Tacloban Officials Cite Communication Gap in Balikatan Fishing Suspension

Posted on May 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm

TACLOBAN CITY — The temporary suspension of fishing activities during the recent Balikatan exercises exposed what Tacloban City officials described as a serious lack of coordination between military organizers and local government offices, leaving hundreds of fisherfolk unprepared for days without income.

While the Balikatan exercises were presented as an important effort to strengthen defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United States, many fishing communities along San Pedro Bay were caught off guard when parts of the sea were suddenly placed under restricted access.

An advisory issued by the Coast Guard District Eastern Visayas (CGDEV), signed by Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jonathan C. Marfil on April 27, 2026, declared portions of San Pedro Bay a restricted exercise area from May 5 to May 7 under Navigational Warning Number NSD 001-2026 for the Philippines-United States Balikatan Exercise (BK41-26).

The restrictions prevented fishermen from entering their usual fishing grounds, particularly affecting residents of Barangays 88, 89, and 90 in Tacloban City, where many families rely heavily on daily fishing for food and income.

City Agriculturist Romelo Anade said the City Agriculture Office was only informed about the restrictions a day before the activities began, making it difficult for local officials to prepare affected communities.

According to Anade, there was no early coordination from either the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the visiting US forces, despite standard procedures that usually require prior notice for activities affecting coastal waters and fishing areas like San Pedro Bay.

“Dapat ginpapasabot kami para kami in nakag-andam antes pa an aktibidad. Aadi ha amon opisina an kompleto nga lista han mga rehistrado nga fisherfolks han Tacloban (We should have been informed so we could prepare before the activity started. Our office has the complete list of registered fisherfolk in Tacloban),” Anade said.

Tacloban City currently has more than 300 registered fisherfolk under the records of the City Agriculture Office. Anade said many fishermen immediately went to their office after hearing about the restrictions to ask whether they qualified for possible assistance during the temporary fishing suspension.

However, because of the late notice, local offices struggled to complete the validation process and properly inform affected residents before the restrictions took effect.

Anade said the delayed coordination created confusion and anxiety among fisherfolk, especially families whose daily earnings depend entirely on their catch.

Meanwhile, Tacloban City DSWD Chief Chona Bahin confirmed that their office immediately requested assistance from the DSWD Regional Office VIII after learning about the no-sailing restrictions. As of now, however, the request has not yet been approved.

The City DSWD and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office also acknowledged that local government funds are insufficient to provide assistance to all affected fisherfolk without outside support.

They explained that Balikatan-related disruptions are not covered under existing disaster response guidelines, which are usually the basis for releasing emergency assistance.

For many fishing families, even a short interruption in fishing activities meant losing money needed for food and other daily expenses. Some residents also worried they could miss out on aid if their names were not immediately validated during the restriction period.

Anade further revealed that meetings with concerned agencies only took place when the Balikatan exercises were already nearing completion, limiting opportunities to address the concerns of affected communities while the restrictions were still ongoing.

He stressed that future military exercises involving coastal waters should be coordinated much earlier with local government offices to prevent disruptions and give communities enough time to prepare.

As the Balikatan exercises concluded, Tacloban City officials said the experience highlighted the need for better communication between military organizers and local authorities, especially in communities where daily survival depends on uninterrupted access to the sea.

Photo by: The Vanguard