More than 100 fisherfolk, academics, students and church people of Iloilo united to form the alliance Aton ang Kinse Kilometro on March 3 to defend the rights of small fisherfolk to the 15-kilometer municipal waters. Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) members attended and participated in the gathering.

Pamalakaya second chairman and Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidate Ronnel Arambulo led the alliance launching. Arambulo discussed the implications of the recent Supreme Court decision allowing commercial fishing in municipal waters.

According to Pamalakaya, the Supreme Court opened approximately 90% of municipal waters to exploitation by large fishing companies. The said decision will allow commercial fishers to go beyond municipal waters and deeper than seven “fathoms” (equivalent to 12.8 meters).

As such, only 10% of municipal waters are less than seven fathoms deep, and thus, this will be the only exclusive area for small fisherfolk. Apart from freshwater bodies, municipal waters cover the sea 15 kilometers from the shore.

An estimated 180,000 fisherfolk from 52 coastal towns of the island of Panay and Guimaras will be severely affected by this court decision if it is fully implemented.

Pamalakaya-Panay is now leading an island-wide petition to push the court to reverse the Supreme Court decision and maintain the exclusive rights of small fisherfolk in municipal waters.