Zambales fishermen have been losing out on “metric tons” of catch in about the last two years since being barred from the rich Bajo de Masinloc reef.
“Ang tinatawag natin na ‘pristine’—perfect kasi ‘yung huli ng isda doon. Kumbaga volume ang huli doon. Malapit pa lang, marami nang nahuhuli. Kaya masasabi ko po, talagang tonelada talaga sana ang mahuhuli pero nawawala po dahil nga mayro’n po tayong hangganan,” Zambales Provincial Fisherfolk Association President Paulo Quitaneg said in an exclusive interview on DZRH Stories: Pinoy Documentaries.
By “boundary,” Quitaneg is referring to the massive Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels guarding the reef only 50 nautical miles from the shore. He said the last time fisherfolk have managed to reach the shoal was in 2024.
He shared that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) would urge Filipino fisherfolk to fish elsewhere so as to keep them from running into potential risks with the CCG. Many of them are terrified of the foreign vessels anyway, riding only small wooden bancas into waters barred by large metal ships.
“Pag sinabi nating pagpigil, nandoon ang kanilang malaking vessel. Sa amin, kahoy lang kami. So doon pa lang, matatakot na kami na tumuloy, dahil sa gano’n kanilang malalaking bangka. Mismo ang ating Philippine Coast Guard ay hindi na rin tayo pinatuloy,” Quitaneg said.
The association head shared that fisherfolk have only been able to catch up to 2,000 kilograms—an insufficient amount, but enough to put food on the table.
“Ang ating nahuhuli naman, kapag tayo’y pumapalaot ay nakakahuli naman tayo hanggang 2,000 kilos. ‘Yan po ay hindi naman sinasabing sapat, pero at least may pang-sustain kami sa aming hapag-kainan,” he said.
With the local fishing community unable to sail far enough to warrant the use of mother boats, many have sold theirs off, Quitaneg told the anchors.
“Pinagbebenta po nila ‘yung mga mother boat po nila. Ibig sabihin ito ‘yung malalaki… Para saan pa po ang malalaking bangka kung wala naman napupuntahan?” he said.
However, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro’s recent statement about readying a “security arrangement” to reclaim the shoal has raised Quitaneg’s spirits.
“Ako po ay nabuhayan at nagkaroon po ako ng tinatawag na mataas na morale na talagang itong lugar na gusto nating maibalik ay kakayanin sa pamamagitan ng ating mga bayaning mangingisda. Doon po sa sinabi niyang iyon, doon po ako lumakas ulit, at mayroon kaming sandigan na itutuloy natin ang laban, para itong mga nawawala natin na huli sana ay maibalik,” he said.
Quitaneg encouraged fisherfolk, not only in Zambales, but also all over the country, to fight for what is theirs.
“Ipaglaban po natin kung saan tayo nararapat at ‘yun po ‘yung tama, para po itong mga susunod na henerasyon ay mayroon po silang aasahan na lugar pa rin na mapupuntahan,” he urged.
