Latest news with #BFAR
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH Navy not part of fisherfolk aid missions but assures presence in WPS — PN spox
While not deployed with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in fisherfolk support missions, the Philippine Navy assured the public that it remains present and ready to respond in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). At a press conference on Tuesday, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the WPS, said the Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda program is primarily a law enforcement activity of BFAR and the PCG. 'Let's first be very clear on this: the mission of the Philippine Coast Guard and BFAR was to support our fisherfolks through the conduct of the Kadiwa… That is a law enforcement support operation,' he said. Trinidad clarified that the Armed Forces of the Philippines have a different mission in the disputed waters. 'The AFP, the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force regularly conduct maritime patrol operations and air surveillance flights in Bajo de Masinloc, the Northern Islands, Benham Rise. There is no conflict in both statements. We have our respective mandates to perform," he said. The Navy official maintained the military has not abandoned its posts in the country's maritime territories. 'Not only the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Air Force, the AFP has never left the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc, the Northern Islands, Benham Rise and even Kalayaan Island Group," Trinidad said. When asked about possible worst-case scenarios following recent incidents at sea, Trinidad said contingency plans are in place across the full range of possible conflicts. 'When we do contingency planning, we look at the entire spectrum of conflict from peace to crisis to wartime. Each possible scenario has different contingency measures in place," he noted. He also dismissed assumptions that the AFP would not respond if Filipino vessels were endangered. 'It is a universal mandate. The spirit of any sea-going individual, any professional organization is to extend assistance to any person requiring help in the ocean, in the maritime domain regardless of country, regardless of flag. And we have proven that in the past, not only for our Filipino citizens.' Trinidad noted that China's activities in the WPS tend to ease when foreign navies are present during multilateral activities. "Napansin namin na walang agresibong aksyon tuwing may presensya ng mga banyagang warship sa ating maritime domain," he said. (We observe there are no coercive and aggressive actions each time there are foreign warships in our maritime domain.) Moreover, he said the AFP is expanding its role beyond traditional domains to prepare for modern defense challenges. 'We are now looking into, not only sea, air and land. We have activities that cover cyber, undersea, not only kinetic warfare but also support and sustainment… covering all the details of a modern military," he added. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- General
- GMA Network
China Coast Guard ship waits outside Manila Bay; research vessel at Bajo de Masinloc
Chinese vessels were spotted off Luzon and appeared poised to intercept Philippine ships heading to Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal on Friday morning, according to a maritime expert. "China seems determined to intercept and escort any Philippine ship moving in Scarborough Shoal's general direction," former United States Air Force official and ex-Defense Attaché Ray Powell said on X (formerly Twitter). According to him, China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5303 was escorting Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship BRP Datu Matanam Taradapit on its way back to the Sual Fish Port in Pangasinan. "The Philippines' BFAR ship BRP Datu Matanam Taradapit is on its way back to Sual Fish Port in Pangasinan after checking in on Reed Bank, Iroquois Reef, and the PH bases at Lawak and Patag Islands," Powell said. "It has picked up a Chinese 'escort' (China Coast Guard 5303) as it passed Scarborough to make sure it goes home and doesn't decide to visit again," he added. Powell also reported that another Chinese vessel CCG 3306 was spotted outside Manila Bay allegedly waiting for the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) ship BRP Cape San Agustin to come out. "A second Chinese escort has been assigned to the PCG's BRP Cape San Agustin. CCG 3306 waits just outside Manila Bay for it to emerge," the maritime expert said. Unusual Powell also noted the "surprise and unusual" deployment of Chinese research ship Xiang Yang Hong 10 in Bajo de Masinloc. "It left Fiery Cross Reef on 12 August (the day after the collision) and just arrived one kilometer south of Scarborough this morning," Powell said. "Its purpose there is unknown, but its capabilities include deep-sea surveying, resource exploration and deploying autonomous underwater vehicles," he added. 4?A second ????????escort has been assigned to the ????????