March 9, 2015 — A fishing group is contesting the amendments to the Philippine fisheries code that lapsed into law on February 27.
Although acknowledging that amendments to the Fishing Code of 1998 are needed under existing trade obligations with the European Union (EU), the Alliance of the Philippine Fishing Federations said the imposition of harsh penalties for violations and the requirement to invest in expensive monitoring equipment "oppressive and confiscatory."
The European Parliament granted the Philippines inclusion in the EU's General System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) in December 2017.
Members of the Alliance of the Philippine Fishing Federations met President Benigno Aquino III two weeks ago to raise their concerns about the measure but they were told that the President has the obligation to sign, veto or let it pass into law, said Alonso Tan, the group's president.
The amendments to the Fisheries Code lapsed into law on February 27 without Aquino’s signature.