Should he earn a seat in the Senate this May, former Senator and 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson will study ways to protect the welfare of small fishermen in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling allowing commercial vessels to operate in municipal waters.
Lacson, a champion of the rights of farmers and fisherfolk as well as local government units, said Thursday that at least one LGU has joined calls asking the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling.
“Legislation may be needed, including possible amendments to existing laws, to firm up the protection of our municipal waters,” Lacson said in Filipino in an interview on Bombo Radyo Philippines on Thursday.
Related: Ping Lacson, Ipagtatanggol ang Maliit na Mangingisda sa Pagpasok ng Commercial Vessels
Earlier reports indicated the Iloilo provincial government has filed with the high court a motion for leave of court to intervene in relation to the Supreme Court ruling allowing commercial fishing vessels to operate in municipal waters.
The Iloilo provincial government formally requested the high court’s permission to intervene and support the motion for reconsideration filed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Provincial administrator Raul Banias, a former mayor of the coastal town of Concepcion, was quoted as saying the ruling threatens the livelihoods of small-scale fisherfolk and may damage marine biodiversity – and may undermine the LGUs’ efforts for sustainable fisheries management.
Lacson said that while the local government may issue ordinances to protect the fisherfolk, it may not be enough as an ordinance is not permanent.
“It may not be enough. It may offer a reprieve, but it is not permanent,” he said.
Also, Lacson reiterated his call for a bigger role for LGUs in the management of natural resources, including Laguna Lake. Last Monday, Lacson called for a bigger role for LGUs around Laguna Lake to have a bigger say in its maintenance and development.
He proposed that the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) allow more participation for LGUs in managing Laguna Lake through a board- or council-type setup.
“We have a Local Government Code that gives LGUs authority, yet the LLDA’s current setup gives them virtually no say even if their constituents are affected. There are issues in Laguna Lake including flooding and silting that affect the fishermen there,” Lacson said.
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Ping Lacson, Ipagtatanggol ang Maliit na Mangingisda sa Pagpasok ng Commercial Vessels
Kung manalo siya sa pagka-senador sa Mayo, gagawa ng paraan si dating Senador at 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson para protektahan ang mga maliit na mangingisda sa posibleng epekto ng ruling ng Korte Suprema na nagpapahintulot sa mga commercial vessels na pumasok sa mga municipal waters.
Diin ni Lacson, na tagapagtanggol ng maliit na magsasaka at mangingisda at ng local government units, may LGU nang nakilahok sa paghiling sa Korte Suprema na i-reconsider ang ruling nito.
“Kailangang pasukan ng legislation, siguro amendment ng batas para ma-firm up ang pag-protect sa ating municipal waters,” ani Lacson sa panayam sa Bombo Radyo Philippines nitong Huwebes.
Ayon sa ulat, naghain ang Iloilo provincial government sa Korte Suprema ng motion for leave of court to intervene na may kinalaman sa ruling nito na pumapayag sa pagpasok ng commercial fishing vessels sa municipal waters.
Hiniling ng Iloilo provincial government ang pahintulot ng Korte Suprema na sumuporta sa motion for reconsideration ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources tungkol dito.
Giit ni provincial administrator Raul Banias, na dating mayor ng bayan ng Concepcion, banta sa kabuhayan ng maliit na mangingisda ang ruling, bukod sa maaaring maapektuhan ang marine biodiversity at ang ginagawa ng mga LGUs para sa sustainable fisheries management.
Ayon kay Lacson, bagama’t maaaring maglabas ang local government ng ordinansa para protektahan ang mga mangingisda, baka hindi ito sapat dahil hindi permanente ang ordinansa.
“Hindi sapat yan. While reprieve yan, di siya maging permanent,” aniya.
Muli ring nanawagan si Lacson para sa mas malaking papel para sa LGUs sa pamamahala ng natural resources, kabilang ang Laguna Lake. Noong Lunes, ito rin ang panawagan niya para sa LGU sa paligid ng Laguna Lake – na magkaroon ng mas malaking papel sa pamamahala nito.
Ang kanyang mungkahi ay magkaroon ng papel ang LGU sa pamamagitan ng board- o council-type na setup.
“Meron tayong Local Government Code kung saan may pakialam ang LGUs. Kaya lang na-create ang LLDA kung saan wala silang say samantalang sila ay apektado. Hindi lang ng pagbaha kasi silted, kundi pati mga mangingisda sa Laguna Lake,” ani Lacson.
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