;SPtHltl' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
i~ffl~r Ilr tl)l? .:f">I'(\"tllt\l 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 150 1 
'13 
SEP -4 '\ 9 :1 4 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution under Article XIII, Section 7. explicitly provides that the 
State shall protect the rights of subsistence fisherfolk, especially of local 
communities, to the preferential use of the communal marine and fishing 
resources, both inland and offshore. It shall provide support to such fisherfolk 
through appropriate technology and research, adequate financial, production, 
and marketing assistance, and other services. The right of fishworkers to receive 
a just share from their labor in the utilization of marine and fishing resources is 
likewise expressly affirmed in the same provision. 
This mandate is echoed in Chapter I, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8550 
(RA 8550), otherwise known a~the'Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, which 
declares the state policy that the rights of fisherfolk shall be protected and that to 
them shall be extended all the support that they need to improve their quality of 
living. In pursuance of these legal provisions, the Department of Agriculture has 
promulgated rules and regulations and other issuances to give life to these noble 
principles. 
This bill gives paramount importance to the sufficient identification of the 
fishing vessel and its crew and the provision of proper training and equipment 
relating to disaster preparedness. This is another step towards truly empowering 
our fisherfolk, alleviating their quality of life and those of their families, and 
assuring them of the dignity that they deserve, in life and even in death. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
OY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


S~nnh 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
tl!)ffl;r 'If lilt: ;!>f'rrptnf¥ 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 150 1 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
'13 
SEP -4 
1\ 9 :14 
AMENDING SECTIONS 19,28,30,37,38 AND 65 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8550, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 1998 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 8550 ("RA 8550"), otherwise 
known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"Sec. 19. Registry of Municipal Fisherfolk. -The LGU shall maintain 
a registry of municipal fisherfblk, who are fishing or may desire to 
fish in municipal waters for the purpose of IDENTIFICATION OF 
THESE INDIVIDUALS, OF determining priorities among them, of 
limiting entry into the municipal waters, and of monitorin9 fishing 
activities and/or other related purposes: Provided, That the FARMC 
shall submit to the LGU the list of priorities for its consideration. 
xxx 
"The LGUs shall also maintain a registry of municipal fishing 
vessels by type of gear and other boat particulars with the 
assistance of the FARMC. 
"THIS REGISTRY SHALL LIKEWISE BE POSTED IN BARAN GAY 
HALLS OR OTHER STRATEGIC LOCATIONS WHERE IT SHALL 
BE OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION." 
SEC. 2. Section 28 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 28. Commercial Fishing Vessels Registration. -
The 
registration, documentation, inspection and manning of the 
operation of all types of fishing vessels plying Philippine waters 
shall be in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations, 
ESPECIALLY THOSE PERTAINING TO THE SEAWORTHINESS 
OF THE VESSELS, THE SAFETY OF THEIR CREW AND 
DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLANS." 
SEC. 3. Section 30 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 


"Sec. 30. Renewal of Commercial Boat License. - The commercial 
fishing boat license shall be renewed every three (3) years: 
PROVIDED, THAT THE FISHING VESSEL HAS PASSED THE 
EVALUATION 
OF 
THE 
APPROPRIATE 
GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS SEAWORTHINESS AND ITS 
COMPLIANCE WITH DISASTER MANAGEMENT MEASURES AS 
MAY BE PROVIDED BY LAW, RULES AND REGULATIONS." 
SEC. 4. Section 37 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 37. Medical Supplies and Life-Saving Devices. - All fishing 
vessels shall be provided with adequate medical supplies and life-
saving devices to be determined by the Occupational Safety and 
Health Center: Provided, That [a fishing vessel of twenty (20) GT 
or more shall have as a member of its crew a person qualified as a 
first aider duly certified by the Philippine National Red Cross] ALL 
MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF FISHING VESSELS SHALL BE 
REQUIRED TO UNDERGO MANDATORY BASIC FIRST-AID AND 
DISASTER 
PREPAREDNESS 
TRAINING 
UNDER 
THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS, FREE OF CHARGE; 
PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT ALL FISHING VESSELS SHALL BE 
EQUIPPED WITH STANDARD FIRST-AID KITS AS MAY BE 
DETERMINED BY THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS." 
SEC. 5. Section 38 of RA 8550 .is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 38. Reportorial Requirements. - Each commercial fishing 
vessel shall keep a daily record of THE COMPLETE NAMES OF 
THE MEMBERS OF THE CREW ONBOARD, fish catch and 
spoilage, landing points, and quantity and value of fish caught, and 
off-loaded for transshipment, sale andlor other disposal. Detailed 
information shall be duly certified by the vessel's captain and 
transmitted monthly to the officer or representative of the 
Department,. at the nearest designated landing point." 
SEC. 6. Section 65 of ~ 
8550 .is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 65. Functions of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources. 
-As a line bureau, the BFAR shall have the following functions: 
xxx 
"c. issue identification cards AND CORRESPONDING STAINLESS 
STEEL NAME TAGS SIMILAR TO THOSE USED BY MILITARY 
PERSONNEL, free of charge, 
to fishworkers engaged 
in 
commercial fishing. 
"THESE IDENTIFICATION CARDS AND TAGS SHALL CONTAIN 
THE COMPLETE NAME OF THE MEMBER OF THE CREW, 
HER/HIS RELIGION, BLOOD GROUP WITH RH FACTOR, AND 
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. 
"THE CREW MEMBER SHALL ATTEST TO THE TRUTH OF THE 
FOREGOING 
INFORMATION 
AS 
STATED 
IN 
HIS 


IDENTIFICATION CARD AND TAG. SUCH ATTESTATION SHALL 
BE 
STATED 
EXPLICITLY 
IN 
THE 
CORRESPONDING 
IDENTIFICATION CARD." 
SEC. 7. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other issuances 
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed 
and modified accordingly. 
SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the completion 
of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved, 
.. , i