Iloilo govt seeks reversal of SC ruling

ILOILO CITY — The provincial government of Iloilo has announced its plan to appeal the Supreme Court's decision that allows commercial fishing vessels to operate within the 15-kilometer boundary of the municipal waters.

On Jan. 10, the provincial government convened the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 6, Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force and local fishermen to discuss the implications of the high court's decision to uphold a 2023 ruling by the Malabon Regional Trial Court (RTC).

On Dec. 20, 2024, the Supreme Court's First Division upheld the 2023 RTC decision that allowed Mercidar Fishing Corp. to operate within the 15-kilometer municipal waters, traditionally reserved for small-scale fishers.

The decision invalidated provisions restricting commercial fishing within the 15-kilometer municipal waters, allowing commercial fishing vessels to operate in waters seven fathoms or deeper, regardless of distance from shore. The ruling also shifted primary regulatory authority of the natural resource from local government units to national government agencies.

"In the interest of the social justice agenda of [Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.], we are determined to wage a legal battle and broad public advocacy to inform the public and the affected sector to have this decision reviewed," said Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias.

Banias said the high court's decision severely reduces the area available for small-scale fishermen, undermining the control of coastal municipalities over their municipal waters.

Banias said the provincial government will craft a position paper to address the ruling's implications and advocate for its review by the Supreme Court en banc.

To bolster their appeal, Banias said they will also secure endorsements for the position paper through resolutions from the Northern Iloilo Alliance for Development, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Iloilo, coastal municipalities and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board).