In an interview, Sarmiento disclosed that the move is necessary in view of the fallout in the negotiations with the Indonesian government for access to its fishing grounds.
‘With Indonesia, we will try to do another round of talks (this month) but I’m not putting so much hope anymore in the renegotiation,” he said.
Instead, he said, the Philippine government is considering other fishing areas, including Palau and PNG.
According to Sarmiento, the government wants a joint venture-type of deal that will allow certain number of Philippine fishing vessels to operate in Palau.
At the same time, he is urging private sector operators especially those in the canneries and fisheries business to consider investing in Palau.
Since 2007, the Philippines government, through its Department of Agriculture, has been looking for new fishing grounds in other countries and territories.
The Philippines fears a significant loss in fishery resources in view of the government’s failure to obtain a new fishing access deal after the old one expired in 2006.
Manila is also working on an access agreement with the Solomon Islands, Micronesia and Kiribati.
Last year, the Philippines signed an agreement with Timor Leste for access to each other’s fishing grounds, and for joint initiatives for sustainable fishing resources management.
The five-year bilateral fishing agreement with Indonesia enabled canneries in General Santos City to get about 80,000 tons of tuna a year from Indonesian waters.
