THE House committee on aquaculture and fisheries resources is closely coordinating with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to ensure that the agency continues to effectively assist the coast guard and the military in providing protection and support to Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said Wednesday.

Yamsuan, who chairs the committee, said over 385,000 fisherfolk dependent on the waters of WPS for their livelihood need to be protected from China’s “acts of intimidation and provocation” in the disputed waters.

At the same time, Yamsuan commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for continuing to protect Filipino fisherfolk in the WPS, especially at this time when China’s new regulation to detain foreigners supposedly “trespassing” in the contested waters is now in effect.

Yamsuan also cited BFAR’s recent statement that China’s “no-trespassing’ rule has no impact on the country’s fisheries production simply because the Philippines does not recognize this unilateral and baseless declaration. The BFAR also assured Filipino fisherfolk that they can continue to fish in portions of the WPS that form part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“As chair of the House aquaculture and fisheries committee, we are closely coordinating with BFAR to find ways to improve the capability of municipal fisherfolk fishing in the West Philippine Sea as well as in protecting them and our marine resources from illegal activities,” Yamsuan said.

“BFAR itself said that our fisherfolk can continue fishing in the West Philippine Sea. But such pronouncements should be backed by action and concrete support for our fisherfolk,” he added.

During a recent briefing before the Yamsuan-chaired committee, BFAR reported that it is planning to procure two additional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) patrol vessels and one food boat this year in line with its initiatives to support the government’s efforts to protect the country’s marine resources in the WPS.

BFAR reported during the briefing that it has allotted P1.8 billion in 2024 for its WPS-related programs, which also includes strengthening its Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System (IMEMS) to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF), implementing science-based policies on fisheries conservation and sustainability in the WPS, and improving the management of its data assets through an enhanced fisheries regulatory and information system.

Yamsuan said that while these appear to be laudable initiatives, BFAR’s record shows that more needs to be done to ensure the efficient use of its funds to capacitate small fisherfolk in the WPS.

BFAR’s budget has been consistently increasing by an average of 45 percent since 2022, but its program to procure boats for municipal fisherfolk has always been delayed, Yamsuan noted.

“We want to find out from BFAR what needs to be done to speed up the procurement so that it can provide the support that our fisherfolk need, especially those dependent on the West Philippine Sea for their livelihood,” said Yamsuan.

BFAR’s budget for 2022 was P4.57 billion, which increased by 49 percent to P6.82 billion in 2023 and by 41 percent to P9.65 billion in 2024.

Yet, the House Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea, of which Yamsuan is also a member, found out that 37 of the BFAR boats funded under the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA) were only issued their respective Authority to Pay on May 9, 2024. Only 15 of the 52 additional boats funded under the 2023 GAA are ready for distribution next month.

Yamsuan said the government’s recent formal declaration before the United Nations of maritime entitlement to an extended continental shelf on parts of the WPS, complement the current steps being undertaken to assert the country’s rights over the contested area and protect fisherfolk from China’s bullying activities.

“All these measures demonstrate how the Philippines has resorted to restraint in dealing with this national security concern,” Yamsuan said.

“Our calibrated response will help us sustain the support we have earned from the international community as shown by the latest pronouncement of the G7 bloc condemning China’s increasing use of dangerous tactics in the WPS,” added Yamsuan, referring to the Group of Seven consisting of the United States, Italy, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and Canada.

The US has also issued a separate statement reaffirming its support for the Philippines and condemning China’s actions in the WPS, amid the latest incident in Ayungin Shoal where a Chinese vessel collided with a Philippine supply ship on June 17.

US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson also said on the social platform X that “The [U.S.] condemns the [China’]s aggressive, dangerous maneuvers near Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, which caused bodily injury, damaged Philippine vessels, and hindered lawful maritime operations to supply food, water, and essential supplies to personnel within the [Philippine] exclusive economic zone.”