THE maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) goes beyond territorial sovereignty — it also affects fisherfolk livelihoods and the country’s food security, said the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“The well-being of more than 450,000 registered fisherfolk and the food security of millions of Filipinos depend on ensuring continued, safe, and sustainable access to these rich fishing grounds,” Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate said on July 12 at the national commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, which affirmed the Philippines’ maritime rights in the area.
As of June 30, government data show 453,246 registered fisherfolk living in provinces and cities along the WPS, mostly in Palawan, Pangasinan, Batangas, and Cavite. These areas supplied an average of 16.68 percent of the country’s marine capture fisheries production from 2006 to 2025, said the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
While nationwide fisheries output has declined, WPS production grew 28 percent between 2022 and 2025, or nearly 20 percent of the country’s total marine catch last year, the PSA noted.
Despite the overall drop in fish landings over two decades, the catch’s economic value reached P40.05 billion in 2025 — an 80-percent increase since 2006 — which the DA attributed to inflation, rising demand, and tighter supply.
Filipino fishing communities also face compounded threats, limiting their access to WPS fishing grounds, Bayate said.
The threats include harassment from Chinese maritime militias, environmental hazards such as typhoons and damaged marine ecosystems, and economic strains from rising fuel costs, post-harvest losses, and illegal fishing.
To address them, Bayate said the Marcos administration, through the DA and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), is combining defense with socio-economic support. This includes expanding the F/B Pagbabago (Change) Program, which distributes fiberglass-reinforced plastic fishing boats and gear, offers boat-repair training, and — under the expanded version — promotes seaweed farming through seedlings, materials, nurseries and post-harvest facilities.
In 2024, the program provided P3,000 fuel subsidies each to more than 18,500 qualified fisherfolk across 10 WPS provinces.
The government is also investing in cold storage, smokehouses, solar dryers, and fish-processing and food-safety training for women in fishing communities to reduce spoilage and boost incomes.
BFAR said it is likewise organizing fisherfolk into cooperatives, providing technical training and legal/coastal-management information campaigns, and conducting science-based resource assessments with the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute.
To curb illegal fishing, the agency is coordinating with the Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, and Philippine Coast Guard.
