Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
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Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish a multi-purpose farm for the breeding, spawning, and hatchery of 
catfish, tilapia, mudfish, eel, and other fresh water fishes, which are viable in concrete tanks and mud 
ponds in the Municipality of Balungao, Province of Pangasinan. 
Balungao is a land-locked municipality, some areas of which are hilly, and many of its 
communities rely mostly on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of rice, corn, and assorted 
vegetables. Fish is integral to a healthy staple food for everyone, along with rice, meat, fruits and 
vegetables. However, its supply in this Municipality is limited and the price quite expensive for many 
of its people. And so, the creation of the proposed multi-purpose fishery farm in Balungao presents a 
viable solution to the scarcity of this aquatic commodity, and will timely meet the increasing demand 
of people for it. It will provide, for its communities, a stable source of fry or fingerlings as well as 
reliable technical expertise for the setting up, management, and operation of small-scale fish farms; 
thereby, ultimately leading up to the empowerment of many people in these communities and the 
creation of secondary income streams, which will augment their incomes from agriculture. Moreover, 
it will empower small-scale fish farmers and strengthen local aquaculture, which leads to inclusive 
rural development, contributes to food security, and aligns with Section 7, Article XIII, of the 1987 
Constitution, which mandates the State to protect the rights of subsistence fishermen, especially of 
local communities, to the preferential use of local marine and fishing resources, both inland and 
offshore. 
This proposed bill, although local in its scope and application, will eventually redound to 
nation-building, as it will provide a viable source of livelihood for people in the rural areas of 
Balungao, and eradicate poverty subsisting therein, particularly in far-lung communities. Moreover, it 
will also help in the rejuvenation of the fish industry. 
It is for the above reasons that approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
6th District, Pangasinan 
July 3, 2025
5:23 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MULTI-PURPOSE FARM FOR THE BREEDING, 
SPAWNING, AND HATCHERY OF CATFISH, TILAPIA, MUDFISH, EEL, AND OTHER 
FRESH WATER FISHES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BALUNGAO, PROVINCE OF 
PANGASINAN. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative 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-purpose farm for 
the breeding, spawning, and hatchery of catfish, tilapia, mudfish, eel, and other fresh water fishes 
in the Municipality of Balungao, Province of Pangasinan. 
SECTION 2. The BFAR-DA shall disseminate its technical knowledge and expertise on 
the culture of catfish, tilapia, mudfish, eel, and other fresh water fishes to the people in the 
Municipality of Balungao, Province of Pangasinan; and shall continuously conduct research and 
experimentation on the breeding, spawning, hatchery, and culture of these fish species with the 
aim of discovering new cost-effective methods and technologies, especially as they apply to local 
conditions.  
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department’s programs the 
establishment of the multi-purpose farm for the breeding, spawning, and hatchery of catfish, 
tilapia, mudfish, eel, and other fresh water fishes in the Municipality of Balungao, Province of 
Pangasinan, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
Further, the local government unit concerned shall set aside an amount deemed appropriate for the 
operation and maintenance of the said multi-purpose farm to be sourced from any of its available 
local revenue.  
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SECTION 4. The BFAR-DA shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to 
implement this Act.  
 
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.