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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No._ 6392

Introduced by Honorable Gil P. Acosta

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ABORLAN, PROVINCE OF
PALAWAN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

What happens when fishermen run out of fish to catch? This was the
dilemma of many of our marginal fisherfolks in most of the coastal areas of the
country. Due to overfishing activities and unsustainable fishing methods, many
coral reefs and spawning areas of marine resources near the coastal villages were
depleted of its fish population.

The main livelihood of people in coastal communities is to catch fish and
other marine creatures like shrimp, shells, seaweeds and squids. As the fish were
in real short supply, coastal residents had to go far off the coast to find fish and it
was really expensive.

Aside from spending more resources on gas just to get enough catch, the
fishermen also had to deal with harsh weather environments at the sea where,
when the waves are high, they couldn’t go far.

In the province of Palawan and City of Puerto Princesa, the opportunities
looked promising in areas where natural resources can be found everywhere
including places where marine resources are a good source of livelihood. But
admittedly, these resources may not be sustainably available since the resource
competition is intense.

To lighten the impact of resource depletion, the available technologies that
improves stocks of high value marine commodities could be propagated by
establishing a multi-species marine hatchery in areas where it is most likely to
succeed, and where resource end users could best benefit from these facilities.


The municipality of Aborlan in Palawan hosts the Western Philippines
University (WPU) where, as an educational institution, champions the honing of
skills of our youth in agriculture, fisheries, sustainable development and
extensions services. While the DA-BFAR’s mandate includes popularization of
aquaculture and similar endeavors, the task to manage and sustain a multi-species
marine hatchery in Aborlan area could best be handled by the WPU where their
human resources are readily available.

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

)
GILP. ACOSTA
resentative
3" District of Palawan


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 6392

Introduced by Honorable Gil P. Acosta

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY

IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ABORLAN, PROVINCE OF

PALAWAN 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 (BFAR-DA),
a multi-species marine hatchery in the Municipality of Aborlan, Province of

Palawan.

SECTION 2. The BFAR-DA shall, within five (5) years after the construction of
the multi-species marine hatchery, transfer the management of the same to the
Western Philippines University through a memorandum of agreement. It shall
implement a training and phasing-in program for university personnel on the
management and operation of the hatchery.

SECTION 3. An extension program that caters the marginal fisherfolks shall be
developed by the BFAR-DA and/or by the Western Philippines University for the
propagation of marine species of high economic value.

SECTION 4. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department's
programs the establishment of the multi-species marine hatchery in the


Municipality of Aborlan, Province of Palawan, the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The Western Philippines
University shall set aside funds from any available source in an amount deemed
appropriate for the operationalization of the hatchery.

SECTION 5S. Within sixty (60) days from the Passage of this Act, the Secretary
of Agriculture shall issue the rules and regulations on the supervision, monitoring,

transfer, or withdrawal by the BFAR of the multi-species marine hatchery.

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

Approved.