Sixteenth Congress of the Republic 
Of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2'78 
Introduced By Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
S!.'11llb 
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:JUL 
A9 :30 
The Philippines is composed of some 7,100 islands. It is blessed by enormous bodies of 
water with abundant marine resources, Two-thirds of the territorial area of the Philippines is 
composed of water, covering a total area of 171 million hectares. 
For this reason, a significant number of Filipinos engage in fishing as their main source 
of livelihood. The life-giving support of Philippine waters and its bOlmties cannot be but over-
emphasized. It is however, ironic that the government gives more attention to land-based 
agriculture over those of marine and other water- based agriculture over those of marine and 
other water-based food production activities. 
To ensure the preservation and proper development of the country's archipelago waters 
and marine resources, this bill proposes the creation of the Department of fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources (FAR). The DFAR shall have the power to manage, develop, protect, conserve and 
utilize all fisheries and aquatic resources of the country, except for municipal waters, which shall 
remain under the jurisdiction of local government units. 
The DFAR shall likewise regulate the production, capture, processing and marketing of 
fisheries and marine products in the country. This is to make sure that the country's marine 
wealth is to be exclusively used for the benefit of the Filipino people. 
The creation of the DF AR will be a significant breakthrough in providing utmost 
protection to Philippine waters and marine resources. It will correct the traditional bias of 
government for land-based agriculture and provide the long-delayed attention local fishermen 
and Philippine water resources need. It will give impetus to the government's continuing efforts 
to increase food production to meet the demands of the country's fast growing population. The 
immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 


Sixteenth Congress of the Republic 
Of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
2!"l8 
S.B. No. --,_",-,-{..o: 
Introduced By Senator Ramon Bong Revillll','iJr. 
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'13 
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AN ACT CREATING A DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND 
AQUA TIC RESOURCES, PROVIDING FOR ITS POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Department of Fisheries aud 
Aquatic Resources Act of 2013". 
SECTION 2. Creation. - The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, 
hereinafter referred to as the Department, is hereby created structurally and functionally in 
accordance with the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 3. Declaration of Policies. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
promote the sustainable development and management of all fisheries and marine resources in 
Philippine waters including the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and in the adjacent high seas, 
consist with the primordial objective of maintaining a sound ecological balance, protecting and 
enhancing the quality of the environment. It is the policy of the State to protect and conserve the 
nation's marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic zone and 
reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens. It is the policy of the State to adopt 
the precautionary principle and to prioritize conservation of the country's marine and aquatic 
resources. It is also the policy of the State to protect the rights of small-scale fishermen in the 
preferential use of communal marine, fisheries and aquatic resources. Towards this end, it shall 
provide such fishermen with the appropriate technical and financial support. 
SECTION 4. Jurisdiction of the Department. - The Department shall have primary 
jurisdiction over the management, conservation, development, protection, utilization and 
disposition of all fishery and aquatic resources of the country, including the habitats of fish and 
all other marine life and over activities which impact on these habitats, except for municipal 
waters, which shall remain under the jurisdiction of local government units. The latter shall 
manage their municipal waters in accordance with national fishery policies, laws, rules and 
regulations. The Department shall have the authority to supervise and regulate the production 
and capture of fish and fishery products within its jurisdiction, as well as the processing and 
marketing of all fisheries and aquatic products in the country. The Department shall have the 
responsibility of rationalizing all ocean sector initiatives which impact on fish and marine 
resources or their habitat including, but not limited to: marine· energy exploration and 
development; coastal and marine tourism; designation of shipping lanes; protected areas; and, 
1 


marine industry development areas. The regulation of these marine activities, once rationalized 
by the Department, shall reside with the parent agency for the appropriate sector involved. 
