An opposition lawmaker on Thursday called on the government to develop the fishing industry and at the same time assert its ownership of the seas on its exclusive economic zone by providing fishermen with bigger boats that are capable of operating on the high seas. “Fishing groups in Zambales have approached me, saying that the boats they received from the government are not sturdy enough to withstand heavier waves on the high seas. This affects the amount and quality of the fish they are able to harvest—leading to a crippling of their livelihood,” Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, a former Navy officer, said.

Cruz, M. V. (2018, March 2). Equip fishermen with better boats to fish in WPS - Alejano. Manila Standard, p. A3.