On May 25, PAMALAKAYA (National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organization in the Philippines) criticised Akbayan Partylist announcement to gather “patriotic and pro-WPS lawmakers to protect the seas and the rights and welfare of fisherfolk and maritime frontliners.” They allegedly aim to unite against China’s interference in the WPS.
“While we agree that there is the constant need to amplify the situation in the West Philippine Sea, we question Akbayan’s real motive on its plan to create the West Philippine Sea bloc, because we strongly suspect that Akbayan is partial on the side of the United States, refusing to acknowledge that the U.S. itself is the clear and present danger to our sovereignty and national security,” Pamalakaya second chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said.
The fisherfolk leader reminded Akbayan representatives that the US is no different from China when it comes to interfering with the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk in our territorial waters. Large Chinese vessels have several times driven away ordinary Filipino fisherfolk from seas within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and traditional fishing grounds, depriving them of livelihood.
Likewise, US war games annually and regularly disrupt the livelihood of fisherfolk not only in parts of the WPS but also in the seas east of the Philippines. An example is the several days imposition of “no-sail zones” in Cagayan, Aurora, Zambales, and other provinces in the Philippines during the Balikatan 40-25 war games from April 21 to May 9. Thousands of fisherfolk suffered greatly and received insufficient compensation for their lost income during activities approved by the Marcos regime itself.
“China is condemnable over violation of a specific maritime law by disrespecting our exclusive economic zone. But our patriotic efforts should extend against the U.S. which has a long history of military interventions and war of ,waged against us and other countries,” Arambulo added.
In a related development, on May 30, 2025 a day before the National Day of Fisherfolks, several hundreds fisherfolks and their supporters marched in Manila and called for the defense of their rights, oppose reclamation, and demand the withdrawal of the Supreme Court decision on the 15-kilometer municipal waters.
On December 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that big fishing companies are allowed to operate within municipal waters (sea within 15 kilometers from the coast). This has been opposed by fisherfolks because this destroys the livelihood of 2 million fisherfoks.
“Various federations and associations of small fisherfolks will again join in collective action with a unified aim of pushing for the assertion of their right on the 15-kilometer municipal fishing grounds. President Marcos has not yet responded to our opposition against the Court’s decision which favors commercial fishing,” declared Salvador France, general secretary of PAMALAKAYA.