Iloilo SP backs ratification of ILO Convention 188 to protect fishers

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Iloilo has expressed full support for the ratification of  International Labor Organization Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (ILO C188), as the local counterpart to House Resolution No. 00133 filed by Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza in the House of Representatives.

The measure, sponsored by 4th District Board Member Rolando B. Distura, aims to strengthen national and local efforts to uphold the rights and welfare of Filipino fishers, particularly those deployed in foreign commercial fishing vessels.

Distura cited reports of poor and unsafe working conditions experienced by many Iloilo fishers who are hired for overseas fishing work.

“There are already a lot of Ilonggos, especially in the northern parts of Iloilo, suffering from the inhumane and undignified ways of this industry. I just think it’s proper for us to make a resolution,” he said during the regular session on November 25.

He pointed out that although many Ilonggos are hired for their fishing skills, they often end up working on vessels with poor living conditions, limited rest, no comprehensive work agreements, and unsafe environments that put their lives at risk.

“Most of them go home unhappy,” he stressed.

At the Regional Forum of Migrant Fishers 2025 held in Iloilo City on Nov. 21, migrant fishers, labor and environmental groups also raised cases of forced labor, unpaid wages, and unregulated fishing.

Angel Marie Ysik of the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) said the Philippines is the second-largest source of migrant fishers globally, next to Indonesia, but has yet to adopt the international standard.

She added that while there is no regional data, their interviews identified at least 50 migrant fishers from Western Visayas.

ILO Convention 188 establishes minimum standards for the safety, welfare, and working conditions of fishers, including occupational health and safety, medical care, social protection, written work agreements, adequate rest periods, and decent accommodation onboard.

Distura emphasized that Iloilo, being home to numerous coastal communities and thousands of small-scale and commercial fishers, stands to benefit significantly from its adoption.

“This aligns with Iloilo’s commitment to social justice, labor protection, and the promotion of safe and sustainable fisheries, consistent with both national policy direction and international labor standards;,” the resolution stated.

Copies of the measure will be furnished to the Committee on Labor and Employment, the Public Employment Services Office, and other concerned offices for their information and appropriate action.