The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the Philippines must comply with a World Trade Organization (WTO) ban on fishing subsidies, which is designed to deter illegal fishing, even amid pressure from fishing organizations to provide government support for fisherfolk. Demosthenes R. Escoto, BFAR officer-in-charge, said that the WTO agreement against subsidies seeks to deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUUF) and to restore overfished populations.

Ochave, R. M. D. (2022, November 2). BFAR backs WTO ban on fisheries subsidies. Business World, p. S1/4.