TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE   ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    ) 
First Regular Session                        ) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. _____
Introduced by Representative Binky April M. Tupas 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY 
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CARLES, PROVINCE OF ILOILO AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Northern Iloilo facing the Visayan Sea is considered as the most 
productive fishing ground in the country. Majority of the registered 
fisherfolk at 32,089 or 66% of the total registered fisherfolk in the 
Province are from this area contributing most of the fish production from 
aquaculture and capture fisheries. Major fish produce are blue 
swimming crab, sardines, bisugo, and slip mouth. 
Fisheries need to be sustainably managed in the Province 
especially in Northern Iloilo. With the growing demand for fishery 
commodities and the exploitation of our fisheries resources, there is a 
need for a sustainable management of the resource. Management of 
the fishery requires a balance between socio economic and governance 
interventions. 
Carles is a first-class municipality in the Province of lloilo. It is famous in Panay 
island for its rich fishing grounds. It is the northernmost municipality in the province and 
is 142 kilometers (88 mi) from the provincial capital, lloilo City, and 71 kilometers (44 mi) 
from Roxas City. The land area is 11,204.68 hectares while the territorial waters are 
367,625 hectares. Carles is divided into 33 barangays, 18 of which are island 
barangays.  
The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-
BFAR) strongly supports the Establishment of a Central Multi-Species Marine Hatchery at 
Barangay Punta, Carles, Iloilo based on conducted feasibility study. The Central Multi-
Species Marine Hatchery will ensure the sustainable supply of seedstocks such as 
milkfish, grouper, seabass, pompano, mudcrab, shrimps and other fin fishes which will 
ensure continuous production and securing livelihoods especially in the aquaculture 
sector.  
July 14, 2025
8:00 am
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Production from this central marine hatchery will answer the large gap between the 
supply and demand for milkfish fry and fingerling of the Province and of the Region.  
The market gap analysis conducted by BFAR 6 is provided below: 
The Central Multi-Species Marine Hatchery will provide the eggs/larvae for the 
operation of existing satellite hatcheries in the region. The facility will also ensure the 
success of the proposed Mariculture Park in Northern Iloilo with the steady supply of seed 
stocks. The facility is also in line with the Bangus Fry Sufficiency Program of the national 
government and BFAR 6 which will provide necessary support to the realization of a 
Central Multi-Species Marine Hatchery at Barangay Punta, Carles, Iloilo. 
The estimated investment from the national government is Php 30 
M and the projected income on an annual basis for milkfish, pompano, 
mangrove crab, and shrimp are provided below:  
Commodity 
Annual Gross 
Income (Php) 
Annual Net 
Income (Php) 
Expected ROI 
(%) 
PP 
Milkfish 
9 million 
4 million 
15.05 
4.84 
Pompano 
37 million 
30 million 
112.39 
0.85 
Mangrove Crab 
23.5 million 
19.2 million 
72.74 
1.28 
Shrimp 
15.3 million 
7.3 million 
27.66 
3 




TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE   ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    ) 
First Regular Session                        ) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. _____
Introduced by Representative Binky April M. Tupas 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL MULTI-SPECIES MARINE 
HATCHERY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CARLES, PROVINCE OF 
ILOILO 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 established, under the supervision of the 
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of 
Agriculture (DA-BFAR), a central multi-species marine hatchery in the 
Municipality of Carles, Province of Iloilo. 
SEC. 2. Prior to the establishment of the central multi-species marine 
hatchery, the DA-BFAR shall conduct a full-scale feasibility study in 
support of its construction to comply with the requirements of the 
Department of Budget and Management. 
The DA-BFAR shall, within three (3) years after the establishment of the 
central multi-species marine hatchery, transfer the management of the 
same to the Northern Iloilo State University (NISU) through a 
Memorandum of Agreement. The DA-BFAR shall implement a training 
and phasing-in program for NISU personnel and the local government 
personnel of the Municipality of Carles on the management and 
operation of the central multi-species marine hatchery. 
The DA-BFAR and the NISU shall conduct continuing research and 
experimentation on the breeding and production of marine species, 
especially as they apply local conditions, to discover new methods and 
technology that shall benefit the fisheries industry. 
SEC. 3. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department’s 
programs the establishment of the multi-species marine hatchery in the 
Municipality of Carles, Province of Iloilo, the funding of which shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The NISU shall set 
aside funds from any available revenue in an amount deemed 
appropriate for the operationalization of the hatchery. 
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SEC. 4. Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the 
Department of Agriculture and the NISU shall issue the rules and 
regulations on the establishment, supervision, monitoring, and the 
eventual transfer of the management of the central multi-species marine 
hatchery to the NISU. 
 
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,