Romualdez vows to help challenge ruling on commercial fishing in municipal waters
House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez holds a dialogue with fisherfolk at the Ayala Estate on Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo on Friday, March 7, 2025. (Photo from Office of House of House Speaker Martin Romualdez)
MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Friday vowed to exhaust efforts to challenge a Supreme Court (SC) decision that allows commercial fishing in municipal waters.
Romualdez gave this assurance to Iloilo fisherfolk during their dialogue at the Ayala Estate on Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo.
They aired their concern that commercial fishing may lead to loss of their livelihood.
“Naiintindihan natin po ang kalagayan ng ating mga fisherfolk. Tama po ang posisyon ninyo, wala akong nakikitang mali. Kaya mataas ang kumpyansa ko na mapapagbigyan tayo. Lahat ng kakayahan ko gagamitin ko (para tulungan kayo) dito sa kaso ninyo, asahan nyo po,” Romualdez said in a statement.
(I understand the situation of our fisherfolk. You are in the right position, I see nothing wrong. I am confident that our appeal will be granted. I will exhaust my efforts to help you with this case.)
In August 2024, the SC ruling upheld the decision of the Malabon Regional Trial Court allowing Mercidar Fishing Corp. to fish within municipal waters and nullifying some provisions of the Fisheries code.
“Kakausapin din natin yung abogado natin, yung OSG [Office of the Solicitor General], kaya siguradong aabot ito sa kinaaukulan. Meritorious naman, at siguro kailangan lang ipaabot natin sa mga mahistrado na ito talaga ang hinaing ng mga mangingisda,” Romualdez added.
(We will talk to our lawyer, the OSG, that’s why I am sure that this will reach the concerned authorities. It is meritorious, and I think we just need to express the concerns of the fisherfolk to the magistrate.)
Prior to this, several fisherfolk and groups also expressed their dissent against the ruling, citing harmful impacts to marine ecosystems and livelihood.
Oceana Philippines, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, and other groups previously filed a petition to the SC to challenge its decision.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel filed Resolution No. 2202 in January to ask the committee on aquaculture and fisheries resources to look into the decisions’ “adverse impacts.”
