The Supreme Court has erased the concept of 'municipal waters,' prioritizing large fishing corporations over local fisherfolk. This decision, while based on a strict interpretation of the Constitution, is criticized for ignoring the spirit of the law and potentially harming local communities, the marine environment, and food security.
In a ruling on December 19, 2024, the Supreme Court unilaterally erased the concept of ' municipal waters ' with respect to the regulation of fishing grounds in favor of local fishermen.
The decision may have been correct based on a strict and literal reading of the Constitution, which is how the Supreme Court presented it; but even that is questionable, and the ruling certainly ignored the spirit of the law, to the detriment of one of the country's poorest economic sectors, local communities, the marine environment and perhaps even the country's food security.The recent ruling upheld a 2023 Malabon Regional Trial Court (RTC) decision on the petition of the Mercidar Fishing Corp. to fish within the 15-kilometer municipal waters, an area reserved for small fisherfolk, except in shallow waters (less than 7 fathoms, or 12.8 meters deep). The Supreme Court First Division originally upheld the Malabon RTC decision in August of last year by denying a petition for certiorari filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The latest ruling was essentially a summary decision, as the OSG apparently missed the filing deadline for a motion for reconsideration. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court decision noted that even if it had been filed on time, the government's 'allegations, issues and arguments... failed to sufficiently show that the RTC committed any irreversible error in the challenged decision and order.'The RTC ruling that the high court agreed with emphasized that according to the Constitution, Philippine waters are natural resources owned by the State, and therefore only the national government may regulate their use
Supreme Court Fishing Municipal Waters Philippines Environment Food Security Local Fisherfolk Large Fishing Corporations
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Montana Supreme Court Rules Climate Is a Constitutional RightIn a landmark decision, Montana's highest court ruled that the state constitution guarantees a right to a stable climate, invalidating laws that prevent regulators from considering greenhouse gas emissions when approving fossil fuel projects.
Read more »
Supreme Court Rules on Validity of Search WarrantsThe Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that search warrants lacking precise details about the location to be searched are invalid, leading to the acquittal of an individual charged with drug offenses.
Read more »
Court denies TikTok's request to halt enforcement of potential US ban until Supreme Court reviewA federal appeals court on Friday left in place a mid-January deadline in a federal law requiring TikTok to be sold or face a ban in the United States, rejecting a request made by the company to halt enforcement until the Supreme Court reviews its challenge of the statute.
Read more »
Supreme Court Upholds Ruling: Municipal Waters Not Exclusively for Local FishermenThe Supreme Court of the Philippines has affirmed a lower court's ruling declaring certain provisions of the Fisheries Code unconstitutional. The decision states that Philippine waters, as natural resources owned by the State, should be regulated by national, not local, government. While the Constitution emphasizes protecting subsistence fishermen's rights, the court ruled that this does not explicitly exclude commercial fishing corporations.
Read more »
Transgender rights case lands at Supreme Court amid debate over ban on medical treatments for minorsWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is hearing arguments Wednesday in just its second major transgender rights case, which is a challenge to a Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming care for minors.
Read more »
Supreme Court Seeks to Uphold Tennessee's Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for MinorsDuring a hearing, the Supreme Court seemed likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, with conservative justices showing skepticism of arguments against the ban. The case's outcome could sway similar laws across the nation.
Read more »