SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
S.B. No. 1271 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Many marine species are unique to the Philippines and can be found in no other 
area of the world. It is for this reason that our indigenous fishes are an important part 
not only of our aquatic ecosystem but more so of global marine biodiversity. 
This proposed measure focuses on the remaining numbers of one such fish 
species native to the Philippines, namely Cestraeus Plicatilis, commonly known as 
"Ludong". The ludong is endemic to the rivers of Abra, Caraballo, Cordillera, and Sierra 
Madre. Aptly called the "President's Fish", a kilogram of this delicious riverine delicacy 
costs roughly Php4,OOO.OO. 
The Cestraeus Plicatilis (Iudong) is a catamadrous fish, meaning it grows 
upstream and migrates downstream to spawn. This fish typically appears seasonally for 
2 to 6 days a year from October to November, particularly after heavy rains and during 
flashfloods. After spawning, the fish travels upstream again but the eggs and larvae 
stay downstream. The fry migrate upstream from December to February during moon 
phase. 
The ludong population has diminished over the years as a result of unrestrained 
and unregulated fishing during spawning season. Further, the destruction of the fish's 
natural habitats, namely mangrove forests and watershed areas, as well as the pollution 
of rivers and lakes have made this rare and elusive fish a threatened species. 
The proposed measure addresses the situation by promoting the conservation 
and preservation of the ludong fish in the Philippines. 
This measure establishes a 
national council for the conservation and preservation of ludong. 
In view of the above, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MAN 
" M. LAPID 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 12'7 1 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
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AUG 13 P 3 :06 
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PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF 
CESTRAEUS PLICATILlS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS "LUDONG", IN THE 
PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 
1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Ludong 
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Protection and Conservation Act of 2013". 
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SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and 
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conserve the country's natural resources, particularly, precious aquatic resources. As 
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such, the State shall implement measures to conserve and protect indigenous aquatic 
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species found in the country and, further, shall provide holistic programs on Information, 
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Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign to educate the general public. 
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Towards this end, the State shall pursue the protection and conservation of the 
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Ludong fish in order to preserve and breed this threatened species. 
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SEC. 3. 
Definition of Terms. 
- For purposes of this Act, the following 
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terms shall be defined as follows: 
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(a) "Conservation" means to protect, sustain, and, where appropriate, restore 
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and enhance healthy populations of Cestraeus Plicatilis (Ludong), their 
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habitats, and productivity by utilizing methods and procedures associated with 
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modern scientific resource programs, including but not limited to protection, 
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research, census, law enforcement, habitat management, propagation, live 
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trapping and transplantation, and regulated hiking; 
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(b) 
"Endemic species" means species or subspecies which are naturally 
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occurring and found only within specific areas in the country; 
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(c) 
"Habitat" means place or environment where species or subspecies 
naturally occur or have naturally established its popUlation; 
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(d) 
"Ludong" means Cestraeus plicatilis, a catamadrous fish endemic to the 
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rivers of Abra, Caraballo, Cordillera and Sierra Madre; 
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(e) 
"Riverine" means a system of inland wetlands and deep-water habitats 
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associated with non-tidal flowing water, characterized by the absence of 
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trees, shrubs, or emergent vegetation; 
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(f) 
"Secretary" refers to the Secretary of the Department of Environment and 
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Natural Resources (DENR); and 
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(g) 
"Threatened 
species" 
means 
species 
or subspecies 
considered 
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endangered, critically endangered, vulnerable or such other generally 
accepted categorization of wildlife expressing risk of extinction. 
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SEC. 4. 
Riverine Reservation Areas. - There shall be established and set 
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aside in all Ludong habitats within the Philippines portions of rivers solely for the 
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preservation, protection, and sustainable management of the Ludong. 
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SEC. 5. 
National Council for the Preservation of Cestraeus Plicatilis 
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(Ludong). -
There shall be created a National Council for the Preservation of 
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Cestraeus p/icatilis (Ludong), which shall be an attached agency of the Department of 
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Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The council shall be headed by the 
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Secretary who shall be the Chairman of the Council. The other members of the 
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Council shall be the following: 
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1.) 
the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA); 
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2.) 
the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
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(DILG); 
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3.) 
the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); 
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4.) 
the Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); 
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5.) 
a representative from academic and research institutions; and 
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6.) 
a representative from an accredited nongovernmental organization. 
