing only half a kilo.
13:53That's how big the difference is.
13:55The fishermen here are asking,
13:57why is it like that?
13:59Who are the small fish?
14:01It's like they're making it difficult for them.
14:03What does the local government unit say about this issue?
14:09We haven't talked to them yet,
14:12because we only found out about this issue last January 31.
14:17We tried to get a report from the LGU,
14:20or the local government of Ibi Magalona,
14:23about this issue,
14:25but they refused.
14:28From Ibi Magalona,
14:29we also traveled to the neighboring town of Manapla,
14:33where the fishermen are still hesitating
14:36because of the Supreme Court's decision.
14:44Good afternoon to you all.
14:47The fishermen here are organized,
14:50because they have a lot of enemies,
14:52like illegal fishing.
14:55Jerry, what is Bantay Kasag?
14:57We guard the fishermen here.
15:00Here in Punta Salong,
15:02we have a slogan.
15:04That's our slogan.
15:05Un...
15:06Un taton!
15:07Salvaron ang industriya san pangasag.
15:09Isalba ang industriya ng kasag.
15:12Un taton!
15:15How is life here now?
15:18To tell you the truth,
15:19we are having a hard time.
15:20We want to stop illegal fishing,
15:22because we want to protect the ocean.
15:28Next to Ibi Magalona,
15:29Manapla is the second-largest producer of blue crab meat.
15:35How is it to be a fisherman?
15:37It's hard.
15:38How?
15:39Because we don't have enough equipment.
15:42Equipment.
15:43Like the radio,
15:44small boats.
15:45How do you deal with illegal fishers?
15:49We talk to them.
15:51Have you ever been caught?
15:52A lot.
15:53Don't kill me, sir!
16:01Don't kill me, sir!
16:03I'm already dead.
16:05Illegal fishing is one of the reasons
16:08why the active fish,
16:09like trout,
16:10destroy coral reefs.
16:12Do commercial fish also get caught?
16:14Sometimes, yes.
16:16Just so you know,
16:17because of the size of the boat.
16:18Yes, it's a big boat.
16:19So even though the court hasn't decided yet,
16:21it already got caught?
16:22Yes, it already got caught.
16:24This Friday night,
16:26while the coast guards were on their way
16:28to the marina of Puntasalong,
16:31they saw a light at sea.
16:34There it is.
16:35The big light.
16:38What is that?
16:40That's a cyclone.
16:43Cyclone.
16:44It might be a cyclone.
16:45According to them,
16:46these are from what is called a cyclone,
16:50or the medium-scale commercial fishing vessel.
16:55Is that the big light, sir?
16:56That's the three big lights.
16:58It's like a super light.
17:00If it's more than 3 cross tonnage,
17:02it needs to go more than 15 kilometers.
17:06The light is up to 5 kilometers.
17:10Maybe this is also one of the commercial fishing vessels
17:14that has a tugboat from the municipality
17:17to catch them.
17:20But even though the coast guards want to approach them,
17:24they don't have their own boats.
17:27Right now, we can't reach them
17:29because first of all,
17:31they have a permit for 25 people.
17:34And that's a lot of people.
17:36That's a lot of people.
17:38That's why we can't reach them.
17:40We'll just keep looking
17:41because we can't reach them.
17:43We've been googling for a long time
17:46and we were only able to get
17:48a tugboat and a fish.
17:49Because if the commercial fishing vessel enters,
17:52a lot of seagrass and corals will be destroyed.
17:55Didn't you know about this case?
17:58We didn't know
17:59that the Supreme Court
18:01issued a decision.
18:03That's all.
18:04It's beneficial,
18:06the money.
18:08But us, the poor,
18:10we're too affected by it.
18:12But the Supreme Court case,
18:14did your party get any money?
18:18No, no.
18:19Not yet.
18:20I only heard about it from you.
18:22That's how it is.
18:23It's in the Supreme Court.
18:25So before that, you didn't know?
18:27No, we didn't know.
18:29You didn't attend a meeting there.
18:31That's why we don't have money.
18:33We can't catch fish there.
18:35If there's a chance.
18:36If there's a chance.
18:37The municipal agriculture officer here
18:40is also subject to the Supreme Court's judgment.
18:43The municipal water is really small.
18:47If it's implemented,
18:49the small or marginal fisherpox will be affected.
18:53So the DA's side,
18:55you're on the side of the fishermen.
