Fisherfolk Group Demands Accountability for Dredging Vessel Damaging Cavite Farms

MANILA — The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has urged government agencies to track down and hold accountable the owner of a dredging vessel that damaged more than 10 mussel-farming structures, known locally as tahungan, in Cavite City.

In a statement released Monday, the fisherfolk advocacy group emphasized the need for swift identification of the vessel's operator and stressed that full compensation should be provided to affected farmers and tahungan operators. The incident has sparked concerns among the fishing community about maritime safety and protection of aquaculture operations.

Paralakaya did not specify the exact date of the incident or provide details about the extent of damage caused to the mussel farms. The group's call for accountability reflects growing tensions between industrial maritime operations and small-scale fishing communities dependent on coastal resources for their livelihoods.

The incident underscores ongoing challenges in Philippine waters regarding coordination between port operations and artisanal fishing activities, particularly in densely populated aquaculture areas like Cavite.