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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
CREATING A DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC 
RESOURCES, PROVIDING FOR ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 2018, the Philippines ranked 8th among the top fish producing 
countries in the world with its total production of 4.35 million metric tons 
(MT) of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants (including seaweed). 
The production constituted 2.06% of the total world production of 211.87 
million MT (FAO, 2020). 
In terms of aquaculture production, the country ranked 11th in the 
world with 826.01 thousand MT or 1.01% share of the total global 
aquaculture production of 82.10 million MT. The total value of the country’s 
aquaculture production including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks is USD 
1.89 billion (FAO, 2020). 
The Philippines is also the world’s 4th largest producer of aquatic 
plants (including seaweed) having a total of 1.48 million MT or 4.56% of the 
total world production of 32.39 million MT (FAO, 2020).  
The fishing industry’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic 
September 21, 2022
5:37 pm
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Product (GDP) is 1.52% at both current and constant 2018 prices. This 
translates to PhP 273.41 billion at current prices and PhP 266.22 billion at 
constant prices of the country’s GDP of PhP 17,939 billion (current prices). 
The industry also shared 12.27% (PhP 224.19 billion) and 12.54% (PhP 
223.20 billion) for both current and constant prices of the Gross Value Added 
(GVA) in Aquaculture, Hunting, Forestry, and Fishing Group of PhP 1,827.01 
billion (current prices) and PhP 1,780.54 (constant prices), respectively (PSA, 
2021). 
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), approximately 
1.6 million Filipinos depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihood. 
However, despite the sector's vastness, poverty incidence continues to 
remain high among fishermen - estimated at 34% in 2018, higher by 12.4% 
than the poverty incidence of the general population. 
In order to strategically develop and utilize the country's fisheries and 
aquatic resources, and curb poverty in the rural areas where most of the 
country's fishermen live, this bill proposes the creation of a Department of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) which shall be responsible for the 
development and management of fisheries and marine resources in 
Philippine waters including the exclusive economic zone, as well as the 
protection and conservation of the nation's marine wealth. The department 
will also ensure that the needs and concerns of the fisherfolk are adequately 
addressed to ultimately help them move out of poverty. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR.       


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
CREATING A DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC 
RESOURCES, PROVIDING FOR ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
congress assembled: 
SEC. 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Department of Fisheries 
and Aquatic Resources Act of 2022." 
SEC. 2. Creation. - The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, 
hereinafter referred to as the Department, is hereby created structurally and 
functionally in accordance with the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 3. Declaration of Policies. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to promote the sustainable development and management of all 
fisheries and aquatic resources in Philippine waters including its territorial 
seas and waters within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), consistent with 
the primordial objective of maintaining a sound ecological balance and 
protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment. It is the policy of 
the State to protect and conserve the nation's marine wealth in its 
archipelagic waters, territorial seas, and exclusive economic zone and reserve 
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its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.  
 
It is the policy of the State to adopt the precautionary principle and to 
prioritize conservation of the country's marine and aquatic resources. It is 
also the policy of the State to protect the rights of small-scale fishermen to the 
preferential use of the country's fisheries and aquatic resources. 
 
SEC. 4. Jurisdiction of the Department. - The Department shall have 
primary jurisdiction over the management, conservation, development, 
protection, utilization, and disposition of all fishery and aquatic resources of 
the country, including the habitats of fish and all other marine life and other 
activities which impact on these habitats, except for municipal waters, which 
shall remain under the jurisdiction of local government units. The latter shall 
manage their municipal waters in accordance with national fishery policies, 
laws, rules, and regulations. The Department shall have the authority to 
supervise and regulate the production and capture of fish and fishery 
products within its jurisdiction, as well as the processing and marketing of 
all fisheries and aquatic products in the country. The Department shall have 
the responsibility of rationalizing all oceans sector initiatives which impact 
on fish and marine resources or their habitat including, but not limited to, 
marine energy exploration and development; coastal and marine tourism; 
designation of shipping lanes; protected areas; and marine industry 
development areas. The regulation of these marine activities, once 
rationalized by the Department, shall reside with the parent agency for the 
appropriate sector involved. 
 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. - To accomplish its mandate, the 
Department shall have the following powers, functions, and responsibilities: 
 
(a) Coordinate the implementation of fisheries and oceans sector policies, 
plans 
 and laws for all maritime components; 
 
(b) Promulgate and enforce fisheries and oceans habitat regulations, which 
clarify and amplify the aforementioned departmental mandate in accordance 
with the published fisheries and oceans management plans within its 
territorial jurisdiction; 
 


