Filipino Fisherfolk and Food Security Depend on West Philippine Sea Access

The Department of Agriculture (DA) stated that the livelihoods of 450,000 Filipino fisherfolk and the food security of millions rely on continued access to fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea. Drusila Esther Bayate, Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries, emphasized this during the commemoration of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. Data indicates that Palawan, Pangasinan, Batangas, and Cavite host the largest populations of registered fisherfolk in the region.

The West Philippine Sea contributes significantly to the Philippines’ marine capture fisheries, averaging 16.68% of the national production from 2006 to 2025 and rebounding to nearly 20% of the total marine catch in 2025. However, fisherfolk face challenges like increasingly strong typhoons, rising fuel costs, and harassment that limits access to traditional grounds.

The DA and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are responding by expanding livelihood programs, providing boats and training, and investing in post-harvest facilities. They also recently distributed fuel assistance to over 18,000 qualified fisherfolk.