Social injustice

Small-scale rice farmers are groaning from the flood of imports following the drastic cut in tariffs, as part of a so far futile effort of the government to bring down rice prices.

Now it's the turn of small-scale fishers to express alarm over a threat to their livelihood. A coalition of small-scale fishers, farmers, organized labor, religious, students and environmental advocates is asking the Department of Agriculture to appeal a Supreme Court ruling that allowed commercial fishing within 15 kilometers from the country's shores. These municipal waters have long been reserved for marginalized fishing operations using small boats.