Supreme Court First Division Notice of Resolution
Date: August 19, 2024
G.R. No. 270929 (BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES, represented by its National Director, ATTY. DEMOSTHENES R. ESCOTO, and DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, represented by its Undersecretary for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, DRUSILA ESTHER E. BAYATE, Petitioners, v. MERCIDAR FISHING CORPORATION, and its Authorized Representative and Director ROLANDO T. LIGON, JR., respondents).
Regional Trial Court, National Capital Judicial Region, City of Malabon, Branch 170 Decision
Date: December 11, 2023
MERCIDAR FISHING CORPORATION, and its authorized representative and Director ROLANDO T. LIGON, JR. vs. BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES, represented by its National Director, Atty. Demosthenes R. Escoto, and DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, represented by its Undersecretary for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, DRUSILA ESTHER E. BAYATE, Special Civil Action Case No. SCA23-003-MAL For: Declaratory Relief with Prayer for Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and/or Writ of Preliminary Injunction
Oceana Primer on Municipal Waters and Jurisdiction of Local Governments
Date: February 2025
This Primer presents salient information on the Local Government Code and the amended Fisheries Code provision reserving the 15-km zone municipal waters for the artisanal fisherfolk under the jurisdiction of coastal cities and municipalities. It focuses on the significance of local autonomy, socio-economic conditions especially of local communities and municipal fisherfolk, environmental sustainability, and national and food security and the procedural and substantive rights of the citizens.
Oceana Primer on Municipal Waters and Jurisdiction of Local Governments
Video
Date: February 2025
This Primer presents salient information on the Local Government Code and the amended Fisheries Code provision reserving the 15-km zone municipal waters for the artisanal fisherfolk under the jurisdiction of coastal cities and municipalities. It focuses on the significance of local autonomy, socio-economic conditions especially of local communities and municipal fisherfolk, environmental sustainability, and national and food security and the procedural and substantive rights of the citizens.
Oceana Press Release
Date: February 10, 2025
Oceana raises alarm on 5% decline in 2024 fishery production
Oceana Press Release
Date: February 1, 2025
Catholic Bishops Call for Protection of Artisanal Fishers in Pastoral Statement on Sunday
Oceana Press Release
Date: January 28, 2025
RE: Resolution filed by Kabataan Partylist: “DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES RESOURCES TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF THE INCURSION OF COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS WITHIN MUNICIPAL WATERS TO THE LIVELIHOOD OF FISHERFOLK AND FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY OF THE COUNTRY”
Oceana Press Release
Date: January 18, 2025
Oceana, partners and LGU officials raise alarm on 90% of municipal waters lost to commercial fishers, food and livelihood crisis in coastal communities
Oceana Press Release
Date: January 2, 2025
Fisherfolk and civil society representatives, a coastal municipality, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice and Oceana submit petition to intervene on the Supreme Court’s declaration of reserved waters for municipal fishers as unconstitutional
Municipality of San Isidro, Northern Samar Sangguniang Bayan
Resolution No. 07, Series of 2025
Date : February 26, 2025
Expressing Grave Concern Over the Supreme Court Decision Removing Local Government Jurisdiction Over Municipal Waters and Allowing Unimpeded Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters and Calling for Urgent Action to Safeguard the Rights of Municipal Fishers and Protect Our Fisheries and Marine Resources
Cadiz City, Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlungsod
Resolution No. 2025-253, Series of 2025
Date : February 25, 2025
Resolution Expressing Grave Concern Over the Supreme Court Decision Removing Local Government Jurisdiction Over Municipal Waters and Allowing Unimpeded Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters and Calling for Urgent Action to Safeguard the Rights of Municipal Fishers and Protect Our Fisheries and Marine Resources
Alliance of LGU's Along Samar Bays and Channels (ALSBACH)
Joint Resolution No. 01, Series of 2025
Date : February 21, 2025
A Resolution Expressing Grave Concern Over the Supreme Court Decision Removing Local Government Jurisdiction Over Municipal Waters and Allowing Unimpeded Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters and Calling for Urgent Association to Safeguard the Rights of Municipal Fishers and Protect our Fisheries and Marine Resources
Official Statement from the Province of Negros Occidental on the Supreme Court Decision on Allowing Commercial Fishers Within the 15-km Municipal Waters
Date : February 20, 2025
The Province of Negros Occidental strongly upholds the rights of our small-scale fisherfolk and the protection of our marine resources.
