MALASIQUI, July 24 -- Fisherfolk and local leaders in the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union commended the efforts of the national government in upholding the country's protection of the West Philippine Sea.

Edgar Sison, chairperson of the Lingayen Municipal Agricultural and Fisheries Council, said in an interview on Thursday night that they are grateful for the national government's move to uphold the West Philippine Sea.

"We are directly affected by the issue since we are a coastal municipality and the majority of the residents are dependent on marine and aquaculture fishing. It is an important issue since the Lingayen Gulf is in our area," he said.

Sison said that a dialogue between local leaders and the national government, as th...