Food security advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan emphasized the need to include disputed waters in the agreement currently being negotiated by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the prohibition of harmful fishery subsidies, saying the exclusion of these areas would further affect the livelihood of Filipino fishermen. In a virtual press briefing yesterday, Tugon Kabuhayan convenor Asis Perez expressed the group’s support for the country’s position in calling for the immediate conclusion of WTO negotiations in eliminating subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfished stocks, and overcapacity and overfishing. “Tugon Kabuhayan supports the position of the Philippine delegation calling for the WTO panel to continue hearing cases of harmful subsidies even if the fishing operations occurred in the so-called disputed waters,” the group said.

Talavera, C. (2021, July 20). Phl wants disputed waters included in WTO fisheries subsidies. The Philippine Star, pp. B1, B4.