Small-scale fishers in Bulacan called for the productive use of idle fishponds acquired for San Miguel Corp.’s airport project, saying coastal development has reduced their traditional fishing grounds.
Members of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas, or PAMALAKAYA, and the Samahan ng Mandaragat ng Bulacan, or SAMA-Bulacan, staged a coastal protest Sept. 7 in Barangay Binuangan, Obando.
The groups said reclamation and other coastal development projects in Manila Bay have reduced fishing areas traditionally used by local communities, forcing fishers to compete for limited space in rivers and travel farther in search of fish.
“We are experiencing increasing difficulty in sustaining our families as our catch and income decline. The situation becomes even harder during adverse weather conditions, including strong waves brought by Habagat. Despite the risks, many of us continue to go out to sea because fishing remains our primary source of livelihood,” the groups said.
The protest focused on an approximately 36-hectare fishpond in Binuangan that is part of more than 600 hectares of fishpond areas in Bulakan and Obando acquired by San Miguel Corp. as part of its 2,500-hectare New Manila International Airport project, according to the statement.
SAMA-Bulacan said the fishpond areas have remained idle while small-scale fishers continue to lose access to productive fishing grounds.
PAMALAKAYA Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo accused San Miguel Corp. and its chairman, Ramon Ang, of depriving fishing communities of access to coastal resources.
“Dapat managot si Ramon Ang at ang San Miguel Corporation sa pandarambong nito sa ating kalikasan at pangisdaan. Habang patuloy na pinagkakaitan ng kabuhayan at pangisdaan ang mga mangingisda, malalawak na bahagi ng ating baybayin ang kinakamkam at sinisira para sa interes ng malalaking korporasyon,” Arambulo said.
The groups called for the idle fishponds to be put to productive use for the benefit of local fishing communities.
They also renewed their demand for an immediate halt to reclamation projects and sand dredging activities in Manila Bay, saying the projects threaten fisherfolk livelihoods and coastal ecosystems.