18:58Yes, we're on the side of the fishermen.
19:01The Supreme Court allowed commercial fishing
19:05within the 15-kilometer water zone.
19:08A decision that has a big effect
19:11for the Negros Occidental
19:13and other coastal regions.
19:15This decision came from the case of
19:18Mercedar Fishing Corporation,
19:21a commercial fishing company
19:23that challenged the definition of municipal waters
19:27according to the Fisheries Code.
19:29The Malabon Regional Trial Court
19:31ruled in favor of Mercedar.
19:33The Supreme Court approved that decision
19:36by the Malabon RTC.
19:38It means that commercial fishing vessels
19:42can now enter the traditional fishing grounds
19:46of small fishermen
19:48throughout the Philippines.
19:50What is your position in FarmSea?
19:53The entry of commercial fishing vessels here
19:57really affects the livelihood of the fishermen
20:00in Manapla.
20:01The fishermen have an alliance
20:04in this part of Visayas,
20:06the Panay-Negros-Gimaras Crab Fishers' Alliance,
20:10which is now planning to make a signature campaign
20:14as a ruling.
20:16Edwin, why are you making noise
20:19about this issue now?
20:21This is the Supreme Court's decision.
20:23The situation of fisherpox
20:26is that they are now given
20:28the most difficult social sector.
20:32Do you ever think about it?
20:33Why do fishermen always talk about this to us?
20:37That is what makes us sad.
20:39According to our investigation,
20:41the petition to the Malabon RTC
20:44was signed by Mercedar in October 2023.
20:47In December 2023,
20:49the Malabon RTC approached the company.
20:52The court declared that
20:54some provisions of the Fisheries Code,
20:57January 2024,
20:58are against the Constitution.
21:01The Motion for Reconsideration
21:04in the Supreme Court was signed
21:06by the Solicitor General,
21:07Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources or BFAR,
21:10and the Department of Agriculture.
21:12But the Supreme Court did not accept it
21:15because it has already passed
21:17the 15-day period for the appeal.
21:21We also denounced the government
21:24for neglecting the technical defect
21:29because it did not file its response on time.
21:34Who did not file on time?
21:36The Solicitor General.
21:38Subsequently, the government panel,
21:39the Solicitor General and BFAR.
21:41We said that in the 15 days
21:43that the law allowed them to file,
21:46they should have filed
21:47even if they had done a consultation.
21:49So your side was defeated because of the technical defect?
21:52Yes, it was more of a procedural setback.
21:55The group of Kilos Protesta also protested.
22:15Now we're also reeling from the impacts of climate change.
22:18The conditions are aggravating.
22:20This is going to be not just a food security issue
22:23but a national security issue.
22:25We will uphold our duty to protect our municipal waters
22:30and the livelihood of our people.
22:33The Congress passed a resolution
22:35to immediately investigate
22:37the effects of commercial fishing
22:40in the so-called municipal waters
22:43or 15 kilometers from Dalampasigan
22:47by the local people.
22:49Before this decision was passed,
22:51the commercial vessels could apply
22:54but they still need to go through local ordinances.
22:59However, in this decision,
23:01it means that they no longer need to go through the LGU
23:06to be exempted.
23:07Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture
23:10issued a ruling in the Supreme Court decision.
23:14The Department of Agriculture,
23:16through the Office of the Solicitor General,
23:18has filed a motion for reconsideration
23:20with the Supreme Court to overturn a decision
23:22allowing commercial fishing vessels
23:24access to municipal waters
23:25previously reserved for small-scale fishers
23:28under the Fisheries Code.
23:29At a depth of 7 fathoms or 12 meters,
23:32corals are at risk
23:33and our scarce marine resources
23:35could face further depletion.
23:37The Department of Agriculture
23:40has issued a ruling
23:42to immediately investigate
23:44the effects of commercial fishing
23:46in the so-called municipal waters
23:48by the local people.
23:50Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture
23:52issued a ruling in the Supreme Court
23:54to overturn a decision
23:56allowing commercial fishers
23:58access to municipal waters
23:59previously reserved for small-scale fishers
24:01under the Fisheries Code.
24:03They are rich,
24:04even richer than us.
24:05And their weaknesses
24:07before they took the chance
24:10to avoid further
24:13poverty.
24:15We live almost there.
24:17Now, if they still take that,
24:19what about the small ones like us?
24:26Thank you for watching, Kapuso!
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