As in previous years, American troops and their war games once again aggravated small fisherfolk in various parts of Luzon.

In collusion with the AFP and the Marcos regime, the US closed fishing grounds from April 20 to 29 in Zambales, near the barangays of Botolan, Cabangan, San Felipe, San Narciso, San Antonio, and in Subic. They used these waters for the navigation of foreign vessels and live-fire drills under the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Exercise where the US launched live missiles. This even affected the operations of tourist sites and trips to nearby islands.

Beyond Zambales, authorities also imposed a wide-ranging ban in the Batanes/Luzon Strait, very close to Taiwan. They used these waters for firing anti-ship missiles. They also imposed restrictions in parts of Palawan used for counter-landing and amphibious drills. They banned fisherfolk from sailing in Abulug, Cagayan while American forces turned their coast into a playground for amphibious and ship-to-shore operations.

The US also banned Filipinos from fishing and sailing across a wider area in the South China Sea while US warships and those of its allies loiter in the area.

Loss of income and food

Thousands of fisherfolk and their families lost income and food because of these war games. They already suffer from missing even a single day of fishing; the nearly two-week ban doubled their hardship. April is peak fishing season, when potential earnings are highest.

Pamalakaya (Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas, or National Strength of the Fisherfolk Movement in the Philippines) condemned this, saying the US Balikatan exercises are a massive burden amid the severe hardship caused by the oil price shock that the US itself created when it attacked Iran.

According to the group, the US, which caused the current oil crisis, should not be allowed to conduct war games in the country.

Since the US ignited war in the Middle East, fisherfolk now spend up to ₱1,200, or double their previous costs, for the minimum 10 liters of fuel used per trip.

Fisherfolk also denounced the absence, or if any, the grossly inadequate compensation for the days they lost their livelihood. They said it is a grave insult that public funds are squandered on Balikatan while the majority of the Filipino people suffer.