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(c) Prepare and implement a comprehensive Fisheries Management Plan, 
based on the precautionary principle and the principle of sustainable 
development, using scientifically generated information or best available 
evidence on the status of the fisheries and aquatic resources; 
 
(d) Formulate and implement, consistent with the development framework 
of the National Economic Development Authority, a fishery industry 
development program and set policies and standards for the efficient and 
economic operations of the fishing industry in accordance with the objectives 
of food security and rational and sustainable development; 
(e) Promulgate laws, rules, and regulations governing the conservation and 
proper utilization of fisheries and aquatic resources except in municipal 
waters; 
 
(f) Issue licenses for the operation of commercial fishing vessels and permits 
for the conduct of fishery activities subject to the specific carrying capacities 
of the resource as determined by scientific studies or best available evidence 
with preference given to resource users in the local communities living 
adjacent or nearest to the municipal waters; 
 
(g) Issue fish worker licenses and identification cards free of charge to fish 
workers engaged in commercial fishing; 
 
(h) Implement the provisions of Republic Act No. 8550 and the relevant 
provisions of Republic Act No. 8435 and enforce all fishery laws, rules, and 
regulations through its fishery officers and guardians, and through 
deputized government officials and employees, punong barangays and 
officers, and members of fisherfolk associations who have undergone 
training on law enforcement; 
 
(i) Perform quasi-judicial and allied functions and settle conflicts of resource 
use and allocation in consultation with the National Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources Management Council (NFARMC) and local government units; 
 
(j) It shall prescribe rules and regulations including procedures and 
guidelines 
concerning 
the 
classification, 
establishment, 
construction, 
maintenance, and operation of all fishing ports, landing sites and fish 
markets and the operation of business therein except those that are owned 


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and operated by local government units; 
 
(k) Establish and maintain a Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 
Information System (PFARIS) that will function as the principal depository 
and information server of all fisheries and oceans-related information in the 
country, including, but not limited to, the status of fisheries and aquatic 
resources and their habitat as well as all matters pertaining to fisheries 
production, processing, marketing and research results, and technology 
advances; 
 
(l) Develop and implement a Monitoring Control and Surveillance System 
(MCSS) for Philippine fisheries and seas at the national and regional levels to 
ensure that the fisheries and aquatic resources in Philippine waters are 
judiciously and wisely utilized and managed on a sustainable basis; 
 
(m) Actively engage in the conservation, protection and rehabilitation of rare, 
threatened, and endangered marine species as it may determine, including 
their habitats; 
(n) Implement relevant provisions of international treaties and agreements 
such as, but not limited to, the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), United Nations 
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and Convention on Biological 
Diversity (CBD) and formulate rules and regulations for the conservation 
and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory species; 
 
(o) Formulate and enforce the Code of Practice for Aquaculture and Code of 
Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; 
 
(p) Promote international economic and technical cooperation in the 
fisheries and oceans sectors and in integrated oceans management, 
especially within the ASEAN region; 
 
(q) Acquire, maintain, operate, purchase, lease, or dispose, through the 
Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), equipment and 
facilities such as shipyards, fishing vessels, fishing gears, and refrigerated 
trucks, ice plants and cold storages, communication, and aquaculture 
facilities; 
 


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(r) Fix, assess, and collect reasonable fees, tolls, charges, rentals and the like, 
through the PFDA, for the use or sale of properties, equipment, facilities, 
and services to support the Department's projects and to adjust the same as 
warranted; 
 
(s) Provide, through the PFDA, infrastructure support such as municipal 
fishing ports and markets, farm-to-market roads, quality laboratories in fish 
ports, marketing facilities, local fisheries shipbuilding and repair facilities, 
and post-harvest facilities, in cooperation with concerned agencies; 
 
(t) Establish and implement, through the PFDA, a National Marketing 
Assistance Program, aimed at ensuring the generation of the highest 
possible income for fisherfolk and fishery-related enterprises, matching 
supply and demand in both domestic and foreign markets; 
 
(u) Administer a fisheries modernization credit program to finance fishery 
projects of fisherfolk, fish farmers, fish processors, commercial fishers, and 
other qualified borrowers; and 
 
(v) Perform all other functions consistent with this Act and as may be 
provided by law. 
 
