climate change. All these factors contribute to the displacement of the coastal
communities from their settlement areas and from their source of livelihood.
Recommendations
§ Since there are a number of government agencies that have jurisdiction
over the coastal resources, there has to be harmonization of policies and
to ensure benefits for the municipal fisherfolk. The Inter-agency Technical
Working Group on fisherfolk settlements, facilitated by the National AntiPoverty Commission (NAPC), is one initiative that should be supported.
§ The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) on Section 108 (now
Section 144) of the Fisheries Code should be immediately formulated.
There should be a policy instrument that secures the tenure of the fisherfolk
in their settlement areas.
§ The DA-BFAR and DENR also need to harmonize their policies in the
management of foreshore areas. Support and preference must be given to
fisherfolk organizations for them to access programs such as Foreshore and
Fishpond Lease Agreements, National Greening Program, etc.
§ The delineation of municipal waters needs to be completed so that all
coastal municipalities have defined municipal waters where the small
fishers have priority access. As of August 2018, some 263 municipalities
have not yet applied for delineation.
§ For delineating municipal waters of municipalities with offshore islands,
BFAR has created a technical working group (TWG) that will formulate the
guidelines. This group should include members from different stakeholders
(including municipal fisherfolk and their support organizations) to ensure
that all concerned sectors are involved and consulted.
§ Government should extend full support to the FARMCs and BantayDagat patrols to enable fisherfolk to carry out their mandate to protect
and manage the coastal and marine resources. Funding should be secured
not only for allowances and needed equipment, but also for social protection,
legal assistance, and others. n
Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC)
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