DID the courts just abolish our municipal waters? Pertinent provisions of the Fisheries Code of the Philippines and in its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) were declared unconstitutional by Malabon Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 170 a year ago. On Aug. 19, 2024, the Supreme Court's First Division affirmed the RTC's ruling.
Specifically, the Fisheries Code's Sections 4 (58), 16 and 18, and the IRR's corresponding provisions were struck down. Section 4 (58) defines Municipal Waters. Section 16 states that, "The municipal/city government shall have jurisdiction over municipal waters as defined in this Code." Section 18 identifies the users of municipal waters: the municipal fisherfolk and their associations. Local government units (LGUs) may also grant permits to commercial fishing vessels to operate within 10.1 to 15 kilometers from the coastline.
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