Published July 19, 2021, 2:31 PM The Philippine government was told to assert its position at the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding harmful subsidies that bigger countries like China provide their commercial fleets, resulting in overfishing and encroaching in disputed waters. This, since China alone gives out P325 billion in fisheries subsidies, enabling its fleet to encroach even in disputed waters such as in the Philippines, Norberto Chingcuanco, co-convenor at food security advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan, said in a virtual briefing. During the same briefing, Tugon Kabuhayan Convenor and former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) National Director Asis Perez said that the Philippines should not allow for negotiations at WTO to end without having to address the harmful subsidies that bigger nations have been distributing among their fleet.