What has President Benigno Aquino III done for the agricultural and fisheries sector during his years in power?
The two sectors made notable leaps, breaking records in rice production and introducing stricter laws against illegal fishing, for example.
Farmer, fisherfolk income
The increased crop production and value of these crops in the market has improved the income of farmers, attests PSA data.
In 2010, rice farmers earned P15,830 per hectare. In 2013, their income grew to P21,910. Corn farmers are also making more money, claims government data. From P5,760 per hectare net income in 2010, they made P9,537 per hectare in 2013.
The value of fishery exports sourced from smallholder fishers have also risen. In 2013, the value of their fishery exports was pegged at $1.156 billion. This is higher than the 2010 figure of $634 million.
Fisherfolk registration
As of July 24, more than 1.5 million municipal fisherfolk have registered under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
The registration program aims to identify all the smallholder fisherfolk in the country in order to better manage fisheries resources and prevent illegal fishing. It also aims to improve the government’s ability to distribute benefits and services to the fisherfolk.
Amended fisheries law
The Philippines was able to avoid a trade sanction from the European Union by amending its 16-year-old Fisheries Code. The new law boasts stricter guidelines and higher penalties for illegal fishers.
The Internal Rules and Regulations for the law is currently being hashed out with input from commercial fishers, a sector that fiercely opposed the law amendment.
Enforcement against illegal fishing
The DA-BFAR is tightening the noose on illegal fishers by improving its enforcement capabilities. It is procuring 27 monitoring, control and surveillance boats, 70 units of multi-mission vessels and two special operation boats equipped with service fire arms, night vision goggles, and scuba gear.
As of July 6, the agency has trained around 200 law enforcers to manage and protect the country fishing grounds. The agency wants to deploy a total of 700 law enforcers.