(L-R) Officials from the Philippines and United States governments pose for a snap during the ceremonial handover of 20 long-range radios worth over ₱6.4 million ($110,000) to the National Maritime Center at the Fisherfolk Congress held in Makati City on Nov. 17, 2025, where fisherfolk recounted worsening encounters with Chinese maritime militia that prompted calls for better communication tools and faster government response. In photo are (L-R) Fish Right Program Chief of Party Nygiel Armada, Commodore Joel Abutal of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate, Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns Secretary Andres Centino, Fish Right Program Manager Elin Torrell, Assistant Director General Francis Jude Lauengco of the National Security Council, Elmer Ngujo of Palawan United Commercial Fishers, Inc., Rear Admiral Genito Basilio of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Lt. Jecson Rosario of PCG-Palawan, and PO1 Mark Lester Sarno of the Regional Coordinating Center-Palawan. (Contributed photo)
Filipino fishers facing growing risks in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) received new support from the Philippines and United States during a fisherfolk congress held in Makati City recently, where communities recounted worsening encounters with Chinese maritime militia and pressed for stronger protection at sea.
More than 200 fisherfolk from coastal municipalities along the country’s western exclusive economic zone (EEZ) gathered at the “Kongreso ng Mangingisda para sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran” to raise concerns over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, maritime security, and safety in disputed waters.
The participants told government officials that there were increasing incidents of intimidation from Chinese maritime forces, prompting calls for better communication tools and faster government response.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate, who represented the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), emphasized the courage and resilience shown by Filipino fisherfolk in asserting their right to fish in Philippine waters.
“The stories we heard today underscore the courage and resilience of Filipino fisherfolk who continue to uphold their right to fish in Philippine waters. The government remains committed to ensuring their safety and to protecting our marine resources from illegal incursions,” she said.
During the gathering, the US government turned over 20 long-range radios worth more than P6.4 million to the National Maritime Center and fisherfolk associations.
Ms. Elin Torell, manager of Fish Right Program, a 2018 partnership between the Philippine government and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and Mr. Nygiel Armada, the program’s chief of party, handed the equipment to Rear Admiral Genito Basilio, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety Services Command (PCG MSSC).
“We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of the United States, through the US Embassy in Manila, for their continued support and cooperation not only for this event but also for the broader goals of the Philippine government toward a safer, more productive, and more sustainable fisheries and maritime sector,” Basilio said.
Basilio said the radios are expected to boost sea-to-shore communication in key areas of the WPS to allow faster reporting of threats and tighter links between fisherfolk, local governments, provincial anti-IUU fishing task forces, the PCG, and other enforcement agencies.
Basilio added that the initiative expands community-based reporting networks already operating under the Fish Right Program in Palawan and Zambales.
The Fish Right Program, launched in 2018 and extended to 2025, aims to enhance marine biodiversity and the fisheries sector. It is being implemented by the University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Center with several specialized partner organizations.
Meanwhile, Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns Secretary Andres Centino said national agencies are tightening coordination as part of ongoing maritime security efforts, and international partners continue to play a key role in such endeavors.
“I wish to express our gratitude for the continued support of our allies, particularly the United States, whose partnership through the Fish Right program, among others, has allowed us to enhance the safety, dignity, and capability of our people, particularly those among our coastal communities. These partnerships reflect a shared commitment to a free, open, secure, and prosperous region,” he said.
Aside from security efforts, government agencies also mounted a one-stop services caravan offering livelihood aid, sea-safety training, and enrollment in social protection programs for the fisherfolk.
Organizers highlighted that the congress serves not only as a venue for dialogue but also as part of wider efforts to anchor support for coastal communities at the forefront of the maritime dispute.
US and Filipino officials maintained that their cooperation, which ranges from equipment support to training and information networks, reinforces shared goals of safeguarding fisherfolk, protecting marine resources, and upholding international law in the WPS.
