Underscoring the need to improve the quality of life of small-scale fishers, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan pushed for additional support for the country’s fisheries sector through a new agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
He said this during his interpellation of Senator Imee Marcos’ resolution to ratify the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) on Wednesday, September 17.
“Malaki ang kailangan habulin ng sektor ng agrikultura at fisheries sa ating bansa,” the senator said. “We welcome this treaty ratification.” he added.
Prior to this, Pangilinan clarified the benefits of the new agreement for the fisheries sector, noting that Filipino fishermen are among the poorest of the poor despite the Philippines’ position at the center of aquamarine biodiversity in the world.
“Kaya nga siguro napakahalaga na mabigyan ng dagdag na suporta ang ating fishing industry. Pero sa totoo lang, kung tama ang ating interventions, hindi tayo dapat small time, lalo na sa larangan ng aquatic resources development,” he said.
He also pointed out that the Verde Island Passages—a strait separating Luzon and Mindanao—is at the heart of the Coral Triangle. According to Conservation International, it is one of the most productive ecosystems in the world and provides food, livelihoods, and other benefits to over two million people.
“Kaya nakakalungkot isipin na tayo ang pinakamayaman in terms of aquamarine resources diversity pero hindi nabibigyan ng sapat na interventions para yung pinakamahirap na sektor ng mangingisda ay mabigyan naman ng mas magandang quality of life,” Pangilinan added.
He lamented how the country has fallen far behind its neighbors—with Thailand, for example, becoming the number one exporter of canned tuna in the world despite not having a tuna belt. In contrast, the Philippines has three tuna belts located in the West Philippine Sea, the Pacific Ocean, and the Sulu Sea.
The BBNJ Agreement aims for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction through the “effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the Convention and further international cooperation and coordination (source: UN.org).”
The agreement addresses four main issues: marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; environmental impact assessments; and capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, Pangilinan has consistently championed food security, rural development, and the empowerment of farmers and fisherfolk.