MARAWI CITY — As the Philippines pushes for stronger protection of its small-scale fishers through the “Atin ang Kinse Kilometro” bill, faculty and students from the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) joined hundreds of advocates in Mindanao to turn research into resolve.
Eight ISUFST delegates—seven faculty members and one fisheries student—presented 16 research and creative works at the Second Philippine Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium (PSSFNS2) held on October 21–23, 2025, at the Mindanao State University (MSU)–Main Campus in Marawi City. The works, blending science, storytelling, and song, championed sustainability and inclusivity in the country’s small-scale fisheries (SSF) sector.
“Too Big To Ignore”
Gathering over 300 scientists, educators, artists, fishers, students, and policymakers, the three-day symposium carried the theme “From Recognition to Action.” Organized by MSU and Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) Philippines, it called for stronger and fairer policies to protect the country’s 15-kilometer municipal waters—the very heart of the “Atin ang Kinse” campaign, which fights for the rightful space of small fishers in their own seas.
“This consortium of universities, agencies, and communities aims to make small-scale fisheries visible, viable, and sustainable,” said Dr. Glen Lorenzo, MSU Vice President for Research and Extension. The gathering also tackled pressing issues such as climate change, overfishing, and illegal encroachment by commercial vessels—threats that the pending “Atin ang Kinse Kilometro Bill” (HB 5606) seeks to address.
ISUFST’s Contributions: Science, Art, and Advocacy
Representing ISUFST were Dr. Rolindo B. Demo-os Jr., Dr. Jescel B. Bito-onon, Prof. Rother M. Gaudiel, Dr. Quin Y. Clarito, Dr. Michael B. Dizon, Instructor Jezreel C. Donguila, Dr. Herman M. Lagon, and BS Fisheries student Melody Vaughn Ferrer.
Their diverse outputs—from fisheries research and photo essays to poetry and original songs—embodied ISUFST’s belief that science and culture can work together to heal and protect the seas.
Among the technical studies were “Catch Rates and Fishery Characterization of Filter Nets in Tinori-an River, Iloilo” by Bito-onon and Gaudiel, and “Fishing Smarter: Comparative Analysis of Fish Pot Designs Used by Small-Scale Fishers in Banate Bay” by Clarito.
Ferrer’s team, composed of CFAS students and faculty, presented “Pearl and Other Economically Valuable Oysters of Northern Iloilo: Morphometric Insights for Conservation and Fisheries.” The study highlighted the balance between livelihood and conservation—and won second place in the oral presentation category, besting entries from universities nationwide.
“These projects show how local innovation builds resilience in small-scale fisheries,” said Dr. Bito-onon, ISUFST Director for Research and Development. “It’s not just about data; it’s about empowering the communities that depend on our waters.”
Art Meets Advocacy
The symposium also celebrated creative works that bridged science and human experience. Dr. Herman M. Lagon’s poetry, short stories, and photography collections—“Between Net and Node,” “The Net That Holds,” “Where the Line Holds,” “Of Change,” “Lines of Salt and Hope,” “When Only the Bangkas Rest,” and “When Currents Meet the Roots”—captured the soul of coastal life: its struggles, rhythm, and hope.
Lagon, together with Instr. Jezreel C. Donguila, also presented two original advocacy songs, “Let the Line Hold” and “The Lines We Cast,” inspired by the Atin ang Kinse campaign. The songs, arranged with karaoke-style visuals and live footage edited by Patrick Lance Nacion using images from Dean Demo-os and Dr. Lagon, were performed by Donguila during the closing plenary and MOA signing ceremony—drawing resounding applause from the audience.
Beyond the symposium halls, the ISUFST delegation experienced Maranao hospitality. On the first night, delegates were treated to a Pagana Meranao dinner—an elaborate ceremonial feast where guests “eat like royalty.” Seated around a grand tabak (ornate tray), they shared flavorful dishes with their hands in true Maranao fashion.
The Marawi Manifesto and a Promise for the Future
The symposium concluded with the signing of the Marawi Manifesto, a collective pledge of support for the Atin ang Kinse movement and the Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) advocacy for inclusive, sustainable, and resilient fisheries. During the signing, Donguila’s live rendition of “Let the Line Hold” and “The Lines We Cast” filled the MSU gymnasium as photos of fisherfolk and coastal communities played onscreen—a moment described by many as “a hymn for the sea and the people who live by it.”
Participants also celebrated the acceptance of Batangas State University (BSU) as the next host of PSSFNS3 in 2026, marking the continued expansion of the TBTI network across the archipelago.
They capped the symposium with a visit to Marawi’s Ground Zero, where the scars of war stood as a solemn reminder that battles for survival come in many forms. Just as Marawi once fought for the right to life and peace, today’s Atin ang Kinse movement fights for the right of small fishers—and the seas they depend on—to live and thrive.
A Shared Mission
ISUFST President Dr. Nordy D. Siason Jr. commended the delegation for embodying the university’s vision of blending “science, culture, arts, and compassion in service of people and planet.” He emphasized that ISUFST’s efforts directly align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
For ISUFST, the symposium was more than an academic event—it was a reminder of purpose. “When we tell the stories of small fishers, artistically and scientifically,” said Lagon, “we’re also telling the story of our shared future.”
The PSSFNS2 came at a crucial time, as fisherfolk groups renewed calls for the passage of the “Atin ang Kinse Kilometro Bill” (HB 5606). The measure seeks to restore small fishers’ exclusive rights to municipal waters—rights recently challenged by a court ruling favoring commercial vessels.
From the shores of Banate to the lakes of Lanao, the message of PSSFNS2 was clear: small-scale fishers are too big to ignore. (PAMMCO)
#ISUFSTisdaFirst #ISUFSTCommunity #PAMMCOStoriesThatMatter #AtinAngKinse #PSSFNS2 #LifeBelowWater
