FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1334 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution under Article XIII, Section 7 explicitly provides that the 
State shall protect the rights of subsistence fisherfolk, especially oi local 
communities, to the preferential use of the communal marine and fishing resources, 
both inland and offshore. It shall provide support to such fisherfolk through 
appropriate technology and research, adequate financial, production, and marketing 
assistance, and other services. The right of fisherfolk to receive a just share from 
their labor in the utilization of marine and fishing resources is likewise expressly 
affirmed in the same provision. 
This mandate is echoed in Chapter 1, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8550, 
otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, which declares that it is 
the policy of the State to protect the rights of fisherfolk and to extend to them all the 
support needed to improve their quality of living. Pursuant to these legal 
provisions, the Department of Agriculture has promulgated rules and regulations 
and other issuances to give life to these noble principles. 
However, the devastation in 2008 wrought by typhoon Frank (International 
Name: Fengshen), in all vividness, showed us how all these efforts to empower our 
fisherfolk were put to naught in the absence of adequate disaster preparedness. In 
the wake of typhoon Frank, twenty-two fishing vessels, aside from the ill-fated M/V 
Princess of the Stars, were either damaged or destroyed. Some remain missing 
together with their crew. Worse, some of the crew members who were actually 
found could not be identified and could not be sent back to their families who 
waited in agony as they wanted nothing else but to give them a proper burial. All 
this could have been avoided had the fishing vessels been seaworthy, and the crew 
properly equipped with sufficient identification, training and paraphernalia. 
This bill is introduced to give paramount importance to sufficient 
identification of fishing vessels and its crew, and the provision for proper training 
and equipment relating to disaster preparedness. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnest! y requested. 
Q... 
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LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 1334 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
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AMENDING SECTIONS 19, 28, 30, 37, 38 AND 65 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8550, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 1998 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 8550 ("RA 8550"), otherwise 
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known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, is hereby amended to read as 
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follows: 
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"Sec.19. Registry of Municipal Fisherfolk. - The LGU shall maintain a 
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registry of municipal fisherfolk, who are fishing or may desire to fish 
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in municipal waters for the purpose of IDENTIFICATION OF THESE 
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INDIVIDUALS, OF determining priorities among them, of limiting 
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entry into the municipal waters, and of monitoring fishing activities 
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and/ or other related purposes: Provided, That the FARMC shall submit 
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to the LGU the list of priorities for its consideration. 
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xxx 
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The LGUs shall also maintain a registry of municipal fishing vessels 
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by type of gear and other boat particulars with the assistance of the 
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FARMC. THIS REGISTRY SHALL LIKEWISE BE POSTED IN 
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BARANGAY HALLS OR OTHER STRATEGIC LOCATIONS 
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WHERE IT SHALL BE OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION." 
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, 
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Sec. 2. Section 28 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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Sec. 28. Commercial Fishing Vessels Registration. - The registration, 
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documentation, inspection and manning of the operation of all types of 


fishing vessels plying Philippine waters shall be in accordance with 
2 
existing 
laws, 
rules 
and 
regulations, 
ESPECIALLY 
THOSE 
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PERTAINING TO THE SEAWORTHINESS OF THE VESSELS, THE 
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SAFETY OF THEIR CREW, AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT 
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PLANS." 
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7 
Sec 3. Section 30 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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"Sec. 30. Renewal of Commercial Boat License. - The commercial 
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fishing boat license shall be renewed every three (3) years: 
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PROVIDED, THAT THE FISHING VESSEL HAS PASSED THE 
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EVALUATION 
OF 
THE 
APPROPRIATE 
GOVERNMENT 
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AGENCIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS SEAWORTHINESS AND ITS 
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COMPLIANCE WITH DISASTER MANAGEMENT MEASURES 
IS 
AS MAY BE PROVIDED BY LAW, RULES AND REGULA nONS." 
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Sec. 4. Section 37 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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"Sec. 37. Medical Supplies and Life-Saving Devices. - All fishing vessels 
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. shall be provided with adequate medical supplies and life-saving 
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devices to be determined by the Occupational Safety and Health 
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Center: Provided, That [a fishing vessel of twenty (20) GT or more shall 
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have as a member of its crew a person qualified as a first aider duly 
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certified by the Philippine National Red Cross] ALL MEMBERS OF 
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THE CREW OF FISHING VESSELS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO 
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UNDERGO MANDATORY BASIC FIRST-AID AND DISASTER 
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PREPAREDNESS 
TRAINING 
UNDER 
THE 
PHILIPPINE 
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NATIONAL RED CROSS, FREE OF CHARGE; PROVIDED 
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FURTHER, THAT ALL FISHING VESSELS SHALL BE EQUIPPED 
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WITH STANDARD FIRST-AID KITS AS MAY BE DETERMINED 
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BY THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS." 
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Sec. 5. Section 38 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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"Sec. 38. Reportorial ReqUirements. - Each commercial fishing vessel 
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shall keep a daily record of THE COMPLETE NAMES OF THE 
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MEMBERS OF THE CREW ON BOARD, fish catch and spoilage, 
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landing points, and quantity and value of fish caught, and off-loaded 
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for transshipment, sale and! or other disposal. Detailed information 
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shall be duly certified by the vessel's captain and transmitted monthly 
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to the officer or representative of the Department, at the nearest 
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·designated landing point." 
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Sec. 6. Section 65 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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Sec. 65, Functions of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.- As 
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a line bureau, the BFAR shall have the follOWing functions: 
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xxx 
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c. 
issue 
identification 
cards 
AND 
CORRESPONDING 
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STAINLESS STEEL NAME TAGS SIMILAR TO THOSE USED BY 
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MILITARY PERSONNEL, free of charge, to fishworkers engaged in 
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commercial fishing. THESE IDENTIFICATION CARDS AND TAGS 
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SHALL CONTAIN THE COMPLETE NAME OF THE MEMBER OF 
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THE CREW, HIS/HER RELIGION, BLOOD GROUP WITH RH 
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FACTOR, AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. THE CREW 
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MEMBER SHALL ATTEST TO THE TRUTH OF THE FOREGOING 
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INFORMATION AS STATED IN HIS/HER IDENTIFICATION 
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CARD AND TAG. SUCH ATTESTATION SHALL BE STATED 
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EXPLICITLY IN THE CORRESPONDING IDENTIFICATION 
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CARD: x x x" 
2S 
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
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other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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Sec. 8. EffectiVity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
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Approved, 
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