‘Fishermen’s livelihood, food supply, local market’: 5ID chief explains why West Philippine Sea matters to Kalinga

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The West Philippine Sea dispute also affects inland communities such as Kalinga through its impact on fishermen’s livelihood and the supply of fish reaching local markets, Major General Gulliver L. Señires, commander of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry (STAR) Division, said.

“What we're talking about, we're talking about for those Filipinos who are dependent on the West Philippine Sea for their livelihoods, especially those who live in the western coast of Northern Luzon,” Señires said during the Provincial Government of Kalinga’s Kapehan sa Kapitolyo on November 9.

He explained that fish caught along the western coast of Northern Luzon also reaches Kalinga, linking the province’s food supply to fishing activities in the West Philippine Sea.

“Fishermen sa west coast, sa west side ay diyan po nangingisda, some of the fishes ay dumadating po rito. So yun po ang impact, economically, socially, meron po siyang impact sa atin,” he added.

The concern comes amid reports of Filipino fishermen experiencing difficulties accessing their traditional fishing grounds because of tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

In July 2026, fishermen from Masinloc, Zambales told Reuters they had stopped fishing at Bajo de Masinloc after reported harassment by Chinese vessels. Some moved closer to shore, while others sought alternative sources of income.

On September 18, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel collided with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel BRP Datu Magat Salamat during a fuel assistance mission for Filipino fishermen about 54 nautical miles off Palawan. The Philippine Coast Guard reported damage to the Philippine vessel.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines also reported on November 10 that it monitored 29 Chinese vessels across four maritime features in the West Philippine Sea from November 3 to 8. These included 10 vessels at Ayungin Shoal, eight at Bajo de Masinloc, six at Escoda Shoal and five around the Pag-asa Islands.

At Bajo de Masinloc, five China Coast Guard vessels and three Chinese Navy vessels were monitored.

The fishing industry supports hundreds of thousands of Filipinos. Department of Agriculture data showed that 453,246 fisherfolk were registered in provinces and cities along the West Philippine Sea as of June 30, 2026.

From 2006 to 2025, the area accounted for an average of 16.68 percent of the country’s marine capture fisheries production.

Señires’ statement highlights how developments in the West Philippine Sea can have consequences beyond coastal communities. For Kalinga, disruptions to fishing activities could affect the availability of fish in local markets and the families that rely on it as a source of food.