Fishermen from nine cities and provinces (Quezon, Cavite, Bataan, Zambales, Batangas, Bulacan, Navotas, Las Piñas, and Parañaque), along with representatives from the NGO for Fisheries Reform (NFR), held a protest in front of the Supreme Court on Friday, July 4. They brought an effigy of a fishing vessel to represent commercial and large-scale fishing activities in municipal waters.
On August 19, 2024, the Supreme Court issued a resolution affirming the decision of the Malabon Regional Trial Court allowing commercial fishing vessels to operate within the 15-kilometer municipal waters. These waters are designated under existing laws primarily for municipal or small-scale fishers. Nearly a year since the resolution was released and three months after the latest Motion for Intervention was filed, the Supreme Court has yet to issue a response to the concerns raised by the small-scale fishing sector. (MB video by Mark Balmores)
