Latest news with #PhilippineStatisticsAuthority
The Star
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Illegal fishing, overfishing push Philippine fish stocks to historic lows: Oceana
MANILA: The country's fisheries sector is in crisis, with illegal commercial fishing and chronic overfishing driving key fish stocks to historic lows, according to new data and analysis recently released by international ocean advocacy group Oceana. The warning comes at a critical time: municipal fisheries production, once the backbone of the country's coastal food supply, has now dropped to its lowest level in over 20 years. Staple species, including tamban (Bali sardinella), galunggong (round scad), tulingan (frigate tuna), and tambakol/bariles (yellowfin tuna), have all recorded steep declines, raising alarm over food security and the future of millions of Filipinos dependent on the sea for their livelihood. 'This production crisis spells trouble for national food security, as a growing population compounds the strain on already dwindling wild fish stocks. It is a red flag for every Filipino,' said Oceana Acting Vice President Atty. Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio. 'Our fishing communities, already among the country's poorest, now face emptier seas and shrinking livelihoods due to rampant illegal commercial fishing. Unless we act decisively to safeguard municipal waters and uphold the law, our dream of food-fish sufficiency will remain out of reach,' Osorio added. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Oceana reported that municipal fisheries production fell to 802,770 metric tonnes in 2024, an 8.8 per cent decline from 879,960 MT the previous year—the lowest recorded output since 2002. This translates to a loss of more than 77 million kilogrammes of fish in just one year. That's enough to serve every Filipino family more than a dozen fish meals each, gone from the nation's tables. Overall, fisheries production also declined by 5 per cent last year, continuing a long-term downward trend that has become a 'red flag' for food security. The drop has been especially severe among key fish species that feed millions of Filipinos every day. The average catch per municipal fisher also slid from five kilograms per day in 2010 to just four kilogrammes in 2023, leaving many fishing families struggling to get by. Oceana and its July 2025 newsletter highlight a worsening surge in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, particularly the encroachment of large commercial fishing vessels into the 15-km municipal waters that are supposed to be reserved exclusively for small-scale and subsistence fishers. Data from Karagatan Patrol, a satellite-enabled monitoring system managed by Oceana and local governments, reveal a 9 per cent increase in detections of suspected commercial fishing intrusions into municipal waters, from 26,295 incidents in 2022 to 28,822 in 2023. The trend only accelerated in 2024, with 31,843 detections—a 10.5 per cent jump from the previous year. The problem has continued to worsen in 2025, with early March alone seeing weekly detection spikes of almost 19 per cent. Among the hardest-hit areas, based on Karagatan Patrol records, are Zamboanga City, Cuyo (Palawan), San Pascual (Masbate), Tongkil (Sulu), Languyan (Tawi-Tawi), Pagbilao (Quezon), and Carles (Iloilo). The same locations, Oceana said, that have consistently suffered from illegal commercial fishing activities. Oceana warns that IUU fishing is 'widely recognized as a key driver behind ecosystem collapse, stock depletion, and worsening poverty among municipal fisherfolk, who suffer the brunt of increased competition and reduced catches.' Efforts to address illegal fishing have met with significant obstacles. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has introduced Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 266, requiring commercial fishing vessels to use vessel monitoring technology—a key step to curb IUU fishing and ensure accountability. However, Oceana pointed out that the nationwide implementation of vessel monitoring technology has faced significant setbacks, with legal disputes and compliance issues slowing progress. The group also observed that many local enforcement agencies remain ill-equipped to effectively deter illegal fishing, underscoring the urgent need for both stronger enforcement and broad, systemic reforms across the sector. 'These reforms should include improving transparency in the fishing industry, enhancing local governance to ensure better management of marine resources, and fully protecting municipal waters,' Osorio said. 'Such changes are essential for the preservation and sustainability of marine ecosystems, ultimately safeguarding these vital resources for future generations,' she continued. Experts and advocates warn that the ongoing collapse in the country's fisheries could intensify hunger, poverty, and inequality, especially in coastal communities that rely on municipal fishing as a primary food source and livelihood. 'Advocates and local officials are calling for a multi-pronged approach to address the crisis. This includes full implementation of vessel monitoring measures, stricter enforcement of existing laws, and protection of marine habitats within municipal waters,' Oceana stressed. 'BFAR has set an ambitious goal of achieving 100% food-fish sufficiency by 2028, but experts warn that this target will remain elusive without decisive action against IUU fishing,' it added. Oceana called for immediate, science-based reforms to fisheries policy and enforcement, emphasizing the urgent need to protect the nation's remaining fish stocks and secure the welfare of the millions who depend on them. 'As the Philippines confronts this escalating challenge, the message from Karagatan Patrol and fisheries stakeholders is clear: safeguarding municipal waters is essential for environmental sustainability and the survival and prosperity of millions of Filipino families.' - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