SECTION 5. Powers and Functions. - To accomplish its mandate, the Depflrtment shall 
have the following powers, functions and responsibilities: 
(a) Authority and responsibility over oceans use on fisheries and their habitat; 
(b) Coordinate the implementation of fisheries and ocean sector policies, plans and laws for 
all maritime components; 
(c) Promulgate and enforce fisheries and oceans habitat regulations, which claries and 
amplifY the aforementioned departmental mandate in accordance with the published 
fisheries and oceans management plans within its territorial jurisdiction; 
(d) Prepare and implement a comprehensive Fisheries Management Plan, based on the 
precautionary principle and the principle of sustainable development, using scientifically-
generated information or best available evidence on the status of the fisheries and marine 
resources; 
(e) Formulate and implement, consistent with the development framework of the National 
Economic Development Authority, a fishery industry development program and set 
policies and standards for the efficient and economic operations of the fishing industry in 
accordance with the objectives of food security and rational and sustainable development; 
(f) Promulgate laws, rules and regulations governing the conservation and proper utilization 
of fisheries and aquatic resources except in municipal waters; 
(g) Issue licenses for the operation of commercial fishing vessels and permits for the conduct 
. of fishery activities subject to the specific carrying capacities of the resource as 
determined by scientific studies or best available evidence with preference given to 
resource users in the local communities living adjacent or nearest to the municipal 
waters; 
(h) Issue fish worker licenses and identification cards free of charge to fish workers engaged 
in commercial fishing; 
(i) Implement the provisions of Republic Act No. 8550 and the relevant provisions of 
Republic Act No. 8435 and enforce all fishery laws, rules and regulations through its 
fishery officers and guardians who shall be vested with full police powers including 
arrest, search and seizure and through deputized government officials and employees, 
punong barangays and officers and members of fisher folk associations who have 
undergone training on law enforcement; 
(j) Perform quasi-judicial and allied functions and settle conflicts of resource use and 
allocation in consultation with the NFARMC and LGUs; 
(k) It shall prescribe rules and regulations including visitorial powers, procedures and 
guidelines concerning the classification, establishment, construction, maintenance and 
operation of all fishing ports, landing sites and fish markets and the operation of business 
therein except those that are owned and operated by local government units; 
(I) Establish and maintain a Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Information System 
(PF ARIS) that will function as the principal depository and information server of all 
fisheries and ocean-related information in the country, including but not limited to the 
status of fisheries and marine resources and their habitat, all matters pertaining to 
2 


fisheries production, processmg, marketing and research results and technology 
advances; 
(m)Develop and implement a Monitoring Control and Surveillance System (MCSS) for 
Philippine fisheries and oceans at the national and regional levels to ensure that the 
fisheries and marine resources in Philippine waters are judiciously and wisely utilized 
and managed on a sustainable basis; 
(n) Actively engage in the conservation, protection and rehabilitation ofrare, threatened and 
endangered marine species as it may determine, including their habitats; 
(0) Implement relevant provisions of international treaties and agreements such as, but not 
limited to, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild 
Flora and Fauna, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Convention on 
Biological Diversity, and formulate rules and regulations for the conservation and 
management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory species; 
(p) Designate marine areas as protected areas for the special purposes stated in the notice of 
declaration; 
(q) Formulate and enforce the Code of Practice for Aquaculture and Code of Conduct for 
Responsible Fisheries; 
(r) Promote intemational economic and technical cooperation in the fisheries and oceans 
sectors and in integrated oceans management, especially within the ASEAN region; 
(s) oceanic fractions, in accordance with the schedules and limits as agreed upon by the 
Department of Justice and embodied in fisheries regulations; 
(t) Acquire, maintain, operate, purchase, lease or dispose, through the Philippine Fisheries 
Development Authority @FDA), equipment and facilities such as slupyards, fishing 
vessels, fishing gears, and refrigerated trucks, ice plants and cold storages, 
communication, and aquaculture facilities; 
(u) Fix, assess and collect reasonable fees, tolls, charges, rentals and the like, through the 
PFDA, for the use, sale of properties, equipment, facilities and services to support the 
Department's projects and to adjust the same as warranted; 
(v) Provide, through the PFDA, infrastructure support such as municipal fishing ports and 
markets, farm-to-market roads, quality laboratories in fish ports, marketing facilities, 
local fisheries shipbuilding and repair facilities, and post-harvest facilities, in cooperation 
with concerned agencies; 
(w)Establish and implement, through the PFDA, a National Marketing Assistance Program, 
aimed at ensuring the generation of the highest' possible income for fisher folk and 
fishery-related enterprises, matching supply and demand in both domestic and foreign 
markets; 
(x) Administer a fisheries modernization credit program to finance fishery projects of fisher 
folk, fish farmers, fish processors, commercial fishers and other qualified borrowers; and 
(y) Perform all other functions consistent with this Act and as may be provided by law. 