Western Philippines University-initiated Campaign calling for support of the rights of small-scale fishers within the 15-km Municipal Waters
Date: February 20, 2025
With this successful campaign, WPU reinforces its role as a strong partner in sustainable development, advocating for policies that protect both marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of small-scale fishers. The university remains committed to engaging in initiatives that uphold the principles of social justice, environmental stewardship, and responsible fisheries governance.
Municipality of Manapla, Negros Occidental Sangguniang Bayan
Resolution No. 019, Series of 2025
Date : February 19, 2025
Resolution Expressing Grave Concern Over the Supreme Court Decision Removing Local Government Jurisdiction Over Municipal Waters and Allowing Unimpeded Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters and Calling for Urgent Action to Safeguard the Rights of Municipal Fishers and Protect our Fisheries and Marine Resources
Northern Negros Aquatic Resources Management Advisory Council (NNARMAC)
Resolution No. 001, Series of 2025
Date : February 10, 2025
Resolution Expressing Grave Concern Over the Supreme Court Decision Removing Local Government Jurisdiction Over Municipal Waters and Allowing Unimpeded Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters and Calling for Urgent Action to Safeguard the Rights of Municipal Fishers and Protect our Fisheries and Marine Resources
Cadiz City Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council
Resolution No. 01, Series of 2025
Date : February 07, 2025
Resolution Expressing Grave Concern Over the Supreme Court Decision Removing Local Government Jurisdiction Over Municipal Waters and Allowing Unimpeded Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters and Calling for Urgent Action to Safeguard the Rights of Municipal Fishers and Protect our Fisheries and Marine Resources
Official Statement of the Faculty and Aquatic Sciences, Visyas State University Tolosa on the Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Commercial Fishers to Operate on the Municipal Waters
Date : February 5, 2025
Sagay City Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council
Resolution No. 01, Series of 2025
Date : February 05, 2025
Resolution Expressing Grave Concern Over the Supreme Court Decision Removing Local Government Jurisdiction Over Municipal Waters and Allowing Unimpeded Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters and Calling for Urgent Action to Safeguard the Rights of Municipal Fishers and Protect our Fisheries and Marine Resources
Sipalay City Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council
Resolution No. 01, Series of 2025
Date : February 04, 2025
A Resolution Expressing Grave Concern Over the Supreme Court Decision Removing Local Government Jurisdiction Over Municipal Waters and Allowing Unimpeded Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters and Calling for Urgent Action to Safeguard the Rights of Municipal Fishers and Protect our Fisheries and Marine Resources
Municipality of Manapla Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council
Resolution No. 001, Series of 2025
Date : February 03, 2025
Resolution Expressing Grave Concern Over the Supreme Court Decision Removing Local Government Jurisdiction Over Municipal Waters and Allowing Unimpeded Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters and Calling for Urgent Action to Safeguard the Rights of Municipal Fishers and Protect our Fisheries and Marine Resources
Pahayag ng mga Obisbo Ukol sa Pasya ng Korte Suprema Tungkol sa Municipal Water
Date : February 3, 2025
Pagsusumamo para sa mga Mangingisda at para sa Ating Bayan: Pagtutugma ng Ating Misyon kay Kristo sa Katarungang Panlipunan at Karunungan ng Batas
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Statement on SC ruling on Municipal Waters
Date : February 1, 2025
PRAYER FOR MUNICIPAL FISHERFOLK AND OUR PEOPLE: ALIGNING OUR MISSION IN CHRIST WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE WISDOM OF THE LAW
Official Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) Statement on the Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Commercial Fishers to Operate on the Municipal Waters
Date : January 31, 2025
We urge the government to honor its commitment to environmental protection and social justice—one of the guiding principles of ISUFST—by upholding this crucial policy.
