Quezon City: The Marcos administration plans to intensify the Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM) Program to provide better opportunities for Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced on Saturday. Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the WPS, conveyed the government's commitment to improving the conditions and livelihoods of fishermen during a weekly news forum.
According to Philippines News Agency, the KBBM Program was launched in Palawan province following a successful pilot run at the Panatag Shoal off Zambales province on May 9. Commodore Tarriela emphasized that Filipino fishermen in Palawan are satisfied with fishing within the territorial sea, which is abundant and sufficient for their needs. However, challenges arise when they venture further and incur additional costs to transport larger catches to markets in Navotas.
The KBBM program aims to streamline the selling process by deploying a fish carrier to deliver fresh catches directly from sea to market. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is also set to launch a food boat with a carrying capacity of 20 metric tons each week, providing logistics support and direct market linkage to WPS fishermen. BFAR data indicates that the WPS contributes 13 percent to the country's total annual fish production on average.
The KBBM initiative will be executed in three phases until 2027. The first phase will focus on the Kalayaan Group of Islands, the second phase will cover Bajo de Masinloc, and the final phase will target parts of Northern Luzon, particularly Benham Rise. The program's objective is to ensure fishermen's security in their traditional fishing grounds and strengthen the country's presence in the WPS amidst China's incursions.
Commodore Tarriela highlighted the importance of protecting the WPS against China's aggressive actions, noting that the issue transcends politics and social needs. He stressed that the fight for the WPS is crucial to maintaining the national identity and independence of the Philippines, which has been safeguarded by Filipino heroes throughout history.
