Company workers in fishing and canning, operators of commercial fishing vessels as well as members of a big labor union here, will stage a peaceful rally today in front of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) along R.T. Lim Boulevard to protest the proposed amendments to Republic Act (RA) No. 8550, otherwise known as the Philippines Fisheries Code of 1998.
Protesters led by Mr. Jose Suan, National President of the Philippine Integrated Industries Labor Union (PIILU) and Vice President of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), have argued recently that thousands of workers will lose their jobs once the final version of the Congressional bill (House Bill No. 4536) amending the RA 8550 is approved by President Benigno Aquino III.
Suan said the peaceful rally will be from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., where the rallyists will assemble at Cawa-Cawa, R.T Lim Boulevard, then march towards BFAR.
He said officials of Southern Philippines Deep Sea Fishing Association Inc. (SOPHIL) led by its Executive Vice President Roberto Baylosis, and commercial operators homeported in Zamboanga City and officers and members of PIILU and TUCP who strongly support the appeal of Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations, will take part in the rally.
“We support the President but because of this, that we are not consulted, we are willing to sit down to bring back this matter to the drawing table and to study deeply (the House Bill 4536) with proper consultation,” said Suan.
“This (Congressional bill) needs to be reviewed. Sinasabi natin kay Pangulong Aquino na dapat tingnan mabuti ang bill, at magkaroon ng consultation bago niya aprobahan... they should look deeply into the House Bill because this is not good on the part of the stakeholders, particularly sa amin mga workers, we will lose our job,...not this railroading just to please the E.U. which we are not the exporter, we are only selling domistically,” Suan stressed.
“Why comfort the E.U. (European Union) when we are not exporting, particularly our main products here (Zambonga) are sardines?” Suan asked, reiterating an earlier statement of the Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations, Inc.
Suan warned of “serious” consequences both economically unless the President vetoes the bill amending the Philippine Fisheries Code, “because thousands of workers will be jobless as all fishing companies operating in region 9, especially Zamboang City, will be closed down and forced to downsize and retrench workers.
“Our association will be much affected once the bill if passed,” Suan reiterated. “Magkakaroon ng downsizing or retrenchment ng more than 30,000 canning workers because walang fishing walang canning.”
The commercial fishing industry in the region — Universal Canning Inc., Mega Fishing Corporation, Oceanic Fishing Corporation, YL Fishing Corporation, Nancy Fishing Corporation, AMR Trade and Industrial Development Corporation, Centiury Fishing Corporation, OLC Fishing Corporation, E&L Fishing Enterprise, Zamboanga GMS Fishing Corporation, NCW Fishing Corporation, Jordan Fishing Corporation, Sky Ocean Fishing Corporation, Lourdes Fishing Corporation, OR Fishing, AM Fishing, S&M Fishing, Althea Fishing Goldenhook Fishing Corporation, Bigsmile Fishing Corporation, Vicory Fishing Corporation, and Walter Fishing Corporation — has more than 30,000 workers,
On December 1, 2014, the heads of the Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations, Inc. through SOPHIL Executive Vice President Baylosis made an appeal to President Aquino, saying that the impetus for the lightning-swift passage of the bill is the intense pressure coming from the European Union who threatens to “red card” the fishery products.
“BFAR went overboard to please the E.U., an in fraction punishable by a fine of P10,000 under R.A. 8550 would now be punishable by as much as five million pesos for local fishing and up to ninety million pesos for large overseas fishing vessels plus an automatic escalation of 10% every three years.
The objective of this amendment looks noble: To conserve our marine resources. We support that objective, but law should not treat the commercial fishers as villains of the lowest level. Illegal fishermen using dynamite and/or cyanide cause irreparable damage, in contrast to the sustainable methods of commercial fishing. Unfortunately, the penalties for destructive fishing activities by illegal fishermen are even lighter than that imposed on commercial fishing operators,” the fishing federations’ appeal said Baylosis believes that the amendments of Philippines Fisheries Code of 1998 effectively convert BFAR into a superbody, with the enormous powers of a roving commission.
“BFAR will act as prosecutor, judge and executioner. It can not be issued TRO’s or injunctions. Neither can we file any suit against BFAR for any wrong they commit,” he added.
According to him, the bill was made possible because no meaningful consultation with the most affected sectors of the Philippine fishing industry was conducted.
No less than BFAR Director Asis Perez had admitted and profusely apologized several times before the whole body and Secretary Proceso Alcala during last November 29 post legislation meeting for not having consulted the stakeholders which represent the whole commercial fishing sector on the bill, Baylosis continued.
“If the fishing industry is killed by this bill... locally-caught fish will either disappear or will be priced very high. This situation can only be filled by importing fish,” he said.
He asked; “Would anyone eat imported frozen ‘galunggong’, if there were affordable fresh ‘galunggong avaiable?”
Baylosis implored President Aquino to veto the Congressional bill amending the Philippine Fisheries Code and help them start the process of working toegther to draft a new and more responsive one.
“A true Fisheries Code must be equally concerned with both marine resources and food security. The proposed bill only deals with crimes and punishments. No provisions to promote the growth of the fishing sector,” he said. — Hader Glang
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