UPV, TBTI spotlight fisherfolk rights, livelihood

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In celebration of National Fisherfolk’s Day, the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) and Too-Big-to-Ignore (TBTI) Philippines, the National Consortium for Small-Scale Fisheries Research and Development in the Philippines, highlighted livelihood programs, social protection, and knowledge transfer initiatives that could benefit small-scale fishers across the country.

The celebration brought together 80 small-scale fishers from 28 local government units in Western Visayas under the theme “Mangingisdang Handa at Protektado: Kabuhayan, Kaalaman at Kaagapay para sa Matatag na Kinabukasan.”

The program was held May 30, 2026, at the UPV Auditorium on the Iloilo City campus, ahead of National Fisherfolk’s Day, which is observed every May 31 under Proclamation No. 261, series of 2000.

UPV Chancellor Dr. Clement C. Camposano opened the program with a message underscoring the need to protect municipal waters from threats posed by commercial fishing.

A prerecorded video message from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 6 Regional Director Remia Aparri was shown afterward.

Aparri reassured the small-scale fisherfolk in attendance that BFAR fully supports their fight to protect the country’s 15-kilometer municipal waters.

Dr. Alice Joan G. Ferrer, UPV vice chancellor for academic affairs and executive director of TBTI Philippines, gave an overview of the day’s program.

The first segment, “Kabuhayan na Kayang Simulan: Ready-to-Access Livelihood Programs for Small-Scale Fisherfolk,” featured resource speakers from various government agencies.

The participating agencies included the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, Cooperative Development Authority, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The second segment, “Proteksyon ng Maliliit na Mangingisda: Social Protection You Can Access Today,” featured representatives from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., Land Bank of the Philippines, Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Security System, and Commission on Higher Education.

The third segment, “Kaalaman para sa Kita: Practical Knowledge and Technologies for Small-Scale Fisherfolk,” featured speakers from the Department of Science and Technology and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-Aquaculture Department.

The final segment, labeled “Aton ang Kinse,” featured a talk by Atty. Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio of Oceana Philippines.

Eisma-Osorio gave updates on the status of appeals lodged against a December 2023 Malabon Regional Trial Court (RTC) ruling in the Mercidar case.

The RTC ruling declared some provisions of the Philippine Fisheries Code, or Republic Act 8550 as amended by Republic Act 10654, unconstitutional, including the 15-kilometer municipal waters reserved for small-scale fishers.

Acting as reactors to Eisma-Osorio’s message were Iloilo Board Member Rolando B. Distura, Regional Fisherfolk Director Joni D. Valladarez, and Rare Philippines Senior Manager for Policy and Government Engagement Dennis F. Calvan.

Member higher education institutions of TBTI Philippines present during the program included the University of Antique, Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, Northern Iloilo State University, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Guimaras State University, Partido State University, Mindanao State University at Naawan, Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, and Batangas State University-ARASOF Nasugbu.

The program was sponsored in part by BFAR 6, SSF Guidelines Research Group, GeNA Research Group, Rare Philippines, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, University of Antique, Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, Guimaras State University, and Oceana Philippines, among others. (Written by GT Mabilog)