SEC. 6. Department Proper. - The Department shall consist of the Office 
of the Secretary and three (3) Undersecretaries for Fisheries Production and 
Utilization; Fisheries Conservation and Management; and Operations; one 
(1) council, the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management 
Council; one (1) institute, the National Fisheries Research and Development 
Institute; and one (1) office, the Office of Oceans and Marine Affairs. The 
Office of Oceans and Marine Affairs shall have authority and responsibility 
over oceans use. It shall be the Department's primary agency tasked with 
the implementation of the National Marine Policy and the relevant 
provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 
(UNCLOS). Any and all use of the oceans shall require the assessment and 
clearance by this Office, which shall rationalize initiatives that will 
negatively impact on fisheries or their habitat. It shall coordinate the 
implementation of fisheries and oceans sector policies, plans and laws for 
all maritime components. It shall be headed by a Director and shall have the 
following divisions: 


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(a) Oceans Use Assessment and Clearance Division; 
(b) National and International Oceans Law and Policy Division; 
(c) Special Projects Division; and 
(d) Technical Division. 
 
The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority created by Presidential 
Decree No. 977 as amended, shall be an attached agency of the Department 
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources under the Office of the Secretary. 
 
SEC. 7. Functions of the Secretary. - The Secretary of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, shall be 
appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on 
Appointments, and shall have the following functions: 
 
(a) Supervision and control of the Department and all the offices under it; 
(b) Authority and responsibility for the performance of the powers and 
functions of the Department; 
(c) Advise the President on the promulgation of policies, rules and 
regulations, and other issuances relative to the sustainable development 
and management of fisheries and aquatic resources; 
(d) Establish management policies and standards for the efficient and 
effective operation of the Department in accordance with the programs of 
the government; 
(e) Promulgate rules, regulations, and other issuances in carrying out the 
Department's mandate, objectives, policies, plans, programs, and projects; 
and 
(f) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by 
the President. 
 
SEC. 8. Functions of the Undersecretaries. - There shall be three (3) 
Undersecretaries: (1) Undersecretary for Fisheries 
Production and 
Utilization; (2) Undersecretary for Fisheries Conservation and Management; 
and (3) Undersecretary for Operations who shall be appointed by the 
President upon the recommendation of the Secretary. 
 
The Undersecretaries for Fisheries Production and Utilization and for 
Fisheries Conservation and Management shall have the following functions: 


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(a) Advise the Secretary on the formulation of policies, programs, plans, 
rules, and regulations, as well as on the promulgation of Department 
Orders, Administrative Orders, and other issuances with respect to his/her 
area of responsibility; 
 
(b) Exercise supervision and control over the bureaus, offices, services, and 
operating units under his/her responsibility; 
 
(c) Coordinate the functions and activities of the units under his/her 
responsibility with those of the other units in the Department; 
 
(d) Liaise with concerned government departments, agencies, and offices to 
ensure effective coordination in the management of the fisheries and oceans 
sector; and 
 
(e) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by 
the Secretary. 
 
The Undersecretary for Operations shall have the following functions: 
 
(a) Exercise supervision and control over the regional offices; 
 
(b) Coordinate, harmonize, and package the policies, plans, programs, and 
projects of all the offices the Department for the proper implementation by 
the regional offices; 
 
(c) Advise the Secretary in the formulation of policies, plans, and programs 
as well as on the promulgation of rules, regulations, and orders with respect 
to his/her area of responsibility; 
 
(d) Exercise supervision and control over the Fisheries Inspection and 
Quarantine Inspection Service and the Bureau of Fishery Economics and 
Statistics; 
 
(e) Establish linkage with local government units, local fisherfolk 
associations and organizations, and non-government organizations and 
supervise support and extension services at the regional, provincial, city, 


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and municipal levels; and 
 
(f) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by 
the Secretary. 
 
SEC. 9. Qualifications of the Undersecretaries. - No person shall be 
appointed Undersecretary of the Department unless he or she is a Filipino 
citizen; at least a degree holder in fisheries, public administration, 
management, economics, law or other equivalent relevant disciplines; has 
actual experience in administration and management for at least ten (10) 
years; and has general practical knowledge of fisheries. 
 
SEC. 10. Organizational Structure of the Department. - The functions of 
the Department under this Act shall be carried out by the bureaus, agencies 
and services created in the Department. 
 
Under the supervision and control of the Undersecretary for Fisheries 
Production and Utilization, the following bureaus, services, and offices are 
hereby created; 
 
(a) Bureau of Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries (BAIF) - The BAIF shall, 
among others, be responsible for regulating aquaculture operations in line 
with the International Code of Conduct for Aquaculture; promoting the 
intensification of aquaculture operations in existing areas; formulating 
aquaculture development programs; establishing and maintaining model 
aquaculture 
farms 
and 
ponds; 
providing 
technical 
assistance 
to 
cooperatives and fishpond operators in the development of a viable 
fishmeal and fish feeds industry, undertaking inland fishery resources 
evaluation; and recommending management and conservation measures. 
The Bureau shall be headed by a Director and shall be composed of the 
following divisions: 
 
(1) Aquaculture Management and Development Division; 
(2) Inland Fisheries Resource Assessment and Conservation Division; 
(3) Inland Fishery Development and Extension Division; and 
(4) Environmental Impact Assessment and Monitoring Division. 
 
