FISHPOND LEASE AGREEMENTS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN COASTAL AREAS

FISHPOND LEASE AGREEMENTS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN COASTAL AREAS When we talk about livelihoods for Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in our coastal barangays, it’s not enough to merely acknowledge their existence. We must ask: are we really empowering them, or just paying lip service? Consider this: the Philippines already has a legal framework for Fishpond Lease Agreements (FLAs) — a 25-year renewable lease that lets individuals, cooperatives, or corporations legally occupy and develop public fishpond lands for aquaculture. This is enshrined in the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 and its implementing rules, which set out clear conditions, lease terms, and obligations for leaseholders. It even gives preference to qualified cooperatives or fisherfolk associations when issuing new or expired FLAs. If such a mechanism exists, why aren’t we actively using it to uplift IP communities living by our shores? Indigenous Peoples: Coastal Stewards, Not Spectators There are many IP groups in the Philippines whose lives and cultures are deeply intertwined with coastal waters. The Badjao (Sama Dilaut) are known throughout Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago as sea-based people with traditional fishing and seafaring expertise. In Palawan, groups like the Molbog have long sustained themselves through fishing and other marine livelihoods. Yet despite these rooted connections to aquatic resources, IPs are frequently marginalized, often among the poorest sectors in the country alongside fisherfolk and farmers. Recent reports suggest these groups experience persistently high poverty rates — reminding us that access to sustainable livelihood remains elusive. The Big Question So here it is, bluntly: why aren’t we helping coastal IP communities apply for FLAs and become fishpond operators themselves? Especially when the legal basis has been in place for decades. This isn’t just about handing out leases like candy. It’s about building justice, restoring dignity, and opening doors to economic opportunity for people who have lived by the sea long before modern development arrived. A Proposal Worth Thinking About Here’s a proposal grounded in practicality, not rhetoric: Make FLAs part of Local Development Council agendas. Most municipalities with IP populations already have Mandatory Indigenous Peoples Representatives (IPMRs) serving in development councils. These councils should be where this initiative takes root — not in isolated memos or wish lists. Form a Joint Task Force. Bring together DILG, DENR, DOST, DA-BFAR, and NCIP — agencies with the legal, environmental, technical, and cultural mandates to help IP communities plan, apply for, and implement FLA-based aquaculture projects. Capacity Building + Technical Assistance. DOST and BFAR can provide training on sustainable fishpond management (including mangrove-friendly aquaculture), while LGUs help navigate paperwork and BFAR requirements. FLAs come with obligations — like developing the area commercially within a set time and maintaining environmental safeguards — and communities will need support to fulfill them. Financing Options. Landbank and other rural financial institutions could extend loans tailored to IP groups undertaking fishpond ventures. Municipalities with stronger fiscal capacity might even establish matching funds or grant support. Collective, Not Individual, Leases. Instead of pushing individual IPs into isolated leases, communities could apply collectively — either as cooperatives or community associations — preserving customary governance and social solidarity. The Win–Win Imagine coastal barangays where IP communities operate commercially viable fishponds — producing milkfish, mudcrabs, or seaweeds — while responsibly managing mangroves and nearshore ecosystems. Not only would this diversify their income beyond traditional fishing and foraging, but it also aligns with sustainable resource use and community stewardship. At its heart, this idea isn’t just about fishponds — it’s about enabling Indigenous Peoples to shape their own economic futures with dignity and agency. With the proper frameworks, support systems, and political will, we can turn a long-standing legal tool into a vehicle for real community empowerment. That’s not just policy talk — that’s impact. BY RAMON IKE V. SENERES www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 09088877282/11-10-2026