Republic of the Philippines kd RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 3 DATE: NOV 26
= Es,

Quezon City, Metro Manila
a TIME:_ 4200
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 8100

Introduced by Representative Emmanuel “Tawi” Billones

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN AQUACULTURE FEED MILL IN THE PROVINCE OF
CAPIZ AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is among the top fish producing countries in the world with its aquaculture
sector dominating the country’s fish production industry. However, as the human population
continues to increase so is the demand for food which creates a new challenge of finding more
sources of food. Aquaculture remains a viable food source, but it is limited by the availability
of high-quality yet low-cost feeds. For the Philippines to achieve sustainable aquaculture
production, the Filipino fish farmers must have access to a cheap and continuous supply of
nutrient-rich feed and/ or feed ingredients.

Commercial feeds are often made with imported and expensive raw materials such as fish meal
and soybean meal. Unfortunately. the aquaculture production in the country is hampered by
the scarcity of high-quality yet cost-efficient feeds. Fish farmers often resort to the use of these
manufactured feeds. but these can be expensive and also adds to the burden of fish farmers as
the cost of feeds makes up about 60% to 70% of the total fish production expenses,

By providing one of the most important resources needed in aquaculture — the feeds, the feed
mill industry plays a vital role in fisheries development towards food security in the country.
Development of local feed mills has a great potential in producing high-quality feeds at
reasonable and stable prices by incorporating raw ingredients that are locally and readily
available to the fish farmers with the assistance of several research institutions such as the
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD).
SEAFDEC/AQD has had recent success in feed formulation by utilizing cheaper plant-based
alternatives but it is still comparable with the more expensive feeds in terms of fish biomass
and productivity. Local feed mills could have a great impact on the viability and profitability
of locally produced feeds as well as improved feed production and provide a healthy
competition against larger and more established feed- manufacturing companies. Ultimately,
all of these efforts would push towards ensuring high-quality aquaculture products from this
sector.

The province of Capiz, home of the famous Capiz shells, located in the northeastern part of the
Panay island in Western Visayas is blessed with coastline waters that are abundant in seafood
and swamplands teeming with fishponds making it rightful for the name “the Seafood Capital
of the Philippines”. To solidify their hold on being the most important province in terms of
seafood production, fish farmers in Capiz are finding ways to improve their production in order

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to meet the country’s growing demands. Feed production is one of the ways the farmers saw
that could help improve fish production, particularly in the milkfish industry which has been
suffering losses due to the high cost of commercial feeds. As a greater number of farmers with
vast hectares of fishponds seeking low-cost yet nutritionally sufficient feeds comparable with
the standard ones, it is a no- brainer for the Capiz government to help its constituents by
constructing their own feed mill plant in their area.

The establishment of an aquaculture feed mill plant in the Province of Capiz will help the local
fish farmers in the area and eventually the whole of Panay island by providing nutritionally
balanced feeds at a reasonable price leading to improved fish production and taking some
financial burden off the backs of the fish farmers. On-going researches being performed by
various research institutions could potentially find more alternatives to the expensive raw
ingredients of fish feeds and one day would cause a significant reduction in feed costs.

In light of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

re ANOS Ses

Emmanuel “Ta’
Representative
First District, Capiz

llones


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8100

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Emmanuel “Tawi” Billones

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN AQUACULTURE FEED MILL PLANT IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF PANAY, PROVINCE OF CAPIZ, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION I. Thereshall beestablished, under the supervision ofthe Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture (DA-BFAR), an aquaculture feed
mill plant in the Municipality of Panay, Province of Capiz.

SEC. 2. The DA-BFAR shall transfer the management of the aquaculture feed mill
plant to the local government of Panay within five (5) years after its construction through a
memorandum ofagreement. With the assistance of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development
Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), the DA-BFAR shall implement a training
and phasing-in program for local government personnel onthe management and operation of the
feed mill plant.

SEC. 3. The DA-BFAR shall develop an extension program which shall cater to
‘marginal fisherfolk to educate them onnew methods and technology especially onthe production
of feeds for aquaculture.

SEC. 4. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department’s programs the
establishment of the aquaculture feed mill plant in the Municipality of Panay, Province of
Capiz, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The
local government unit shall set aside funds from any available revenue in an amount deemed
appropriate for the operationalization of the feed mill plant.

SEC.5. Within sixty (60) days from the passage of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture
shall issue the rules and regulations on the supervision, operation, monitoring, and the eventual
transfer of the management of the feed mill plant to the local government of Panay

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,