Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House BillNo.__ 879.1.

Introduced by Hon. Delphine Gan Lee

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Probably one of the most unusual freshwater fish found anywhere in the world, the
‘Sinarapan or Tabios is endemic to Lake Buhi and Lake Bato in the Camarines Sur Province.
Tt was first found in 1902 where it was described as the smallest known vertebrate. Extensive
research on the Sinarapan showed that the biggest specimen only grew as big as 15
millimeters with an average length of only 12.5 millimeters.! Sinarapan are a kind of goby
and they are transparent save for their black eyes. The Sinarapan is unique among the fish
species of the world. It is the only known species of goby known to exist only in freshwater.
The adults also retain many characteristics of the larval form. This unique strategy to cope
with the rigors of water life has been of great interest to scientists, The small size of this fish
also allows it to inhabit places that bigger fish cannot occupy. This is referred to by scientists
as microhabitats that led to the continued, albeit endangered, survival of this species.

Capturing the Sinarapan is an art. Fishermen first cut and trim a bamboo stalk. A palm
leaf is then wrapped around the top. The stalk is next anchored to the bed of the lake with the
leaf functioning both as a beacon and trap. Sinarapan is an important food source for the
Bicolano fishermen. These are caught in big quantities and then dried to make a meal called
badi. Sinarapan are also fried in oil, or boiled with vegetables, and have a delicious flavor.

‘ http./swww.nowpublic.com/environment/Sinarapan-tabios-worlds-smallest-edible-fish-endangered
* hutp:l/www.ekolife.com.ph/tours/camarines-sur/Sinarapan.html

1


When more are caught than the local market demands, the surplus is salted or dried in cakes
and exported to the neighboring towns in Camarines Sur and Albay Provinces.

However, badi is no longer served in the native restaurants, Years of neglect and
abuse have seriously depleted the population of the Sinarapan, which are found nowhere elsc
on the planet. Moreover, the introduction of various non-native fish has also been a factor in

depleting the numbers of Sinarapans to at times critically low levels. It is now considered an

endangered species* and is in dire need of protection,

Studies conducted by Dr. Victor Soliman’ showed that Sinarapan can still be found in
Lakes Buhi and Bato, The fish now thrives in Lakes Manapao, Katugday and Makuwaw,
which are tars or mountain lakes in Mt. Asog in Buhi, Camarines Sur. The fish stock in
Lakes Buhi and Bato have not recovered significantly from the adverse effects of overfishing,
‘There are intrinsic and extrinsic factors that can explain the low population of Sinarapan in
Lakes Buhi and Bato. Primarily, the stock had experienced the immediate and lagged effects
of biological overfishing of various forms ~ growth, recruitment and ecosystem. In growth
overfishing, very high proportion of immature Sinarapan was caught or died from fishing

operations. Recruitment overfishing results from excessive proportion of adults being fished

or dying in fishing.
This bill seeks to conserve the Sinarapan species through the creation of the Center
for the Conservation of the Sinarapan and by providing measures and prohibitions that will

aid in the preservation efforts for this national treasure.

‘www.aenet.org/voleano/sinarap.htm,
4 Endangered Wildlife and Plants of the World, Anne Hildyard, Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2001
* Dr. Victor Soliman is the founder of the Sinarapan Conservation Initiative in Bicol University Tabaco
‘Campus, Tabaco City, Philippines.
 betp:/fharibon.org.ph


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

ars 3791

House Bill'No:

Introduced by Hon. Delphine Gan Lee

AN ACT
CREATING A CENTER FOR THE CONSERVATION
OF THE SINARAPAN AND PROVIDING MEASURES FOR ITS PROTECTION

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Sinarapan Protection Act

of 2013.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — Pursuant to the Constitution, it is the policy of
the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. It shall also be the policy of the State to
conserve the country’s wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainability. Recognizing
that the Sinarapan is included in the United Nations Red List of Threatened Species, in

furtherance of this national policy, this Act shall have the following objectives:

(A)To conserve and protect the Sinarapan and their habitats to promote ecological
balance and enhance biological diversity;

(B) To regulate the collection and trading of Sinarapan;

(C)To pursue, with due regard to the national interest, the Philippine commitment to

international obligations, particularly those concerning the protection of wildlife

1


12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

ar

22

23

and their habitat;

(D)To initiate and support scientific studies on the conservation of the Sinarapan.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term “Sinarapan” or
“Tabios” shall refer to a species of goby endemic to the Philippines and is scientifically

known as Mistichthys luzonensis.

SECTION 4, Center for the Conservation of the Sinarapan. — The Center for the
Conservation of the Sinarapan is hereby created. It shall be an office under the Bureau of

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

SECTION 5. Powers and Functions of the Center, ~ For the implementation of the
purposes and objectives of this Act, the Center is hereby authorized to organize and establish

a technical staff composed of qualified personnel and may hire the services of experts and

consultants, both local and foreign. Further, it may enlist the services of government officials

and employees as may be necessary. The Center shall have the following functions:

(A)Initiate programs and projects as may be necessary for the conservation and
protection of the Sinarapan and coordinate the implementation thereof

(B) Coordinate programs as may be required including the delineation of any areas
within the Sinarapan’s habitat to ensure the survival of the species;

(C) Accept donations in cash or in kind from domestic and international sources in
support of its activities subject to the appropriate rules of the Commission on
Audit;

(D)Initiate programs and activities geared towards encouraging the active
participation and involvement of the private sector and the academe in the

conservation efforts of the Center;


20

21

22

23

24

(E) Enter, make and execute contracts of any kind as may be necessary or incidental
to the attainment of its purposes with any person or corporation;

(F) Call on any government agency, office or instrumentality or local governments for
such assistance as it may deem necessary for the performance of its functions and
powers;

(G)Encourage, support, coordinate and/or undertake scientific studies and researches
concerning the Sinarapan and cause the publication of such studies as may be
deemed appropriate by the Center;

(H)Do all such things, transact all such business and perform such functions directly
or indirectly necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of the purposes

and objectives of this Act.

SECTION 6. Illegal Acts, — It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and

knowingly exploit Sinarapan and their habitats, or undertake the following acts, except as

may be provided by the Center:

(A)Fishing, capturing, killing, or destroying Sinarapan species;

(B)Inflicting injury which cripples and/or impairs the reproductive system of
Sinarapan species;

(C) Dumping of waste products in the natural habitat of the Sinarapan;

(D) Introduction of foreign species in the natural habitat of the Sinarapan;

(E) Trading, transporting, collecting, hunting or possession of Sinarapan, their by-
products and derivatives;

(F) Any act analogous to the foregoing with the effect of harming or depleting the

Sinarapan population.

SECTION 7. Penalties for Violations of this Act. ~ The penalty of imprisonment of a


minimum of six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years and/or a fine of One hundred
thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to One million five hundred thousand pesos (P1,500,000.00)

shall be imposed on any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 8. Funding. — The Center shall have an initial funding of TEN MILLION

PESOS (P10,000,000,00).

SECTION 9, Implementing Rules and Regulations, ~ The Secretary of the Department
of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
shall issue the implementing rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this

Act within thirty (30) days from its date of effectivity,

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain

valid and subsisting.

‘TION 11. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended

accordingly.

SECTION 12. Hffectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.