On Nat’l Fisherfolk Day: WV Small Fishers Define Democratic, Green Reform Agenda

The Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM)-Negros Office and the Negros Anti-Mining Alliance (NAMA), in collaboration with the Panay-Negros-Guimaras Crab Fishers Alliance (PANEG-CA), in commemoration of National Fisherfolk Day on May 31, 2025 will hold a “Forum on the Negros Fisheries Debt Situation and People’s Response” on May 30 afternoon at the St. John Vianney Hall, San Sebastian Cathedral Complex, Bacolod City.

The forum is also part of the nationally coordinated Day of Action to be launched on May 30 by the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) and OCEANA.

The theme of the forum will be, “Aton Ang Kinse: Reclaiming the 15-Km. Municipal Waters and Continuing Campaign Vs Illegal Fishing and Coastal/ Marine Mining”.

Around 50 to 60 small fisher-leaders, civil society and NGO representatives and church people will participate in the forum.

A highlight of the forum is the presentation of the Small Fishers’ 12-Point Democratic and Green Reform Agenda that was formulated by PANEG-CA leaders during a conference held on April 30 also in Bacolod City. The Agenda serves as guide for small fishers in selecting pro-small fishers and pro-people leaders during the past election period as well as an advocacy platform that will be engaged with the national government agencies especially the DA – BFAR, the DILG and the DENR etc., the provincial government and local government units and with national and local CSO networks this 2025 and beyond.

Gerry Bedoya, PANEG-CA chair, said their agenda is the product of many years of struggle and consultation among their ranks. “A major issue now affecting the small fishers and coastal communities is the recent Supreme Court ruling which allowed the entry of commercial fishers into municipal waters and which will greatly affect the safety and well-being of small fishers and that of the coastal and marine ecosystems,” Bedoya averred.

Other highlights of the forum will be presentations on the Negros Fisheries Development Situation wherein the provincial office of BFAR was invited to give and on the legal issues and implications of the SC ruling which will be discussed by Atty. Cesar Beloria.

PRRM-NEGROS Area Manager Edwin Balajadia said the commemoration of the National Fisherfolk Day thru Presidential Proclamation 261 issued on 3rd April 2000 has become a symbol of protest for small fishers and civil society given that small fishers after 25 years remain in abject poverty, and continue to suffer from social and political marginalization, lack of basic social services, adverse effects of climate changes and the current threats of coastal and offshore mining.

“Only thru building small fishers and people power, enabling themselves and in advocating their issues and concerns in various arenas especially with the government and in local Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Councils (FARMCs) and in alliance with other marginalized sectors can the fisherfolks obtain a decent life and a sustainable future,” Balajadia added.* (Hazel Aghon, PRRM-Negros)