National Committee on Marine Sciences (NCMS)
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- Navy to escort DENR in establishing WPS marine research stationsLee-Brago, Pia; Clapano, Jose Rodel (Philippine Star Printing Co., Inc., 2025-03-19)The Philippine Navy will escort the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) in establishing additional marine scientific research stations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The DENR announced it will conduct integrated research on biodiversity conservation at the Recto Bank and Rizal Reef in April, and plans to establish a marine scientific research station in Pag-asa Island, complementing its existing and upcoming stations at Tubbataha Reef, Snake Island in Palawan and the Verde Island Passage.
- Amid WPS tension, Zambales fishers receive 'Payao' donationAglibot, Joanna Rose (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc., 2024-10-02)Some fishermen here were dismayed after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during his third State of the Nation Address (Sona), failed to mention his plans for fishermen whose lives were affected by the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). In a telephone interview on Monday, Leonardo Cuaresma, president of the New Masinloc Fishermen Association, acknowledged the President’s efforts to pay tribute to Filipino fishermen and soldiers guarding the WPS.
- Protect us from Chinese ships, fishers ask Navy, PCG(Philippine Manila Standard Publishing, Inc., 2023-10-02)Fishermen appealed to the government on Sunday to increase coast guard and naval patrols to protect them from the Chinese Coast Guard, which has stepped up their efforts in recent months to keep them from entering the Scarborough (Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag) Shoal lagoon, where fishes are abundant. In an interview on radio dzBB, the spokesman of the Bigkis ng Mangingisda Federation in Masinloc, Zambales said Chinese vessels and rubber boats continue to block Filipino fishermen from entering the lagoon. “Chinese fishing vessels are also outside, but they can fish more freely in our reef. When Filipino fishermen insist on entering, they are being blocked and chased by Chinese Coast Guard rubber boats,” said Henrelito Empoc, the group’s spokesperson, speaking in Filipino.
- Japan, China trade barbs on WPS; PCG: Coral reef damage 'extensive'Requejo, Rey; Lopez, Vince; Ramos-Araneta, Macon (Philippine Manila Standard Publishing, Inc., 2023-09-19)Japan on Monday raised concern over the extensive maritime damage in waters frequented by Chinese militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea, but China quickly shot back by denouncing Tokyo’s release of contaminated water from its Fukushima nuclear plant. The Japanese Embassy in Manila said the damage done to coral reefs, presumably by Chinese boats in Rozul (Iroquois) Reef was “very alarming news.” “Our oceans are the lifeblood of our plant, and coral reefs are its colorful heartbeat. Let’s preserve and protect these vital ecosystems for generations to come,” Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said on his X social media account.
- Gov't urged: Keep pressing China for Panatag accessMangosing, Frances (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc., 2022-10-17)The Philippine government should continue to work to ensure that Filipino fisherfolk would have unhindered access to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, according to a maritime law expert. “Negotiation should be for them to stop harassing/interfering with our fishing vessels. Our fishermen should be free to go in and out as needed,” Jay Batongbacal of the University of the Philippines’ Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea told the Inquirer.
- Senate probe sought on cyanide fishing in Panatag ShoalFelipe, Cecille; Macairan, Evelyn (Philippine Star Printing Co., Inc., 2024-02-26)Sen. Francis Tolentino is seeking a Senate investigation into the alleged cyanide fishing carried out in parts of the ocean within Philippine territory, particularly near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which he branded as “environmental terrorism.” Tolentino said the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species could be used as bases in the filing of complaints against those involved in cyanide fishing.
- Philippine security council wants fishery report on cyanide use in S. China SeaAtienza, Kyle Aristophere; Ordoñez, John Victor (BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation, 2024-02-20)The Philippines is keen on coming up soon with its complete report on the alleged use of cyanide by Chinese fishermen encroaching Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc. On Monday, National Security Council (NSC) Spokesman Jonathan Malaya told a news briefing that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has been ordered to finish its post-mission reports and submit all the evidence it has gathered to the country’s West Philippine Sea task force. “We at the National Security Council are alarmed by this development that is happening, but we have to be careful also, so we have to validate and investigate [the use of cyanide by Chinese fishermen].”
- WPS fishers to get P80-M assistanceVillamente, Jing (Concept & Information Group, Inc., 2023-06-21)The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will provide P80 million in livelihood assistance to Filipinos fishing in the West Philippine Sea. The amount will be spent on fishing equipment such as bancas, payao, lambaklad, fishing gears or paraphernalia, seaweeds propagation gears and post-harvest equipment, BFAR head of Information and Fisherfolk Coordination Unit and spokesperson Nazario Briguera said at the weekly Laging Handa press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday. Fuel subsidy for municipal and commercial fishing boats will also be provided.
- Coast Guard hopes to inspire kids during vessel tourOng, Ghio (Philippine Star Printing Co., Inc., 2023-10-14)The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) hopes more young people would be inspired by its work of protecting Philippine sovereignty, particularly during patrols in areas of the West Philippine Sea that usually sees hostile action, particularly with China. The agency gave a tour of the 97-meter patrol vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua on Oct. 14 to around 50 children, mostly from Tondo in Manila and from Batangas who are supported by international humanitarian group World Vision.
- Fish catch down 70%Cariaso, Bella; Macairan, Evelyn; Felipe, Cecille Suerte; Lee-Brago, Pia (Philippine Star Printing Co., Inc., 2023-09-19)Fish catch in the West Philippine Sea has gone down by 70 percent since 2020, and further decline is expected amid reports of massive poaching of corals by the Chinese, a militant fishers’ group warned yesterday. Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) national chairman Fernando Hicap raised the warning in a radio interview, in the wake of reports of plunder of corals in Rozul Reef, believed perpetrated by the Chinese. Corals are breeding grounds for marine life. Reports from fisherfolk – particularly from Zambales – have indicated 70 percent decline in fish catch “amid the illegal activities of Chinese fishing vessels,” Hicap said.