From Scarborough to Subic: Fisherfolk suffer amid WPS row, climate change

MANILA, Philippines — Rodella Balan’s arm was fractured in a boat accident — a mishap caused by the captain’s mistake of leaving the boat’s manhole open, which led to her falling into the engine area of their 62-foot handline fishing vessel. Despite the injury, she attended a roundtable discussion in San Felipe, Zambales, wearing an arm sling as she sat beside fellow fisherfolk at a beachfront venue under the scorching 29 to 31°C heat.

Balan was among nine members of the Archipelagic Women of the Philippines (AWP) who joined a group discussion with journalists from the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia during a recent workshop under the Southeast Asia Maritime Media Visits Program organized by the Australian government.

The 53-year-old fisherwoman from Olongapo City said she and her peers remain hopeful for improved working conditions in their fishing grounds, particularly access to Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Her remarks come ahead of the 10th anniversary in July of the 2016 arbitral ruling, which favored Manila but remains unrecognized by China.

At the same time, Balan highlighted the practical challenges they face daily. She noted that the boat provided by the government was not fully equipped when it was turned over to them, lacking essential components such as railings and other gear. Because of these deficiencies, it cannot yet be used for deep-sea handline fishing about 230 to 240 nautical miles offshore.

Tourism and family livelihood

For now, she told the Inquirer in a separate interview, they are temporarily using the vessel for tourism, offering island-hopping trips around Subic Bay and Grande Island, as well as diving activities, to generate income while raising funds to complete its requirements. She said island-hopping tours cost around P1,000, depending on the number of destinations.

Beyond the boat and tourism work, Balan shared how her family manages their catch after returning from fishing trips. Her three daughters — all in their 30s — help turn the seafood into bottled sardines, smoked fish (locally known as tinapa), and buttered smoked delicacies. They also prepare seafood mixed with laing, a Southern Luzon specialty known for its spicy coconut-based flavor.

They prepare their sardines using a pressure canner, pack them into bottles, and sell each for around P150, while a kilo of boneless smoked fish sells for about P600.

Other endeavors beyond the sea

Aside from her responsibilities at home and supporting her husband at sea, Balan revealed that she also serves as president of Samahang Pangkabuhayan ng mga Kababaihan sa Kalakhan. She holds various civic roles in Olongapo City and actively participates in civil society organizations (CSOs) at both the barangay and city levels.

Similarly, other AWP members hold leadership roles in their communities, including Edna Sarmiento, 56, of San Salvador, Masinloc; Manuela Faundo, 76, of Candelaria; Dorothy Anamos, 50, of Uacon, Candelaria; Rosela Dadula, 38, of Subic; Janice Rolloque, 41, of Botolan; Elizabeth Sadiera, 57, of Subic; and Evelyn Leal, 60, also of Subic.

Despite their leadership responsibilities, these women follow demanding daily routines. Leal, for instance, said she begins her day around noon by buying fuel and preparing fishing gear for the evening trip.

By 2 p.m., the boats set off, usually taking about an hour to reach waters off San Antonio, where small catches such as anchovies are abundant. These are later processed into bagoong, a traditional fermented fish or shrimp condiment. They wait until around 7 p.m., when anchovies gather, before casting their nets. After collecting the catch, they return to Subic around midnight to process and sell it, with work sometimes stretching until 7 a.m.

READ: West Philippine Sea: PH fishers tell lawmakers the horror stories are true

Two hurdles

Beyond the challenges of fishing in the West Philippine Sea, AWP members said climate change is making their work even more difficult. Rising sea temperatures, unpredictable weather, and declining fish stocks threaten both their income and food security.

In a separate roundtable under the same program, marine expert Dr. Deo Onda of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute echoed these concerns, saying rapid degradation of marine ecosystems is a critical and often overlooked threat.

“Many of our responses in the West Philippine Sea are strategic, military-based, or political. But if we expand the definition of security, we must also consider food security, climate security, and economic security,” Onda said.

He noted that coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses — key drivers of coastal productivity — are declining nationwide, with coral cover dropping from 40 percent in 2000 to just 10 percent today. These habitats are vital for ecological connectivity, providing eggs and larvae that sustain fisheries along the western Philippine coast and even in neighboring countries.

READ: Experts warn of rapid marine ecosystem decline amid focus on WPS issues

WPS angle

Meanwhile, Paulo “Ozman” Pumicpic, a 46-year-old fisherman featured in the 2025 documentary Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea, directed by Baby Ruth Villarama, shared how his livelihood has been affected by Beijing’s continued assertive actions in the region.

Restricted access to Scarborough Shoal — which lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone — has disrupted generations of traditional fishing. As a result, Pumicpic and others now spend 10 to 15 days at sea, fishing in less productive areas along the periphery of the shoal.

He also described encounters with Chinese Coast Guard patrols that restrict vessel movement and sometimes intimidate smaller boats. He said fishing equipment is occasionally damaged and food supplies thrown overboard, threatening both livelihoods and food security in coastal communities.

The discussion also revealed that increased costs and lower yields have drastically reduced Zambales fisherfolk’s income compared to when they had free access to their traditional grounds. Many have turned to alternative livelihoods such as farming, tricycle driving, or construction work.

Government response

The Philippine government has sought to address China’s assertive actions through a transparency initiative launched in 2023 that publicly reports foreign encroachment and coercive activities in Philippine maritime zones.

In a separate forum, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio urged the administration to sustain this approach, saying international exposure is crucial in countering Beijing’s refusal to recognize the 2016 arbitral ruling. He warned that relying solely on closed-door diplomacy could allow China to dominate the narrative.

READ: Carpio urges gov’t to sustain West PH Sea transparency push

Despite heightened tensions and operational difficulties, fisherfolk said they appreciate the government’s efforts to assert the country’s rights and keep global attention focused on their struggles in the West Philippine Sea. /apl