3 


SECTION 6. Structural Organization. - The Department shall consist of the Office of 
the SecretaI)' and three Undersecretaries for Fisheries Production and Utilization, Fisheries 
Conservation and Management, and for Operations; one council, the National Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources Management Council, one institute, the National Fisheries Research and 
Development Institute, one office, the Office of Ocean and Marine Affairs and the following 
services: the Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Information Service, Policy Analysis 
and Planning Service, as well as Personnel, Finance, Legal and Property and General Services. 
The Office of Ocean and Marine Affairs shall have authority and responsibility over ocean use. It 
shall be the Department's primal)' agency tasked with the implementation of the National Marine 
Policy and the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Any 
and all use of the ocean shall require the assessment and clearance by this Office, which shall 
rationalize initiatives that will negatively impact on fisheries or their habitat. It shall coordinate 
the implementation of fisheries and ocean sector policies, plans and laws for all maritime 
components. It shall be headed by a Director and shall have the following divisions: 
(a) Oceans Use Assessment and Clearance Division; 
(b) National and International Oceans Law and Policy Division; 
(c) Special Projects Division; and 
(d) Technical Division. 
The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority created by Presidential Decree No. 977 
as amended, shall be an attached agency of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 
under the Office of the SecretaI)'. 
SECTION 7. Functions of the Secretary of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. - The 
SecretaI)' of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, hereinafter referred to as the Secretal)', shall be 
appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, and shall have 
the following functions: 
(a) Supervision and control of the Department and the Bureaus, Offices and Institutes under 
it; 
(b) Authority and responsibility for the performance of the powers and functions of the 
Department; 
(c) Advise the president on the promulgation of policies, rules and regulations, and other 
issuance relative to the sustainable development and management of fisheries and oceans 
resources: 
(d) Establish management policies and standards for the efficient and effective operation of 
the Department in accordance with the programs of the government; 
(e) Promulgate rules, regulations and other issuance in carrying out the Department's 
mandate, objectives, policies, plans, programs and projects; and 
(f) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the President. 
SECTION 8. Functions ofthe Undersecretaries ofthe Department of Fisheries and 
Marine Resources. - There shall be three (3) Undersecretaries: the Undersecretal)' for Fisheries 
Production and Utilization; the Undersecretal)' for Fisheries Conservation and Management; and 
the Undersecretal)' for Operations; who shall be appointed by the President upon the 
recommendation of the SecretaI)'. The Undersecretaries for Fisheries Production and Utilization 
and for Fisheries Conservation and Management shall have the following functions: 
. 
4 


(a) Advise the Secretary on the formulation of policies, programs, plans, rules and 
regulations, as well as on the promulgation of Department Order, Administrative Orders, 
and other issuance with respect to his/her area of responsibility; 
(b) Exercise supervision and control over the bureaus, offices, services and operating units 
under his/her responsibility; 
(c) Coordinate the functions and activities of the units under hisl.her responsibility with 
those of the other units in the Department; 
(d) Liaise with concerned government departments, agencies, and offices to ensure effective 
coordination in the management of the fisheries and oceans sector; and 
(e) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the Secretary. 
The Undersecretary for Operations shall have the following functions: 
(a) Exercise supervision and control over the regional offices; 
(b) Coordinate, harmonize and package the policies, plans, programs and projects of all the 
Bureaus, Services, Offices and Units of the Department, for the proper implementation 
by the regional offices; 
(c) Advise the Secretary in the formulation of policies, plans and programs as well as on the 
promulgation of rules, regulations and orders with respect to his/her area of 
responsibility; 
(d) Exercise supervision and control over the Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Service 
and the Bureau of Fishery Economics and Statistics; 
(e) Establish linkage with local government units, local fisher folk associations and 
organizations, non-government organization and peoples' organization and supervise 
support and extension services at the regional, provincial and municipal levels; and 
(f) Perform other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the Secretary. 
