Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) is intensifying its digital surveillance efforts across Philippine waters by expanding the use of vessel monitoring technology. This initiative is aimed at bolstering fisheries protection and tackling agricultural smuggling.
According to Philippines News Agency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted a key development in this initiative with the recent handover of new Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) workstations to the National Maritime Center (NMC) on Monday. The NMC, previously known as the National Coast Watch Center, serves as the primary hub for maritime security, information exchange, and operational coordination. Established under Executive Order No. 57 (s. 2024) and led by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the NMC consolidates the nation's defense and monitoring network.
The ceremonial handover was conducted by Tiu Laurel along with Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Elizer Salilig to NMC Director Vice Admiral Allen Dalangin of the PCG. During the event, Tiu Laurel emphasized that these new workstations are more than just equipment upgrades. They are crucial for enhancing the nation's ability to protect its waters, which are vital for feeding the population and supporting the livelihoods of millions of Filipino fisherfolk.
Tiu Laurel underscored the importance of real-time data, especially as climate risks and pressure on marine resources continue to rise. "Better information leads to better decisions," he stated, explaining that improved scientific data allows for quicker responses to threats affecting fishing communities and ensures that law-abiding fishermen are not disadvantaged by those violating regulations.
The DA noted that the VMS enables authorities to track the location, speed, and direction of registered fishing vessels in real-time, offering enforcement agencies enhanced visibility of activities at sea. "These workstations will help them see farther, act faster and coordinate better," Tiu Laurel added.
He praised the collaborative efforts of the BFAR, the PCG, and the Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns in safeguarding the nation's marine resources and coastal communities. Beyond fisheries enforcement, Tiu Laurel indicated that the technology could enhance the government's fight against agricultural smuggling and aid in detecting illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. This supports the enforcement of conservation measures, such as closed fishing seasons aimed at replenishing fish stocks.
Tiu Laurel also highlighted that smugglers have increasingly exploited the country's extensive coastline to smuggle commodities like rice, sugar, and cigarettes, thus depriving the government of revenue and harming legitimate farmers, fisherfolk, and local industries. "The same technology that helps us monitor fishing vessels can also strengthen our ability to detect suspicious maritime movements linked to smuggling," he remarked. "These illegal activities undermine the livelihoods of our farmers and fisherfolk while allowing products that bypass quarantine and food safety inspections to reach the market," he concluded.
