Scarborough lagoon to be declared ‘no-fishing zone’ as unilateral policy

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte will sign an Executive Order (EO) “unilaterally” declaring a lagoon at the disputed Scarborough Shoal as “no-fishing zone” or a marine sanctuary area for both Chinese and Filipino fishermen, his Cabinet officials said on Sunday evening (Monday morning of Nov. 20 in Manila).

In a press briefing, National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. said Mr. Duterte he had informed his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, about his planned order during their bilateral meeting last Saturday, Nov. 19.

“The President has decided to declare that as a sanctuary. That is a unilateral action from [our] government,” Mr. Esperon said, adding that this move may be mutually agreed upon “in due time” because of “congruence” between the two countries.

“Actually, doon tayo nagkakaroon ng congruence ng gusto rin doon eh. Kung ayaw nila magpa- fishing doon, tayo din naman ayaw nating magpa- fishing (Actually, that’s where there is congruence in what both governments want. If they don’t allow fishing there, we don’t allow it too). So it will come out naturally,” Mr. Esperon said.

For his part, Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar quoted Mr. Xi as saying in response: “We will mobilize government forces to promote our agreements, step up guidance to create favorable environment.” The Chinese Embassy could not be contacted for comment as of this reporting.

The lagoon or what his officials described as “spawning grounds” is what Mr. Duterte is considering transforming into a sanctuary, as he had articulated in a speech last month.

Following Mr. Duterte’s state visit to China in October, Filipino fishermen have returned to the disputed Scarborough area this time without being harassed by the Chinese Coast Guard, which however has remained there. The Philippine Coast Guard has also returned to patrolling these waters but at a good distance from the Chinese Coast Guard.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, for his part, assured that the livelihood of the fishermen will not be affected by the planned order, since they can still fish outside the lagoon.