SECTION 9. Qualifications of the Undersecretaries. - No person shall be appointed 
Undersecretary of the Department unless he is a Filipino citizen; at least a degree holder in 
fisheries, publication administration, management, economics, law or other equivalent relevant 
disciplines; has actual experience in administration and management for at least ten (10) years; 
and has general practical knowledge of fisheries. 
SECTION 10. Organizational Structure of the Department. - The functions of the 
Department under this Act shall be carried out by the bureaus, agencies and services created in 
the Department. 
Under the supervision and control of the Undersecretary for Fisheries Production and 
Utilization, the following bureaus, services and offices are hereby created: 
5 


(a) Bureau of Aquaculture und Inland Fisheries (BAlF) - The BAIF shall, among others, be 
responsible for: regulating aquaculture operations in line with the International Code of 
Conduct for Aquaculture, promoting the intensification of aquaculture operations in 
existing areas; formulating aquaculture development programs; establishing and 
maintaining model aquaculture farms and ponds; providing technical assistance to 
cooperatives and fishpond operators in the development of a viable fishmeal and fish 
feeds industry, undertaking inland fishery resources evaluation; and recommending 
management and conservation measures. 
The Bureau shall be headed by a Director and shall he compose of the following 
divisions: 
• 
Aquaculture Management and Development Division; 
• 
Inland Fisheries Resource Assessment and Conservation Division; 
• 
Inland Fishery Development and Extension Division; and the 
• 
Environmental Impact Assessment and Monitoring Division 
(b) Bureau of Postharvest aud Fisheries Product Standards (BPFPS) - The fishery 
component of the Bureau of Agriculture and Product Standards created under Section 61 
of RA 8435 shall be transferred to the BPFPS which shall formulate and enforce 
standards of quality in the processing, preservation, packaging, labeling, importation, 
exportation, distribution, and advertising of fishery products; conduct research on product 
standardization, alignment of the local standards with the international standards; 
promote and strengthen semi-processing and handling; and shall have a Director, two 
Assistant Directors, one for Product Standards and Technical Services and the other for 
Industry Compliance and Consumer Protection and the following divisions: 
Under the Assistant Director for Product Standards and Technical Services-
• 
Technical Services Division 
• 
Fish Processing Technology Division. 
• 
Standards Development and Promotion Division; 
• 
Value-added Products Development and Promotion Division; and the 
Under the Assistant Director for Industry Compliance and Consumer Protection -
• 
Industry Compliance Division; 
• 
Consumer Affairs Division; and the 
• 
Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Division. 
(c) Bureau of Fisheries Extension, Training, and Support Service (BFETSS) - The 
BFETSS shall coordinate all development activities with respect to fisheries and oceans 
technology, and shall have a development section for all components including inland 
and oceans fishing, and fishing fears and methods. It shall formulate a National Extension 
System for Fisheries, which shall be composed of three (3) subsystems: the national 
government· subsystem, the local government subsystem and the private sector 
subsystem. It shall deliver the following major services: training services; credit and 
financing support services, business advisory services; demonstration services, and 
information and communication support services through tri-media. It shall have the 
following divisions: 
6 


• 
Training and Skills Development Division; 
• 
Technology Transfer and Demonstration Division; 
• 
Business Advisory and Information Support Division; 
• 
Training Centers; 
(d) The Bureau of Fishing Technology and Capture Fisheries (BFTCF)-The BFTCF 
shall have direct supervision and control over the utilization of marine resources 
including commercial, international and small-scale fisheries. It shall formulate 
development programs for the expansion of the marine fishery industry; explore new 
fishery resources and development environment friendly but efficient fisqing gears. It 
shall be headed by a Director and two Assistant Directors and shall have the following 
divisions: 
• 
Municipal Fisheries Division; 
• 
Commercial Fisheries Division; 
• 
Fishing Technology Division 
• 
High Seas Fisheries Division; and the 
'(e) The Fisheries Modernization Credit and Financing Agency (FMCFA) - The FMCFA 
shall administer the funds under Sections 108 to 113 ofRA 8550 as well as the fisheries-
related provisions of Sections 20 to 25 ofRA 8435, harmonizing and integrating the two 
so as to package and deliver various credit assistance programs for the following: 
• 