GMA Network
11 hours ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos meets with execs from US semiconductor industry
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. held a meeting with top executives of the Semiconductor Industry Association during his official visit to the United States. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said the semiconductor sector is one of Manila's biggest industries with strong economic ties to Washington. Further, the Philippines is host to more than 500 electronics and semiconductor firms, including major American companies. In November 2023, Marcos said in a meeting with the SIA that the Philippines was ready to work with the group. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the US was the country's top export destination in 2024, accounting for 16.6%, or $12.14 billion, of the total export receipts of $73.27 billion. The Philippines' largest export was electronic goods, which made up 53.4% of total exports ($39.09 billion), of which $29.17 billion were semiconductors. Marcos also met with top executives of leading US investment firms, including Cerberus, which serves as an established alternative investment advisor with approximately $65 billion in assets across complementary credit, private equity, and real estate platforms. I Squared, meanwhile, is an independent global infrastructure investor founded in 2012 that is known for the development of investment platforms in infrastructure. KKR & Co., Inc. is another global investment firm investing across private markets in every asset class. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Marcos goal: A trade deal unique to US-Philippine ties
MANILA: Negotiating a bilateral trade deal that will result in collaborations 'only the United States and the Philippines will be able to take advantage of' will be the top priority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who left Manila on Sunday (July 20) morning for his three-day official visit to Washington. In his pre-departure speech at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Marcos said his meeting with US President Donald Trump was 'essential to continuing to advance our national interests and strengthening our alliance.' 'My top priority for this visit is to push for greater economic engagement, particularly through trade and investment between the Philippines and the United States,' he said. 'I intend to convey to President Trump and his Cabinet officials that the Philippines is ready to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that will ensure strong, mutually beneficial and future-oriented collaborations that only the United States and the Philippines will be able to take advantage of,' the president said. Also high on his agenda is the proposed 20-per cent US tariff on Philippine exports taking effect on Aug. 1, which he hopes to address through constructive and mutually beneficial dialogue with the Trump administration. 'And we will see how much progress we can make when it comes to the negotiations with the United States concerning the changes that we would like to institute so as to be able to alleviate the effects of a very severe tariff schedule on the Philippines,' Marcos said. The United States is the country's biggest trading partner as well as its leading export destination in 2024, accounting for 16.6 per cent of $73.27 billion in export sales, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. Over the past five years, US foreign investment in the Philippines has amounted to P165.93 billion (US$2.90 billion), according to the Philippine Embassy in Washington. As he did in his past trips abroad, the president is expected to meet with business leaders to explore opportunities that will help grow the country's economy. Accompanying Marcos are Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Presidential Communications Office acting Secretary Dave Gomez, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go and Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez. In his absence, Marcos appointed Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III as government caretakers. 'The order of the president is to continue the work while he's away. Anyway, we keep in constant communication with him during all the time that he is away from the country,' Bersamin said. Aside from economic issues, Marcos and Trump are also expected to discuss ways to enhance defence cooperation and maritime security, as well as efforts to maintain regional stability amid evolving geopolitical challenges. The President is first scheduled to meet separately with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on July 21. The following day, he will meet with Trump at the White House. He will then conclude his brief visit with his regular briefing with the Philippine media delegation before returning to Manila on July 22. Due to a tight schedule, Malacañang said the president would be unable to meet with the Filipino community in the United States. Marcos is the first head of state from the Association of South-East Asian Nations to meet with President Trump since his return to the White House in January 2025, underscoring the continued strength of Philippines-US relations. According to Marcos, his visit to the United States was built on the active exchanges between the longtime military allies since Trump assumed the presidency. These include the meeting between Rubio and then-Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo in February; Hegseth's visit to Manila in March; the visit of a bipartisan US congressional delegation in April; and the courtesy visit to Malacañang by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in June. Manila and Washington have an enduring, nearly 80-year-old alliance founded on deep historical and cultural ties. The Philippines gained its independence from the United States on July 4, 1946, with diplomatic relations formally established on the same day. The 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty provides a strong foundation for the robust security partnership between the two countries. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Arab News
5 days ago
- Health
- Arab News
Environmentalists urge policy reform as toxic waste rises in Philippines
MANILA: Philippine environmental groups are calling for immediate policy reform after official data showed that the country's annual hazardous waste levels increased to more than 269,000 metric tonnes annually, fueling concern over public health threats. The Philippines' toxic waste generation increased by 13 percent last year from about 238,000 metric tonnes in 2023, with oil comprising about one-third of the total, according to data published by the Philippine Statistics Authority last week. Though it is one of the lowest volumes recorded based on figures compiled since 2015, the latest data set showed that the Philippines is producing hazardous waste at a faster rate compared to the development of waste management infrastructure. Despite the number of trash processing facilities and sanitary landfills increasing in 2024 by about 8.7 percent and 14.7 percent, respectively, the number of reported illegal dumps rose by 84 percent in the same year. 'It's still alarming because the infrastructure can't catch up,' Jashaf Shamir Lorenzo, head of policy development and research at BAN Toxics, told Arab News on Thursday. The rising number of illegal dumps concerns observers as the sites usually involve open burning or the burying of hazardous waste underground. 'There is a big health and environmental impact here for everyone … all of these harmful chemicals that could lead to various health issues like neurodevelopmental issues, cancer … (they) increase the risk of communities around them getting these diseases,' Lorenzo said. 'I think (the sites are) also a reflection of the number of wastes that we are really generating that other cities can't handle. But also, it calls for the need for the government to pay attention to the protection of these communities.' While the Philippine government has made efforts over the years to improve waste management in the country, environmentalists like Lorenzo say there is still room for improvement. This includes preventing the illegal waste trade, as the Philippines has been a major destination for such exports over the years, including shipments of toxic chemical waste intended for dumping. 'A lot of the waste coming into the country, historically, has been hazardous waste traded by other countries into us. I think the government should really push for policies that limit hazardous waste coming in,' Lorenzo said. He is also urging the government to 'look at other solutions on waste reduction,' including by installing reuse and refill systems across the country. The increasing volume of waste in the Philippines is 'not surprising,' said Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Marian Ledesma, who is also pushing for policies focused on reducing waste. 'Downstream approaches like waste management simply cannot cope with increasing patterns of production and consumption … the government must enact policies that reduce or prevent waste from the start,' she said. This includes banning the commercial use of harmful chemical groups in products, phasing out single-use products and packaging like plastics, and regulating hazardous chemicals. 'While the country is taking steps toward better and sustainable waste management, it can improve on upstream measures that prevent or reduce waste generation,' Ledesma said. 'Upstream approaches like cutting production and phase-outs or bans are necessary, have clear benefits for communities and are more cost-effective in the long term.'
Filipino Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
PH population tops 112 million, grows by 3.7 million in four years
The population of the Philippines has grown by over 3.69 million in the last four years, reaching 112,729,484 as of July 1, 2024. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 11 issued Proclamation No. 973, officially declaring the results of the 2024 Census of Population and the Community-Based Monitoring System, which were conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) between July and September 2024. The latest census figure is up from 109,035,343 persons recorded on May 1, 2020. The Batas Pambansa 72 mandates that final population counts shall be considered official once proclaimed by the President. Despite the population increase, recent data reflect demographic shifts. According to a 2025 report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the country's fertility rate is now at 1.9 births per woman. The UNFPA report, which surveyed 14 countries, also found that 'rates of unintended pregnancy are persistently high across regions,' and many individuals face challenges in achieving their desired number of children.
