Dir. Angelina Del Mundo.
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8549
House Bill No. _

Introduced by: Rep. Josephine Y. Ramirez-Sato
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Province of Occidental Mindoro's economic backbone is primarily
agriculture and fisheries. Its proximity to the Verde Island Passage (the world’s Center
of Marine Biodiversity) contribute to boosts its fisheries sector. The Philippine

Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that in the first quarter of 2020 alone, the

province’s commercial fisheries production totaled to 1,253 metric tons, 1,764 metric
tons from marine municipal fisheries, 21 metric tons from inland fisheries, and 39
metric tons from aquaculture. This is equivalent to 6.8% of percentage share of total

fisheries production in the region.

With impending threat of dwindling fish stocks, it necessitates that the State to
provide immediate support to fisherfolks through provision of appropriate
technology, research, financial and marketing assistance, and other services enshrined
under the Constitution. These include making available technologies that improve

stocks of high-value marine commodities such as the multi-species marine hatchery.

This proposed measure aims to establish multi-species marine hatcheries
strategically located in the municipalities of San Jose, Calintaan, Paluan, and Lubang

in Occidental Mindoro. It is envisioned that the multi-species marine hatcheries will


help the province address its nutritional and economic needs by enabling the
fisherfolks to keep pace with increasing demand of marine products and high-valued
species locally and abroad. Thereby, contributing to improve the economic well-being

and livelihood of families, and the whole province.

The establishment of these facilities are also expected to complement the efforts
of the LGUs and its stakeholders to the thirty (30) locally established Marine Protected
‘Areas (MPAs) all over the province. Therefore, balancing conservation with economic

development.

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

HOM. JOSEPHINE Y. R. .EZ-SATO
Lone Dist of Occid indoro

ee


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8549
HOUSE BILLNO. ___

Introduced by: Rep. Josephine Y. Ramirez-Sato

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JOSE, AND SATELLITE MULTI-SPECIES
MARINE HATCHERIES IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF CALINTAAN, PALUAN
AND LUBANG, PROVINCE OF OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

assembled:

SECTION 1. There shall be est: sion of the Bureau of

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA), a

central multi-species marine hatchery in the Municipality of San Jose, and satellite
multi-species marine hatcheries in the Municipalities of Calintaan, Paluan and

Lubang, all in the Province of Occidental Mindoro.

SEC 2. The BFAR-DA shall, within two (2) years after the establishment of the

multi

unit concerned and Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC) through a

i-species hatcheries, transfer the management of the s:

ne to the local gov

memorandum of agreement. The BFAR-DA shall implement a training and phasing-
in program for local government personnel on the management and operation of the

hatcheries.


The BFAR-DA and OMSC shall jointly conduct continuing R&D and extension
services, 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.

SEC 3. The extension program that caters to the marginal fisherfolks shall be
developed by BFAR-DA and/ or OMSC for the propagation of marine species of high

economic value.

SEC. 4. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department's
programs the establishment of the central multi-species marine hatchery in the
Municipality of San Jose, and satellite multi-species marine hatcheries in the
Municipalities of Calintaan, Paluan and Lubang, the funding of which shall be

uded in the annual General Appropriations Act. The local government units

concerned shall set aside funds from any available local revenue in an amount deemed.

appropriate for the operationalization of the central and satellite hatcheries.

SEC. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity 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 central and satellite

multi-species marine hatcheries to the local governments of San Jose, Calintaan,

Paluan, and Lubang.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the

Official Gazette or in the newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,