Fisheries production including processing of fisheries products and inputs; 
• 
Acquisition or construction of fishery equipment, machinery, fishing vessels and fishing 
gears; 
• 
Acquisition offry, fingerlings, fertilizers, feeds and similar items; 
• 
Procurement of fisheries products for storage, trading, processing and distribution; 
• 
Construction, acquisition and repair of facilities for production, processing, storage, 
transportation, communication, marketing and such other facilities in support of fisheries; 
economic activities; High Seas Fisheries Division; and the 
• 
Working capital for fisheries graduates to enable them to engage in fisheries-related 
• 
Activities which support marine and freshwater bodies conservation and ecology-
enhancing activities such as but not limited to mangrove reforestation, promotion of 
whale shark and manta ray and other endangered marine species watching and eco-
tourism; and 
• 
Development of appropriate technology, both in fishery and ancillary industries that are 
ecologically sound, locally source based and labor intensive, based on the requirements 
of the Fisheries and Aquatic Management Councils. Under the supervision and control of 
the Undersecretary for Fisheries Conservation and Management, the following bureaus, 
units, board and services are hereby created. 
(f) Marine Resources Conservation and Management Bureau. - The Marine Resources 
Conservation and Management Bureau is a line bureau tusked with the formulation and 
implementation of a Comprehensive Fisheries Management Plan. It shall undertake 
marine fishery resources assessment and biological and environmental investigations and 
formulate conservation measures. In coordination with the National Fisheries Research 
and Development Institute, it shall determine and establish the carrying capacity and total 
allowable catch (TAC) for a particular resource. It shall set the allowable fishing effort 
based on the carrying capacity of the resource and TAC and accordingly issue 
commercial fishing licenses and permits. It shall be headed by a Director and two 
Assistant Directors and shall have the following divisions: 
7 


• 
Coastal Resources Management Division; 
• 
Oceanography Division; 
• 
Fisheries Licensing Division; 
• 
Biotechnology, Biosafety and Bioprospecting Division; and the 
• 
Fisheries Law Enforcement Division. 
The Fisheries Law Enforcement Division shall operate the National and Zonal 
Monitoring Surveillance System. It shall establish fishery air and ocean patrol as well as conduct 
law enforcement trainings and recommend to the Secretary the deputation of govermnent 
employees and members of fisher folk associations as fishery guardians. It shall have the 
supervision and control of fishery officers and guardians and the corps of specialists responsible 
for the enforcement of fishery laws, rules and regulations and the efficient monitoring and 
surveillance of fishing activities within Philippine territorial waters. It shall have the following 
units: 
(i) 
The National and Fisheries Zone Monitoring and Surveillance Center which 
shall have a National Coordinating Center and several Fisheries Zones 
Monitoring and Surveillance Centers. It is further subdivided into the Vessel 
Tracking and Remote Sensing Office, and the Database and Information 
Center; 
(ii) 
The Fisheries Air Patrol and Oceans Patrol, and the Regulatory Staff 
composed of Fishery Officers, Deputized Fisheries Guardians and the corps of 
specialists' from the DND, PNP-MARICOM, DILG, DFA and DOJ. The 
Fishery Officers shall have full police powers relative to the enforcement of 
fishery laws, rules and regulations including arrest, search andi seizure, and 
shall' have the authority to directly file complaints for violation of fishery 
laws, rules and regulations, 
(g) The Bureau of Marine Protected Areas and Wildlife (BMP A W) - The BMP A W is a 
line bureau responsible for establishing and maintaining marine protected areas and 
wildlife sanctuaries, It shall lead in the conduct of scientific researches on the proper 
strategies for the conservation and protection of marine wildlife and their habitat 
including breeding or propagation. It shall also establish Marine Wildlife Rescue Centers 
to take custody of all confiscated, stranded or abandoned marine wildlife. It shall have the 
authority to issue Committee on International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES) 
Permits and shall be both the CITES Management and Scientific Authorities of the 
Philippines, It shall be the lead agency in the fulfillment of the country's obligations 
under CITES, the Convention on Biological Diversity and other treaties and international 
agreements. It shall have the following divisions: 
• 
Marine Protected Areas Division; 
• 
Marine Wildlife Rescue Centers; 
• 
CITES Management Authority; 
• 
Endangered Marine Species Captive Breeding Centers; Endangered Marine 
Wildlife Research Center shall be the Department's CITES Scientific Authority 
