Hundreds of fishermen in Ilocos Norte received financial aid and food packs from the government on Saturday, as authorities enforced temporary fishing restrictions to give way to ongoing Balikatan military exercises.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. led the distribution of assistance to around 700 affected fisherfolk, saying the support was meant to cover four days of lost income while key live-fire and maritime strike drills were conducted in nearby waters.
Fishing activities have been suspended in selected coastal areas as part of safety measures for the joint exercises, which include a counter-landing live-fire drill scheduled Sunday and a maritime strike operation later in the week. The restrictions are set to remain in place until May 6.
The annual Balikatan exercises, which began April 20 and will run through May 8, involve about 17,000 troops from the Philippines, the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, underscoring deepening defense cooperation among allied nations.
Teodoro said the financial assistance was sourced from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in coordination with the Department of National Defense and local government units, after authorities recognized the economic impact of the temporary fishing ban.
Beyond compensation, the defense chief also called on coastal communities to play a more active role in safeguarding the country’s waters, stressing that protecting marine resources ultimately benefits local fishermen.
He warned that failure to remain vigilant could allow foreign entities to exploit resources within the country’s exclusive economic zone, depriving Filipino communities of their rightful livelihood.
A key highlight of the exercises will be a maritime strike event expected to be observed by Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, where Japanese forces are set to fire a Type 88 missile at a decommissioned vessel as part of the drill.