DENR urged to utilize 2020 budget to protect West Philippine Sea biodiversity

“We demand the DENR to formulate a detailed, one-year plan on how the marine resources in the West Philippine Sea would be protected against illegal fishing activities and reclamation by China. With such a big budget that they have proposed, it is more than enough to enforce their environmental protective measures to our exclusive economic zone that is facing severe environmental degradation brought about by Chinese aggressive incursion,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.

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Proposed BFAR budget for aquaculture questioned

“Why would the BFAR allot such a huge chunk of its national budget for the program that will further privatize the fishing waters? Only big-fishing firms are capable of investing in aquaculture because they have capital and means to operate the industry, and yet they are the ones that seem to enjoy state support over the small fisherfolk who are being robbed of their traditional fishing grounds by big aquafarms,”

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