which shall coordinate with academic institutions designated as scientific 
authorities; and the 
• 
Biodiversity Division 
The Undersecretary for Operations shall have direct control and supervision over all 
regional offices and the following unit and bureau: 
8 


(h) The Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Inspection Service (FIQIS) - The FIQIS 
shall have the line functions and shall be responsible for the inspection and quarantine of 
all fishery related activities including the conduct of quarantine and quality inspection of 
all fish and fishery/aquatic products coming into and going out of the country by air or 
water transport to detect the presence of fish pest and diseases, the regular inspection of 
processing plants, storage facilities, abattoirs, as well as public and private markets in 
order to ensure freshness, safety and quality of products and to ensure that these products 
conform to the standards prescribed by the Department; and the quarantine of aquatic 
animals and fishery products determined or suspected to be with fishery pest and diseases 
and prevent the movement or trade from and or into the country of these products so 
prohibited or regulated under existing laws, rules or regulations and international 
agreements of which the Philippine is a State Party. It shall have the following units: 
• 
Regional fishery Inspection and Quarantine Offices; 
• 
Cyanide Detection Centers; 
• 
Product Standards Enforcement Division. 
• 
Regional Fish Health Centers; and the 
(i) The Bureau of Fishery Economics and Statistics (BFES) - The BFES shall be a line 
bureau responsible for establishing benchmark data on the structure of the fishery 
industry. It shall conduct research and studies on the socio-economics of various fishery 
operations, collect data on fishery production, and establish a network of fishery 
information, documentation and dissemination. It shall have the following divisions: 
• 
Fishery Statistics Division; 
• 
Socioeconomic Division; and the 
• 
Fishery Information Division 
SECTION 11. Regional Offices and Functions. - The Department shall have such 
department-wide regional offices as may be necessary in the administrative regions, each to be 
headed by a Regional Director, who shall be assisted by an Assistant Regional Director, each 
regional office shall have support staffs as may be necessary and four line divisions which shall 
have the following duties and responsibilities: 
(a) Provide efficient and effective front-line service to the fishery and aquatic industry 
sector, particularly to the municipal fishermen; 
(b) Implement in its area of jurisdiction, the laws, policies, plans, programs, projects, rules 
and regulations of the Department; 
, 
(c) Coordinate with the Regional Office of the other departments, offices and agencies in the 
region; and 
(d) Perform other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the Secretary. 
SECTION 12. Appointment and Qualification of Directors. - The Directors of the 
Bureau, Offices and Agencies and the Regional Directors shall be appointed by the Secretary, 
upon recommendation of the Undersecretaries concerned. The Directors must have a degree in 
law or Master of Science degree in marine fisheries, oceanography, fisheries biology, marine 
biology, fisheries technology, microbiology or related sciences, or public administration and at 
least five years of experience either in the public or private sector, in marine fisheries research 
and development, or in the fisheries industry. 
9 


SECTION 13. Abolition, Transfer and Merger. - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources reconstituted by Republic Act No 8550, is hereby abolished and its relevant functions, 
appropriations, records, properties, equipment and personnel are hereby transferred to the 
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: Provided, however, That no official or 
employee of the BF AR shall be laid off in the implementation of this section. 
The National and Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils 
created by Republic Act No. 8550 shall be transferred to the Office of the Secretary of the 
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute created by Republic Act 
No.8550 is transferred to the department and shall serve as its principal research arm. 
The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority created by Presidential Decree No. 977 
including its relevant functions, appropriations, records, properties, equipment and personnel, is 
hereby transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as an attached agency 
under the Office of the Secretary: Provided, however, That the Secretary of the Department of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources shall be the new chairman of the Board: Provided, further, That 
no official or employee of the PFDA shall be laid offin the implementation of this Section. 