#Philippines Coast Guard's BRP Cape San Augustin. China Coast Guard 3306 waits just outside Manila Bay for it to emerge. #China seems determined to intercept & escort any Philippine ship moving in #ScarboroughShoal's general… — Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) August 15, 2025 Powell said the number of Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc is fewer now, following a temporary increase on August 5 with at least eight CCG ships and 14 Chinese maritime militia vessels. At present, three CCG ships and eight Chinese maritime militia vessels are in the area, he said. Most of them are returning to China but two of the militia vessels appear headed to Spratly Islands. "This suggests Beijing had intelligence that the Philippines was planning Monday's 'Kadiwa' operation and augmented its force in anticipation," he said. GMA News Online has sought comment from the PCG about the reported presence of Chinese ships, but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time. August 11 incident Last Monday, the PCG and BFAR headed to Bajo de Masinloc to distribute aid to local fishermen as part of the Kadiwa program. However, several Chinese vessels harassed Philippine vessels by firing a water cannon, performing dangerous maneuvers, and shadowing. According to the PCG, People's Liberation Army Navy ship 164 and CCG vessel 3104 collided while they were chasing PCG's BRP Suluan. The CCG vessel sustained substantial damage, rendering it unseaworthy, while the flagpole of the PCG vessel was also damaged. Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is considered within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Estrada condemns alleged Chinese blocking of BFAR vessel in West Philippine Sea
enator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Friday condemned another alleged attempt by Chinese maritime militia ships to block a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel. Estrada's statement followed a disclosure by Ray Powell, retired US Air Force colonel and director of the SeaLight project at Stanford University's Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. Powell said the BFAR vessel BRP Datu Romapenet, en route to Sandy Cay, was forced to return to Pag-asa Island after being blocked by at least three Chinese vessels. Sandy Cay is a group of sandbars west of Pag-asa Island claimed by both the Philippines and China. 'Reports that a BFAR vessel, the BRP Datu Romapenet, was blocked by Chinese maritime militia ships while conducting a fisheries mission in the West Philippine Sea are deeply concerning,' Estrada said. He urged relevant agencies to verify the incident, emphasizing that if confirmed, it would constitute a serious violation of the country's sovereign rights and harassment of a Philippine-flagged vessel carrying out legitimate monitoring within its maritime domain. Estrada lamented the numerous similar incidents experienced by Filipino civilian and government maritime personnel over the years. 'We could no longer count the many times our civilian and government maritime personnel have experienced from foreign entities that continue to persist in forcing us out of our own waters. We must not allow this disregard for our rights and endangerment of our fellow citizens to become normal,' he said. He called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file a diplomatic protest and demand accountability from China once the incident is verified, while asserting the Philippines' rights under international law.
GMA Network
16-07-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar positive for red tide toxin
Matarinao Bay in the Province of Eastern Samar (specifically in the Municipalities of General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo) is under shellfish ban. According to an advisory of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on July 14, 2025, shellfish meat samples collected from Matarinao Bay are found positive for red tide toxin (saxitoxin). 'Hence, all types of shellfishes and Acetes sp. locally known as 'alamang' or 'hipon' from this bay are not safe for human consumption,' the BFAR advisory read. Further, filtered seawater samples collected from Irong-Irong Bay (Catbalogan City, Province of Samar) remains positive for Pyrodinium bahamense, a dinoflagellate that produces red tide toxin (saxitoxin). 'The public is also advised to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. locally known as 'alamang' or 'hipon' from this area to avoid possible Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP),' the BFAR advisory added. Further, BFAR said that fish, squid, crab, and shrimp are safe to eat provided that these are 'fresh, all entrails are removed, and washed thoroughly with running water before cooking.'
Filipino Times
13-07-2025
- Filipino Times
Tawilis prices crash amid Taal Lake dumping allegations, say fishers
The price of tawilis, a freshwater sardine endemic to Taal Lake, has dropped to an all-time low following disturbing claims that the bodies of missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) were dumped in the lake, a local fishers' group reported on Sunday, July 13. According to Pamalakaya, a kilo of tawilis in some Cavite markets now sells for ₱100, down from the usual ₱250. The group said this price collapse is severely hurting local fishers who are already struggling due to months of limited fishing caused by the southwest monsoon (Habagat). Despite reassurances from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that Taal fish remain safe to eat, public fear continues to impact demand. Pamalakaya is calling on the Department of Agriculture and BFAR to step in by buying fish at fair prices and encouraging the public to support Taal Lake fish products. The price drop comes amid claims from a witness in the sabungeros case that the victims' bodies were dumped in the lake. Authorities have recovered several sacks from Taal and are currently investigating if they are connected to the missing persons case.