Western Philippines University (WPU) Statement of Support for the Upholding of the Constitutionality of "Municipal Waters"
Date : January 30, 2025
WPU joins our fisherfolks in calling for the upholding of the constitutionality of “municipal waters” under RA 8550 and maintaining the exclusivity of the 15-kilometer area from the shoreline for our small fisherfolks.
Official Statement of the Mindanao University at Naawan on Supreme Court's First Division Allowing Commercial Fishing Vessels to Operate Within the 15-Kilometer Municipal Water Zone
Date : January 30, 2025
MSU at Naawan reaffirms its commitment to supporting 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻, and 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 that respects the rights of municipal fishers and promotes the conservation of our coastal and marine ecosystems. 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.
House Resolution No. 2202
Date : January 28, 2025
Resolution Urging the Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources to Conduct an Investigation, in Aid of Legislation, on the Adverse Impacts of Allowing Commercial Fishing Vessels within Municipal Waters to the Livelihood and Subsistence of Small-Scale Fisherfolks and the Environment
University of the Philippines Visayas
Statement of the Chancellor
Date : January 28, 2025
On the Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters
Kabankalan-Himamaylan-Ilog Integrated Coastal Area Management Council (KAHIL-ICAMC)
Resolution No. 01, Series of 2025
Date : January 24, 2025
A Resolution Expressing Grave Concern Over the Supreme Court Decision Removing Local Government Jurisdiction Over Municipal Waters and Allowing Unimpeded Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters and Calling for Urgent Action to Safeguard the Rights of Municipal Fishers and Protect our Fisheries and Marine Resources
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 08 SERIES OF 2025, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, PROVINCE OF BOHOL
Date : January 23, 2025
ASSERTING THE RIGHTS OF COMPONENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS IN THE PROVINCE OF BOHOL OVER THEIR MUNICIPAL WATERS
Camarines Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan
Resolution No. 047, Series of 2025
Date : January 21, 2025
A Resolution Expressing Support and Encouragement to BFAR's Effort to Reverse the Supreme Court (SC) Decision Allowing Commercial Fishing in the Municipal Waters Because of its Impact on Fishermen's Livelihood and Marine Resources and for other Purpose
Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Press Release
Date: January 17, 2025
𝐃𝐀 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐒𝐂 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒
League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Surigao del Sur Chapter
Joint Resolution No. 01, Series of 2025
Date : January 16, 2025
Unequivocally Manifesting Full Support to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Office of the Solicitor General in Seeking the Reversal of the Supreme Court Decision in G.R. No. 270929, Affirming the Decision of the Malabon Regional Trial Court, Branch 170, which Removes the Jurisdiction of Local Government Units over Municipal Waters to the Effect of Giving Preferential Right to Large Commercial Fishing, Contrary to the Constitutional Guarantee to Protect the Rights of Subsistence Fishermen to the Preferential Use of Local Marine and Fishing Resources, and Contrary to the Principle of Local Autonomy as Enshrined in the Constitution and Local Government Code.
League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Surigao del Sur Chapter
Joint Resolution No. 02, Series of 2025
Date : January 16, 2025
Resolving to Represent the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Surigao del Sur Chapter and File a Separate Petition in Intervention Before the Supreme Court, Assailing the Adverse Decision of the Supreme Court in G.R. No. 270929 (BFAR vs. Mercidar Fishing Corporation) in Defense of the Rights of Seventeen (17) Municipalities and Two (2) Cities, and their Respective Subsistence Fishermen and Local Communities, within the Province of Surigao del Sur.
Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc.
