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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Hy
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H. No, 8675

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DATE August 1,
TIME 1:45pm

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2023 Th

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Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas

EXPLANATORY NOTE

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL FRESHWATER MULTI-SPECIES
HATCHERY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAROTAC VIEJO, PROVINCE
OF ILOILO AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Barotac Viejo is a third-class municipality in the Province of Iloilo. It is in the
northern part of the province, facing the strait of Guimaras and island of Negros. It
is bounded on the north by San Rafael, on the west by Banate, on the south by the
Visayan Sea, and on the east by Ajuy. It is 57 kilometers (35 mi) from Iloilo City. It
has land area of 185.78 square kilometers or 71.73 square miles which constitutes
3.72% of lloilo's total area. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was
48,614. This represented 2.37% of the total population of Iloilo province, or 0.61%
of the overall population of the Western Visayas region.

Barotac Viejo has 26 barangays which consists 18 inland barangays and 8
coastal barangays. Based on the Municipal Fisherfolk Registration System of BFAR
or FishR, there are 4,018 registered municipal fisherfolk in the municipality.

The municipality has natural bodies of waters, two of which are the Barotac
Viejo River (7 km) and the Barotac Cayo River (5 km). It also has several creeks
and springs. The Barotac Viejo River is the longest and widest river passing through
the heart of the town. It has never been dry and sometimes overflow its banks on
rainy days. The river is utilized for bathing, laundry and for aquaculture purposes.
Barotac Viejo Small Reservoir Irrigation Project is a Php 993.3-million project
inaugurated on April 16, 2019 at Nueva Invencion Village, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. Its
water sources come from Barotac Viejo River includes the construction of zoned
earth fill dam and its appurtenant structures which is expected to provide timely and
eliable irrigation service to 2,050 hectares of agricultural lands in the villages of
California, La Fortuna, Natividad, Sto. Domingo, Bugnay, San Miguel, San Antonio,
San Geronimo, San Lucas, Vista Alegre, and Dela Pefia in the Municipality of
Barotac Viejo, and Merced, Carmelo, Talokgangan, Bariga Magdalo, and Libertad
in the Municipality of Banate.

The project includes the generation of 265 hectares of newly-irrigable areas,
459 hectares of rehabilitated areas, and 1,326 hectares of restored areas,
benefitting 1,171 farmers and their families. It is also expected to provide other


incidental benefits such as flood control, watershed management, fish culture, agro-
tourism and rice-fish culture.

The Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource
(DA-BFAR) 6 strongly supports the Establishment of Multi-Species Central
Freshwater Hatchery in Barotac Viejo, lloilo. With the presence of ample supply of
freshwater from Barotac Viejo SRIP, it will fully support the production of
sustainable supply of seed stocks, benefitting the fisherfolk in Barotac Viejo and
freshwater aquaculture sector of the whole region.

The establishment of the said hatchery will benefit 32,089 registered
fisherfolk in Northern lloilo that contributes 66% of the fish production from
aquaculture and capture fisheries.

Production from this multi-species central freshwater hatchery will answer
the large gap between supply and demand of seed stocks and production for tilapia,
catfish and giant freshwater prawn of the province and of the region

The approval of this Bill will contribute to the growth and development of the
fisheries sector and allied industries in the Fifth District of lloilo.

For these reasons, the approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

Won
RAUL “BOBDY” C. TUPAS


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. No. 8675

Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MULTI-SPECIES CENTRAL FRESHWATER
HATCHERY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAROTAC VIEJO, PROVINCE OF ILOILO
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

SECTION 1. There shall be established, under the supervision of the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA), a
central multi-species freshwater hatchery in the Municipality of Barotac Viejo, Province
of Iloilo.

SECTION 2. The BFAR-DA shall, within three (3) years after the establishment of the
central multi-species freshwater hatchery, transfer the management of the same to the
Northern lloilo State University (NISU) through a Memorandum of Agreement. The
BFAR-DA shall implement a training and phasing-in program for NISU personnel and
the local government personnel of the Municipality of Barotac Viejo on the
management and operation of the central multi-species freshwater hatchery.

The BFAR-DA and the NISU shall conduct continuing research and
experimentation on the breeding and production of freshwater species, especially as
they apply to local conditions, to discover new methods and technology that shall
benefit the fisheries industry.

SECTION 3. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department's programs
the establishment of the central multi-species freshwater hatchery in the Municipality
of Barotac Viejo, Province of lloilo, the funding of which shalll 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.

SECTION 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 freshwater hatchery to the NISU.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,