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The National Council shall have the following powers and functions: 
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1.) 
Prepare a comprehensive program for the conservation and preservation 
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of Ludong by conducting the necessary studies on the system and the mode of 
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conservation and preservation of said species; 
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2.) 
Identify and delineate the boundaries of the bodies of water which shall 
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form part of the reservation areas; 
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3.) 
Have general control and supervision over local councils for the 
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conservation and preservation of Ludong; 
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4.) 
Promulgate the necessary rules and regulations necessary to carry out the 
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provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 6. 
The Local Council for the Preservation of Ludong. - There shall 
be established a local council for the conservation and preservation of Ludong, 
hereafter referred to as the "local council", for each of the municipalities where a 
reservation area has been identified. The local council shall be composed of the DENR 
Regional Executive Director under whose jurisdiction the reservation area is located 
who shall be the chairman and the following members: a representative of the municipal 
government concerned; a representative from each of the barangays under whose 
territory the reservation area is located; a representative from an accredited 
·nongovernmental organization; and a represe1~~. :'tive from the private sector. 
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The Local Council shall have the followin . powers and functions: 
1.) 
To implement and enforce all the programs and poliCies laid down by the 
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National Council; 
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2.) 
To carry out the general administration and day to day planning of the 
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program; 
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3.) 
To secure the reservation area from illegal and destructive activities which 
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would endanger the successful implementation and viability of the program; and 
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4.) 
To perform other powers and functions as may be deSignated by the 
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National Council. 
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In order to secure the reservation area from illegal activities, the local council and 
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the local government under whose jurisdiction the reservation area is located shall 
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employ the services of conservation guards who shall be tasked with the responsibility 
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to monitor the protected areas. They shall have the authority to arrest persons caught 
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violating the proviSions of this Act or the rules and regulations to be issued pursuant 
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thereto. 
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In the event that any member or officer of the National and Local Council or any 
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of the conservation guards are found to be guilty of nonfeasance, misfeasance, or 
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malfeasance, the conservation guards concerned, together with the officials of the local 
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council and the local government, by virtue of the principle of command responsibility, 
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shall be held liable for such violations and shall be prosecuted in accordance with the 
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provisions of Section 8 of this Act, without prejudice to any criminal liability which they 
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may be found guilty of. 
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SEC. 7. 
Prohibited Acts. - The following acts are hereby prohibited: 
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1) 
Harvesting of Ludong within reservation areas; 
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2) Dumping of mine tailing and other industrial wastes within reservation areas; 
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3) Construction or reclamation conducted within reservation areas without the 
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necessary license, permit, or authority therefor; 
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4) Other acts or activities that will result in the destruction of reservation areas. 
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SEC. 8. 
Penalties. - Any person, natural or juridical, found guilty of violating 
this Act or any rules and regulations issued by the National Council shall, after notice 
and hearing by the regular courts of record, be fined not less than One Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (Php100,OOO.OO) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(Php500,OOO.OO), or imprisonment for not less than one (1) year but not more than six 
(6) years, or both, at the discretion of the Court: Provided, That if the area requires 
rehabilitation or restoration, as determined by the court, the offender shall answer for e 
cost of the rehabilitation or restoration. 
If the offender is an association or corporation, the president or manager shall be 
directly responsible for the act of his employees and laborers. 
SEC. 9. 
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign. -
The DENR, in coordination with the DA and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), 
shall conduct a nationwide information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign 
in order to inform the general public of the need to conserve and protect our indigenous 
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aquatic fish resources. 
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SEC. 10. 
Appropriation. -
The amount necessary to implement the 
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·provisions of this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general 
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appropriations of the DENR and the various agencies of the government involved in the 
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creation of the National Council for the Preservation of Cestraeus Plicatilis (Ludong) 
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and in the implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 11. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within six (6) 
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months from the date of effectivity of this Act, the DENR, in consultation with the DA 
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and DILG, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to 
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implement the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 12. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
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orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions 
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of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 13. 
Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of 
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this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall 
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remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 14. 
Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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