Press Statement
Date: January 13, 2025
230 members of the Philippine-Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI), express profound concern regarding the Supreme Court’s First Division’s affirmation of the Malabon Regional Trial Court’s decision declaring Sections 4 (58), 16, and 18 of the Philippine Fisheries Code (Republic Act No. 8550, as amended by RA 10654) unconstitutional.
Signature Campaign initiated by Southern Leyte State University-Bontoc Campus, a member HEI of TBTI Philippines, urging Congress to uphold the implementation of the Fisheries Code
Date: January 10, 2025
Signature Campaign to Call on Congress to Uphold the Implementation of Republic Act No. 8550 as Amended by RA 10654, Which Provides for the Delineation of Municipal Waters and Not Allow Commercial Fishing Operations Within the 15 Kilometers Municipal Waters
Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Statement
Date: January 3, 2025
DA-BFAR’s Statement on the SC’s First Division Ruling on Mercidar Case
STATEMENT OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF DEL CARMEN PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL NORTE
Date : December 23, 2024
We call upon our leaders in the national government, our development partners and our civil society to join us in appealing to the Office of the President, His Excellency Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr and the august body of the Supreme Court of the Philippines to recognize the 15-km municipal waters preferential rights to municipal fisherfolks and the continued regulation of commercial fishing operations within the municipal waters.
KKAMPI, PANAGAT and NFR
KATUBIGANG MUNISIPAL PARA SA MGA ARTISANO AT MUNISIPAL NA MANGINGISDA
Date : December 22, 2024
Para kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, atasan ang DA BFAR at DILG at iba pang kawani ng pamahalaan na ipagbawal ang komersyal na pangingisda sa mga katubigang munisipal. Hinahamon namin ang Pangulo na kung tunay na may malasakit sya sa mga nangangailangan katulad ng mga artisano at munisipal na mangingisda, agaran sya na maglabas ng Executive Order para sa pagpapatupad nito
National Consortium for Small-Scale Fisheries Research and Development Or Too-Big-To-Ignore (TBTI) Philippines
A Report on the Round Table Discussion (RTD) on the Proposed Amendment of Republic Act No. 10654 with Fisheries Scientists and Researchers
Philippine Association of Marine Science (PAMS)
Briefer summarizing the presentations from Depth, Distance, and Sustainable Fisheries: A Public Forum on the Science of Municipal Waters
Official Statement of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, UP Visayas (CFOS-UPV) on Allowing Commercial Fishing Vessel Operation in Municipal Waters
The College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences - University of the Philippines Visayas calls for the status quo of the existing prohibition on the entry of commercial fishing vessel operations in municipal waters as stated in RA 8550 and as amended by RA 10654
Verde Island Passage Center for Oceanographic Research and Aquatic Life Sciences Statement
Appeals for a review of the Supreme Court's ruling that allows commercial fishers to fish in municipal waters
Call To Action by the participants of the First Philippine Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium (PSSFNS 1)
PSSFNS strongly and unanimously agree to call on Congress to uphold the existing RA 8550 as amended by RA 10654, which provides for the delineation of municipal waters and not allow commercial fishing operations within 15-km municipal waters.
RARE Philippines Policy Brief
Making the Case for Municipal Fishers
What you need to know about the recent Supreme Court First Division’s ruling on the Mercidar case that could impact the fishing rights of small-scale fishers
Headquarters Coast Guard District Southern Visayas Directive
Directive to Deny the Issuance of PCG Clearances to All Fishing Vessels with Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine (Hulbot-hulbot) as their Means of Fishing Gear and Enforce the Said BFAR FAO
National Anti-Poverty Commission Artisanal Fisherfolk Sector
𝗔𝗙𝗦𝗖 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿
Posisyon ng mga Artisanong Mangingisda Kaugnay sa Naging Desisyon ng Korte Suprema na Pahintulutan ang Komersyal na Mangingisda sa Katubigang Munisipal