READY FOR PANATAG In this photo taken in April, fishermen prepare their boats along the shoreline of Barangay Calapandayan in Subic town, Zambales, where many continue to venture into the West Philippine Sea despite growing tensions in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. —JOANNA ROSE AGLIBOT
SUBIC, ZAMBALES, Philippines — For generations of fishermen in Zambales province, the waters of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) have provided not only abundant catch but also a sense of identity.
Long before the territorial dispute drew international attention, families from coastal communities routinely sailed to Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Panatag or Bajo de Masinloc, relying on its rich fishing grounds to feed their families and sustain their livelihoods.
However, in recent years, every voyage carried uncertainty.
As the country commemorates Independence Day, local fishermen say the meaning of freedom extends far beyond ceremonies and flag-raising events.
READ: Zambales fishers lukewarm about PH-China energy venture in WPS
For them, it is the ability to fish in waters they have long considered part of their heritage without intimidation or obstruction.
“It is a significant loss for fishermen from Zambales,” Regino Renato Romero, chair of the Subic Hook and Line Fishermen’s Association, said in Filipino, describing the impact that restrictions in Panatag have had on fishing communities over the years.
His remarks come amid renewed concerns following reports of a floating structure inside the shoal believed to be supporting unauthorized marine scientific research.
The discovery has reignited fears among local fishermen that China’s activities in the area could further limit their access to one of the country’s most productive fishing grounds.
For Romero, the issue is not merely about geopolitics but about survival.
READ: From Scarborough to Subic: Fisherfolk suffer amid WPS row, climate change
“For fishermen who continue to venture into Scarborough, the fight for the freedom to fish in the shoal will continue because they believe it belongs to the country,” he said.
Access difficult
Romero said that many fishermen here who continue to venture near the shoal have learned to live with uncertainty, adjusting their routes and schedules while remaining committed to fishing in the country’s territory.
Panatag Shoal, located about 220 kilometers west of Zambales, has long been a vital fishing ground for fisherfolk communities here.
But since the 2012 standoff that left China in effective control of the area, access has become increasingly difficult for local fishermen who reported experiencing harassment and intimidation with China Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels over the years.
In July 2016, an arbitral tribunal based in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in its landmark case against China, declaring that Beijing’s nine-dash-line claim of supposed historic rights had no legal basis under international law.
The ruling instead affirmed the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone, including areas in the WPS. China, however, refused to recognize the decision and has continued to assert its claims and maintain its presence in the disputed waters
“There is concern because, up to now, we are still asking why things have come to this point,” Romero said.
Still, he believes that surrendering the shoal is not an option.
“The fight goes on. We know the Filipino spirit—the more it is wounded, the stronger and braver it becomes,” Romero said. /cb
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