Declaring the lagoon at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal a marine sanctuary might again deprive Filipino fishermen of their right to livelihood and access to fishing zones. In a statement, the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) yesterday asked President Duterte to reconsider his decision declaring the lagoon a marine protected area. “It might bring back the situation where Filipino fishers are not allowed to enter our own territory, although this time it will be our own law and government that will prohibit them, not China,” read the statement.

Cervantes, D. (2016, November 23). Fishermen fear displacement. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 8.