By E.H. Edejer | October 29, 2024

IBA, Zambales — With geopolitical issues in the West Philippines Sea (WPS) adversely affecting local fisherfolk, Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. is calling for strategic actions that would sustain and enhance the livelihood of fishermen in the coastal province of Zambales.

In his message at the Provincial Caravan for WPS held on Oct. 22 at the SMX Convention Center in Olongapo City, Ebdane urged immediate action on the problems confronting some 27,000 fishermen in Zambales who consider the WPS their traditional fishing ground.

“(In) Zambales, we always have this problem because whenever it rains for three to four consecutive days, we already have to prepare ‘ayuda’ for our fishermen,” the governor said. “But we cannot do this in perpetuity. So, we have set up funds and begun to think of long-term requirements and programs.”

Now, Ebdane said, the provincial government is organizing fisherfolk into cooperative clusters for deep-sea fishers, those involved in baklad or payao fishing, and other means of marine livelihood, with each cluster to be funded for projects to upgrade fishing skills and capacity.

The provincial government has likewise established the Zambales Maritime Development Council (ZMDC) to oversee, supervise, and manage the cooperatives for fisherfolk. Fisherfolk and community organizations in the province, as well as concerned government agencies, are represented in the council, Ebdane said.

He also announced the initial allocation of P5 million for the purchase of 45 sets of payao gears, and the ongoing talks with the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) for short training courses on modern fishing, with the long-term view of acquiring a ship for local commercial fishing operations.

Ebdane added that his administration would need to create the Zambales Development Corporation to further support fishermen, farmers, mango growers, and small businessmen in boosting livelihood.

The WPS Caravan, which was led by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in coordination with local government units and national government agencies, sought to popularize, validate, enhance, and institutionalize the provincial action plans formulated by 10 provinces adjoining the WPS in the national summit held in August last year.

DILG Zambales Provincial Director Martin Porres Moral said the Zambales action plan included the delineation of municipal water boundaries to prevent the entry of large commercial vessels; implementation of zoning ordinances; and re-activation of Zambales marine protected area (MPA) network to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Ebdane said that WPS stakeholders must “think forward to the operational and strategic requirements of the action plan” while considering tactical approaches.

“We can plan out anything we want, but while planning, time is running out fast.  So, we have to do it now. We have to act because we have the opportunity now,” the governor added. 

TOP PHOTO: Fishing boats are seen on anchor in the fishing town of Santa Cruz, Zambales, as the livelihood of local fishermen gets sidelined by geopolitical tension in the West Philippine Sea (Photo by E.H. Edejer)