MANILA, Philippines — The National Security Council (NSC) urged fishermen in Palawan to go beyond the municipal waters and fish in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), saying it is the right of every Filipino to utilize all the natural resources in that part of the country.

NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya assured the northern Palawan fishermen of government support during the Northern Palawan Fisherman’s Congress on Thursday in Coron, Palawan.

“The newly enacted Philippine Maritime Zones Act, UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling have clearly established our legal rights in the West Philippine Sea, so I urge you to go and continue fishing in the WPS and we are here to support you,” Malaya told some 170 northern Palawan fisherfolk.

The Northern Palawan Fishermen’s Congress gathered around 170 fisherfolk from the towns of Coron, Culion, Linapacan and Busuanga, along with representatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units.

Malaya also told the fishermen that there is no Philippine government-imposed moratorium on fishing because of guidelines imposed by the China Coast Guard.

“There is no government-imposed moratorium on fishing anywhere in the West Philippine Sea. There are BFAR-imposed closed fishing seasons in our archipelagic waters to allow the fish to recover but none in the West Philippine Sea,” Malaya said.

He asserted that Beijing “has no legal authority to impose any moratorium or legal regulation of activities of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.”

“Only the Philippine government can impose that (regulation). And I’m here to tell you that you are free to fish anywhere in the WPS,” he added.

With the theme “Kaunlaran at Kapayapaan sa Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas,” the event underscored the crucial role of fisherfolk in safeguarding marine resources, advancing food security and fostering maritime peace.

One of the highlights of the congress was the regional launch of BFAR’s LAYAG-West PH Sea Program, an initiative aimed at empowering fishing communities through modern technologies, livelihood support and sustainable fishing practices.

The Tagbanua fisherfolk of Barangay Lajala in Coron received fiberglass boats with engines and accessories, while select Palawan LGUs were given fishing inputs, such as nets and payaws or fish aggregating devices from BFAR.

BFAR spokesman Nazario Briguera shared the agency’s vision for empowering fisherfolk.

“Today, we have strengthened the unity and support for our fisherfolk, who are the true caretakers of our natural resources, the foundation of our economy and the provider of food security,” he said.

Philippine Navy Capt. Arnel Teodoro, deputy commander of Joint Task Force Malampaya, also urged the fisherfolk to fish in the WPS, underscoring the pivotal role of fisherfolk in protecting the nation’s maritime domain and reiterating their frontline role in defending marine resources in the WPS.

Malaya emphasized the critical link between maritime security and food security.

“The reason for this fishermen’s Congress is to emphasize that our national security is not separate from maritime security. Having maritime security is connected to our aim that we can have food security. That is why maritime security is also food security,” he explained.

The NSC said the congress, following the first held in Subic, Zambales in September 2024, reaffirmed the NSC’s commitment to collaborating with coastal communities in strengthening maritime security and sustainable fishing practices.

It emphasized the shared responsibility of protecting marine resources and ensuring the resilience of communities facing challenges in the WPS.

EDCA in Surigao

A senior lawmaker from Mindanao yesterday renewed his call last March for the government to designate an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) naval site in Surigao del Norte, especially in light of repeated Chinese incursions.

“These continued Chinese vessel intrusions in our eastern seaboard is one of the reasons why I’m asking the government, particularly the Department of National Defense, to put up a naval site in our province,” Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers proposed.

He pointed out that the country’s eastern seaboard, where the mineral-rich Benham Rise or Philippine Rise is located, should be protected from potential intruders, just like the WPS where China has been making repeated incursions.

In a statement, Barbers explained that his district “sits directly in the country’s eastern waters and the Pacific Ocean, facing continuing threats from drug smugglers, spy vessels and other foreign intruders.”

“The province’s distinct advantage to have an EDCA naval site is that it is openly facing the Pacific Ocean and had an outlet to the West Philippine Sea and ships can traverse the country from east to west and vice-versa without the need to circle around,” he said.

He also assailed Beijing’s continuing disrespect to the country’s sovereignty by intruding inside the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Chinese government, according to him, has been “deploying without permission three research or probably spy vessels near Siargao Island and Davao Oriental last month.”

The Mindanao legislator also revealed he was receiving reports from the Philippine Coast Guard, where three Chinese vessels travelling together “could be documenting tides, seabed and other strategic data in said area.”

On Saturday at about 7:40 a.m., the PCG and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea monitored the Xiang Yang Hong 3, Jia Geng and Xiang Yang Hong 10  at about 211 nautical miles east of Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte.

The three Chinese vessels entered the country’s EEZ on Nov. 20 near Siargao Island and Davao Oriental. On Nov. 17, they were spotted 257 nautical miles near Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

“Through their vessels, we firmly believe that there is more than meets the eye with regard to these ships which traveled simultaneously in a very specific area, which they did to our province. And they didn’t seek clearance from us in entering our EEZ,” Barbers said.

Barbers, together with his brother Surigao del Norte Gov. Lyndon Barbers, earlier invited Filipino and American military officials to check out their province as a possible next EDCA naval site following the building of a similar naval facility in Casiguran, Aurora to protect the Philippine Rise.

“While the Defense Department under Secretary Gibo Teodoro considers the Casiguran EDCA site to be playing an important role in guarding the country’s eastern seaboard, I think it’s not sufficient enough,” he said.

“We need another EDCA naval site in Surigao del Norte to cover and protect the vast eastern seaboard from drug smugglers and foreign intruders,” Barbers added.

There are currently five EDCA sites in the country: Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawansatta9, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro.

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