MANILA, Philippines — Two fisherfolk associations in Zambales have expressed support for a peaceful, diplomatic resolution of tensions in the West Philippine Sea, backing a national fishers’ group’s call to demilitarize the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) announced the position following a consultation it held Sunday, July 19, with the Subic-based Samahan ng Cabangaan 3 Fishermen’s Unity and the Fisherfolk Association in Wawandue (FAW).
According to Pamalakaya, the two local organizations committed to campaigning for the demilitarization of the country’s EEZ. They said they favored peaceful and diplomatic efforts to assert the Philippines’ sovereign rights, particularly at Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc.
Roselyn Regalado, president of the Samahan ng Cabangaan 3 Fishermen’s Unity, said fisherfolk in Zambales supported peaceful means of asserting the country’s sovereign rights rather than increasing the presence of foreign military forces, which she said could heighten tensions.
“No fisher in Zambales would oppose pursuing peaceful means of asserting our sovereign rights. We reject being used by other powerful countries to further escalate the situation in our waters,” Regalado said.
The fisherfolk groups also raised concerns about the impact of the Balikatan exercises held in April, saying fishing activities were disrupted for more than two weeks because of a no-sail zone imposed during the drills.
Regalado said affected fishers had yet to receive the compensation they said was promised for the disruption.
“The Philippines and other countries conducted military exercises for more than two weeks in April. These disrupted our livelihood because of the no-sail zone that was imposed. Meanwhile, no fisher has yet received the compensation that was promised,” she said.
READ: Zambales braces for fishing disruptions anew
Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said Filipino fishers should have a voice in discussions on how tensions in the West Philippine Sea are addressed because they continue to experience the effects of the maritime dispute in their fishing grounds.
“If anyone has the right to assert how tensions in the West Philippine Sea should be resolved, it is Filipino fishers, who continue to face intimidation from Chinese vessels, further aggravated by the expanded military presence of the United States and its allied countries. The call of Filipino fishers for a peaceful resolution and against provocative military exercises in our waters should be heard,” Hicap said. /dm
READ: A decade on, arbitral award remains central to PH sea strategy
Related story: TIMELINE: Chinese ships spotted off Batanes over the years
The post Zambales fishers push diplomacy amid West Philippine Sea tensions appeared first on Inquirer.net.
