MASINLOC, Zambales – Filipino fishermen on Friday made an impassioned plea to lawmakers to help them return to their traditional fishing grounds in Bajo de Masinloc.

'Dinadaan ko na lang po sa luha, ramdam n'yo naman po siguro ang kahirapan namin.... Ipinanganak po kaming mahirap, sana kahit konting ginhawa lang po, [gusto po naming] maranasan kahit konting ginhawa lang po. Sana po ang hiling naming mga mangingisda, tulungan n'yo po kami (We just cry about it, and you should know what we are experiencing. We were born poor, and we hope to get some relief. We just want you to help us fisherfolk),' Nolly de los Santos, a fisherman from Sta. Cruz, Zambales, told members of the joint committees of National Defense and Security and Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea.