Repubbc oi the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 4554 
/ 
RECEIVED 
DATe:_~ 
TIME: 
' 
'l"'J 
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_______ Introduced by: ~-ion Ke1•11 Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan 
11.N ACT 
PROVIDING FOR INCOME SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR FISHERFOLKS WHOSE 
LIVELIHOOD ARE NEGATl"[l.Y Ar-FECTED DURING PERIODS OF CLOSED 
SEASONS FOR FISHING AS DECLARED BY THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND 
AQUATIC RESOU RCES (BFAR) AS WELL AS DURING CALAMITIES AND LEAN 
OR TYPHOON SEASONS, .CJ•iD /~PPROPt:.JATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the FAQ Legislritive ,l\dvisory Group-Philippines (FLAG-PH) 
initiative "Ir t'ir; 7.020 St1I.e cf Fo,1d S'.:C'critv a11d ~Jutrition in the Wor'd Report, the 
Philippine, rr cc-r:led \hi: :,,cc'. n•;mbf'r rt food insec11re people in Southeast Asia in 
2017 to 201 0 with f';'? ;-:iillicn F11ir. i1~c,~ s•;ff1:.ring fro:n moderate to severe lack of 
consi_stent ;ir.::P.ss •o fo~d . Thi~ ,s a:1 inr 1cr1,.e •rrirr the figures of 44 9 million recorded 
in 201 4 to 2(11 6. The increasing ro'lulr\ t;0n 'imitec1 resources and natural disasters 
resulted to continuing challenges in "poverty reduction" and efforts towards "eradicating 
hunger··1. 
/\mong these poor Filipinos are farmers and fisherfolk who struggle to feed their 
families Br1sed on the lbon Foundation figures, they are the poorest sectors of the 
country, which has bt:en exacerbated by the 1.4 million job losses in the agriculture 
sector Iron" 201, to 20 1 g: and furtl1er a9gravated by the COVID-19 oandemic. 
•o achit>ve food securi,y as the ove·riding consideration in the utilization, 
management. develooment, co11s2rvation ar.,i protection of fishery resources in order to 
provide the food needs of the population, Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as 
"The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 ' ;:irc..vided for the establishment of "Closed 
Seasor.", which is the per'od during which the tak;rg of specified fishery species by a 
specified fishina gea· is prohibited in 2 spe,~ified area or areao in Philippine waters. 
Recertt:•, nnwevP,r, a g,-oup of fisl1e1iolk cai ed fer suspension of closed fishing 
season policy in typhoon-affected provirce,: as rt · c:,ea,es an artificial sl1ortage of fish 
and inflatior, tr1a! affects both fisherfolk arid consurne,s·_ 3 
1 https://sd~~J.Q.Qfg/_oJJ!.!le.".S~Vf,o:i!".~ti,·,~1''.'._'on_::1:f,IQ!J?.-JiliHi.P....Pi.nes-flag-ph-initiative Accessed 
on 23 August ?OV 
2 Poverty 1ncid2: Ct of fo rmers 2na fis~erl JI · ··: rcber 1 ', 2020 (~
/www.ibon.org/ poverty-
incidence-o:-r aror&f.'"-,,n(!:_fi211erfolk1) N C'c. ,<cd i- 2:' ,,•1~ust 2u; 2 
; FisherfolK ca// lor susrens1L1n of rlo 0 0 ct tish,np, Sfsosnn oc1l1c'/ in typhoon-affected provinces, Business World, 
January 
',, 202 2 I httu s://Viww. b•,,urldo nlini• .com/ e ,-one rr ,i/2022/01 /05/ 421905/fisherfolk-call-for-
suspension-o l-c'vsec!-i ,sh ir,~-, ~-'son pr lic1 -inJ.l:..: '.,_g_:,,--Jifected- provi1~) Accessed en 23 August 2022 


The policy has been burdensome to some fisherfolk as the fishing regulation 
entails work suspension and could inevitably pose serious repercussion on the fisherfolk 
who are highly dependent on certain aquatic resources such as sardines, herrings, and 
mackerel for livelihood. 
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has enjoined the fisherfolk 
sector to comply with the policy in order to achieve the goal of food security. 
In light of the consequential impact of the closed season policy to the livelihood 
of the affected fisherfolk, most which are poor, marginalized, and vulnerable, this bill 
seeks to alleviate their condition through the provision of subsidy, replacement job or 
substitute livelihood. financial and medical assistance among other forms of social 
protection in order to mitigate income loss and offer the necessary economic security to 
the fisherfolk and their families during the closed fishing season. 
Consistent with Republic Act No. 11291, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta 
for the Poor" which now officially recognizes the "right to adequate food, decent work, 
and highest attainable standard of health. the expeditious approval of this measure is 
eagerly sought. 
Keith Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan 
4th District. Quezon 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HO~ SE B;~L ~N'a. ( 5 5 4 
Introduced by: Hon. Keifil Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan 
11.N f.,CT 
PROVIDING FOR INCOME SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR FISHERFOLKS WHOSE 
LIVELIHOOD ARE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED DURING PERIODS OF CLOSED 
SEASONS FOR FISHING AS DECLARED BY THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND 
AQUATIC RESOURCES (BFAR) AS WELL AS DURING CALAMITIES AND LEAN 
OR TYPHOON SEASONS, AMn. APPR::JPG"li\TING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the l-lolls9 nf R'?presentatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 
1. Sh(Yt Title. -
Thi~ Ar,t sh;ill be known as the 'Tulong 
Pangkabuhaya1; Pma ~-3 m;ia M1'l9inrii~rf;i 0 ro[lram i\r.t" 
SEC 2 Dec/:Jration o.' Do/ir.v. -·· The StJle recognizes the crucial role of 
municipal fish<:>rfolk in ensurin::i th~ foo,j ser•Jrity of the countf"l1. It is hernby declared a 
policy of the State to provide support to municipal fisherfolk, in recognition of their 
sacrifices and contributions to the nation, and in pursuit of the Constitutional mandate to 
promote social j1J'3tice in all phases of development. 
SEC. 3. Tulong PAngkab '.1hayan PAra sa mge Mangingisda Program. - Pursuant 
to the declc1.rec, 
oolicy of this Act. there is nereby established the Tulong 
Pangkabuhayan Para sa mga Mangingisda Program, herein referred to as the Program, 
to augment the 1ncon1E: of fisherfolk in times of c,osed seasons for fishing as declared by 
the DepartmPnt of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) 
as well ns ou;;ng calamities, and lf:an or ty,;hoon seasons. The Program shall provide 
livelihood, financial, medical. and other social protection assistance for eligible 
beneficiaries under this Act 
A Tulong Pangkabuhayan vouc:her worth at least Three Thousand Pesos 
(Php3,000.00) pe r month shall be given for each eligible beneficiary. Provided, that the 
amount sl1all be re-,1se-J every year to accour t for inflation. 
The Pro::iram ohall be ach 1inisterecl by the DA-BFAR, which shall establish an 
effective effic ent arid responsive mecrar,isrn that allows eligible fisherfolk timely 
access to the menu of social protection assistance provided under the Program. 
SEC. 4. Be11eficiaries. - The beneficiaries of ihis Act shall be municipal fisherfolk 
who fish within municipal waters, whetrer coastal or inland, and who use motorized 
fishing ves"e:s of three (3) gross tons or Iese _ Provided, that registration under the 
Nationc1I Prograr,1 for Municipal F1sherfolk R?g1strat•on of the DA-BFAR shall be a 
precondition for tl1e receipI of benefits under tnis Act. 
SEC. 5 Co11vw:7ence of S,xial Services - Beneficiaries of this Program shall be 
automatically e11rollei and covered under lhe National Health lnwrance Program 
(NHIP) of the F- l11lippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). 


The Social Security System (SSS) shall craft a micro-insurance mechanism for 
the beneficiaries ot the Program 
The local government units (LGUs), through their Local Social Welfare and 
Development Offices shall cover all indirect costs of accessing the Program including 
transportation. meals, accommodation or halfway house, among others. 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall help defray 
the necessary expenses to access the Program through its Crisis Intervention Unit. It 
shall provide protective services or social sa fety net to fisherfolk through its Assistance 
to Individuals iri Cr•s;s Situation (AICS). 
The Deo3rtment of Labor and Employmen• (DOLE) shall make emergency 
employmerit ac,0ssible f~, eligible heneficiarie5 undAr the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa 
Ating Disadvantaged/Disnlaced Workers (TUPAD). 
The Ter hnical EdL•cation and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is directed 
to empower eligible beneficiaries under this Act through the provision of relevant 
livelihood training pror.iram 
SEC. 6 Non-Dimmution of Benefits. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
reduce existin'] benents granted under existing laws decrees, executive orders, or any 
contract ag1ee1T1':'lt or po l1c\' b,"lween the employer ilnd employee. 
SEC. 7 .4pµ10priations. - The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be 
included in the Gen':'r, I Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law 
and thereafter. 
SEC. 5. lrnplementmg Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months after the 
effectivit> 1f t'1,s Act. the DA-BFAR, in consultc1tion with relevant government agencies 
and fisherfolk o'gani,ations, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to 
carry out i,1E- orov1sions oi '.his Act. 
S':C 9. Separabif ly C/auEe. - If any provision or part of thi5 .l\ct is declared 
unconsMutiorial the remaining parts or orovisions not affected shall remain in full force 
and effect 
S':C. ·1 0 .Reoearng Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, 
exec11ti'1e orrJers letter d 1nstr1c:::tions, adrrinistrative orders, rules and regulations 
contrar1 to c 1ncons1stent ·with tn<? r rovis1ori~ oi this Act are hereby amended, repealed 
or modifE rJ acccrd•n:ily. 
Sl::C 1' 
Effeclil'ify - This Act shall ta ~e effect fifteen /15) days after its 
publicatior in tl·e Oifici;,I Gazette or 1n a newspaper of general circulation. 
Apµrovec/,