The Philippine Technical Advisory Committee of the SEAFDEC Aquaculture 
Department created under Executive Order No. 834 dated October 4, 1982, including its relevant 
functions, appropriations; records, properties, equipment and personnel, is hereby transferred and 
attached to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: Provided, That no official or 
employee of the Board shall be laid off in the implementation of this section. 
The fisheries related functions of the Laguna Lake Development Authority, including its 
relevant appropriations, records, and personnel, are hereby transferred to the Department of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: Provided, however, that no official or employee of the LLDA 
shall be laid off in the implementation of this Section. 
The Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development is abolished 
and all its personnel, records, appropriations, property and equipment are transferred to the 
National Fisheries Research and Development Institute of the Department of Fisheries and 
Marine Resources. 
The Marine Research and Conservation Division and the different Sections there under 
and the Coastal Environment Program including its relevant appropriations, personnel, records, 
property and equipment, all marine and coastal related projects and programs of the Department 
of Environment and Natural Resources, and all fisheries related functions of the DENR under 
Executive Orders No. 192 and 292, except the functions of the enforcement of water pollution 
laws, rules and regulations, are hereby transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources. 
The fisheries-related sections of the Bureau of Agricultural Research, the Bureau of 
Agricultural Statistics and the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture 
are hereby abolished and all its personnel, records, appropriations, property and equipment are 
transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources. 
SECTION 14. Transitory Provisions. - In accomplishing the acts of organizing the 
department as herein prescribed, the following provisions shall be complied with: 
10 


(a) The transfer of a government unit or agency shall include the functions, Appropriations, 
funds, records, equipment, facilities, chooses in action, rights, other assets and liabilities, 
if any, of the. Transferred unit or agency as well as the personnel thereof, as may be 
necessary, who shall, pending reappointment, continue to perform their respective duties 
and responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and benefits in a hold-over 
capacity. 
(b) The transfer of functions which results in the abolition of the government unit or agency 
that has exercised them, shall include the appropriations, funds, records, equipment, 
facilities, chooses in action, rights, other assets and personnel as may be necessary to the 
proper discharge of the transferred functions. Its liabilities, if any, shall likewise be 
treated in accordance with the Government Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, rules 
and regulations. Its personnel shall, pending reappointment, continue to perform their 
duties and responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and benefits in a 
holdover capacity. 
SECTION 15. Organization Committee. - The duly appointed Secretary of Fisheries 
and Aquatic Resources shall immediately create an organization committee which shall study 
and formulate the staffing pattern, qualification standards, and placement of personnel in the 
Department, its services, bureaus, and offices. The Committee shall be composed of 
representatives from the Department of Budget and Management, Civil Service Commission, the 
fishery industry and the academe. 
SECTION 16. Appropriations. For the effective implementation of this Act, the amount 
of $5 billion pesos is hereby appropriated from the inappropriate funds of the National Treasury 
and the current budgetary appropriations of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, 
including its regional offices, the appropriations of the Philippine Fishing Development 
Authority, and the budgetary provision of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine 
Research Development. The amount necessary for the construction of a national office of the 
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources equivalent to P500, 000,000.00 is hereby 
appropriated from the unappropriated funds of the National Treasury. 
The revenues which the Department will generate from its licensing operations, the fees 
collected & the proprietary services delivered by the Department, and the administrative fines 
imposed by the National Fisheries Regulatory and Adjudication Bond shall constitute the 
Department's revolving fund from which amounts necessary to carry out the special research 
projects, management and conservation programs, staff development prografns, and the 
acquisition of equipment, vessels, and airplanes, helicopters of the MonitOring and Surveillance 
Center shall be taken: Provided, however, That the fishpond rentals shall accrue to the National 
Fisheries Research and Development Institute as provided under Section 46 (c) of Republic Act 
No. 8550. The use of such funds shall be project to COA rules and regulations. 
SECTION 17. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declare 
unconstitutional inoperative, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect. 
SECTION 18. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the Act or the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto 
are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 19. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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