Calling it anti-poor, anti-environment and anti-sustainable development, leaders of various small fisher groups in the province hit a proposed measure at the House of Representatives for allegedly favoring commercial fishers. Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM-Negros), in a statement Monday, February 8, 2021, said House Bill (HB) No. 7853 authored by Cebu Third District Representative Pablo John Garcia aims to amend the Fisheries Code of 1998 particularly Section 18 to expand the possible area of operations of small and medium commercial fishing vessels into municipal waters. The said bill proposes to allow the entry of commercial fishers into the 10.1 kilometers to 15 kilometers zone as defined by Republic Act 8550 even without the enactment of a local ordinance allowing such entry.

NegOcc small fishers slam proposed measure favoring commercial fishers. (2021, February 9). SunStar Bacolod, p. 6.