Environment group Oceana urged local governments to follow the lead of Palawan which banned commercial fishing in municipal waters, citing protection for small-scale fishers. Oceana made the pronouncement after Palawan Governor Amy Roa Alvarez signed Provincial Ordinance 3761 on March 26, which prohibits all commercial fishing activities within its municipal waters. The group said Alvarez also cited “alarming reports” from island municipalities in Palawan of large commercial fishing vessels coming from as far as Manila, Batangas, Mindoro, and Iloilo operating within five kilometers of their shores.

Pelonia, A. (2026, April 13). Ban commercial fishing in municipal waters, local govts told. BusinessMirror, p. A9.