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Eighteenth C
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HOUSE BILL No.8263

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN B. LEGARDA

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF TIBIAO, PROVINCE OF ANTIQUE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Marine resources continue to be the main source of income and livelihood for
Antiquefios who live in the fifteen (15) coastal municipalities of the province.

According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the rich
fishing grounds of the Cuyo East Pass, Sulu Sea, and the municipal waters along the
approximately 296.8-kilometers (184.4 mi) coastline, makes fishing a promising
venture. In 2018, the province of Antique ranked first in the Western Visayas Region
in terms of aquaculture production, with 81,599.44 metric tons with seaweeds as main
contributor. The province is also the major seaweeds producer in the region with the
Municipality of Caluya being the major producer of tambalang (Kappaphycus sp.).
Municipal and commercial production posted 10,129.46 metric tons and 7,823.12
metric tons, respectively. Pelagic fishes including aloy, yellowfin tuna, galunggong and
other small pelagics are abundant catch in the province. The fishing season is year-
round and peaks during December to June. A total of 17,437 households are directly
dependent on fishing, and 39,055 households are indirectly dependent on it.

In order to improve fisheries productivity and empower stakeholders especially
the local fisherfolks, this bill seeks to establish a multi-species marine hatchery in the
municipality of Tibiao in the province of Antique to, among its numerous objectives,
streamline the impact of dwindling fish catch, coastal environment rapid degradation,
the stagnation of aquaculture and unpredictable climatic condition causing diseases
occurrence on cultured seaweed. It shall also serve as a training facility that will
showcase innovations that may be developed through years of operation.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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TOREN B. LEGARDA


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Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no. 8263

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN B. LEGARDA

ESTABLISHING A MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF TIBIAO, PROVINCE OF ANTIQUE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

Section 1. There shall be established, under the supervision of the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA), a multi-
species marine hatchery in the Municipality of Tibiao, Province of Antique.

SEC. 2. The BFAR-DA shall, within three (3) years after the establishment of
the multi-species marine hatchery, transfer the management of the same to the
University of Antique (UA) — Tario Lim Memorial Campus in Tibiao through a
memorandum of agreement. The BFAR-DA shall implement a training and phasing-in
program for UA personnel on the management and operation of the multi-species
marine hatchery.

The BFAR-DA and the UA — Tario Lim Memorial Campus in Tibiao shall
conduct continuing research and experimentation on the breeding and production of

marine species, especially as they apply to local conditions, to discover new methods

and technology that shall benefit the fisheries industry.


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SEC. 3. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department's
programs the establishment of the multi-species marine hatchery in the Municipality
of Tibiao, Province of Antique, the funding of which shalll be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act. The UA — Tario Lim Memorial Campus in Tibiao shall
likewise set aside funds from any available revenue in an amount deemed appropriate
for the continued operations of the hatchery.

SEC. 4, Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the Department of
Agriculture and the UA — Tario Lim Memorial Campus in Tibiao shall jointly formulate
and issue the implementing rules and regulations on the establishment, supervision,
monitoring, and the eventual transfer of the management of the multi-species marine
hatchery to the UA — Tarlo Lim Memorial Campus in Tibiao.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,