(b) Bureau of Postharvest and Fisheries Product Standards (BPFPS) – The 


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fishery component of the Bureau of Agriculture and Product Standards 
created under Section 61 of Republic Act No. 8435 shall be transferred to the 
BPFPS which shall formulate and enforce standards of quality in the 
processing, preservation, packaging, labeling, importation, exportation, 
distribution, and advertising of fishery products; conduct research on 
product standardization and the alignment of local standards with 
international standards; and promote and strengthen semi-processing and 
handling. 
 
The Bureau shall have a Director and two (2) Assistant Directors: one for 
Product Standards and Technical Services and one for Industry Compliance 
and Consumer Protection. It shall have the following divisions: 
Under the Assistant Director for Product Standards and Technical Services: 
(1) Technical Services Division; 
(2) Fish Processing Technology Division; 
(3) Standards Development and Promotion Division; and 
(4) Value-added Products Development and Promotion Division. 
Under the Assistant Director for Industry Compliance and Consumer 
Protection: 
(1) Industry Compliance Division; 
(2) Consumer Affairs Division; and 
(3) Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Division. 
 
(c) Bureau of Fisheries Extension, Training, and Support Service (BFETSS) -
The BFETSS shall coordinate all development activities with respect to 
fisheries and oceans technology and shall have a development section for all 
components including inland and oceans fishing, and fishing gears and 
methods. It shall formulate a National Extension System for Fisheries, which 
shall be composed of three (3) subsystems: (1) the national government 
subsystem, (2) the local government subsystem, and (3) the private sector 
subsystem. It shall deliver the following major services: training services; 
credit and financing support services; business advisory services; 
demonstration services; and information and communication support  
services through tri-media. It shall have the following divisions: 
 
(1) Training and Skills Development Division; 
(2) Technology Transfer and Demonstration Division; and 
(3) Business Advisory and Information Support Division. 


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(d) Bureau of Fishing Technology and Capture Fisheries (BFTCF) - The 
BFTCF shall have direct supervision and control over the utilization of 
marine resources including commercial, international, and small-scale 
fisheries. It shall formulate development programs for the expansion of the 
marine fishery industry; explore new fishery resources and development 
environment-friendly but efficient fishing gears. It shall be headed by a 
Director and two (2) Assistant Directors and shall have the following 
divisions: 
 
(1) Municipal Fisheries Division; 
(2) Commercial Fisheries Division; 
(3) Fishing Technology Division; and 
(4) High Seas Fisheries Division 
 
(e) Fisheries Modernization Credit and Financing Agency (FMCFA) – The 
FMCFA shall administer the funds under Sections 108 to 113 of Republic 
Act No. 8550 as well as the fisheries-related provisions of Sections 20 to 25 
of Republic Act No. 8435, harmonizing and integrating the two so as to 
package and deliver various credit assistance programs for the following: 
 
(1) Fisheries production including processing of fisheries products and 
inputs; 
(2) Acquisition or construction of fishery equipment, machinery, fishing 
vessels, and fishing gears; 
(3) Acquisition of fry, fingerlings, fertilizers, feeds, and similar items; 
(4) Procurement of fisheries products for storage, trading, processing, and 
distribution; 
 (5) Construction, acquisition and repair of facilities for production, 
processing, storage, transportation, communication, marketing and such 
other facilities in support of fisheries and economic activities; 
 (6) Working capital for fisheries graduates to enable them to engage in 
fisheries-related activities which support marine and freshwater bodies 
conservation and ecology-enhancing activities such as, but not limited to, 
mangrove reforestation, promotion of whale shark and manta ray and other 
endangered marine species watching and ecotourism; and 
 (7) Development of appropriate technology, both in fishery and ancillary 
industries, that are ecologically sound, locally-sourced, and labor intensive, 


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based on the requirements of the Fisheries and Aquatic Management 
Councils. 
 
Under the supervision and control of the Undersecretary for Fisheries 
Conservation and Management, the following bureaus, services, and offices 
are hereby created: 
 
(a) Marine Resources Conservation and Management Bureau - The Marine 
Resources Conservation and Management Bureau is a line bureau tasked 
with the formulation and implementation of a Comprehensive Fisheries 
Management Plan. It shall undertake marine fishery resources assessment 
and 
biological 
and 
environmental 
investigations, 
and 
formulate 
conservation measures. In coordination with the National Fisheries 
Research and Development Institute, it shall determine and establish the 
carrying capacity and total allowable catch (TAC) for a particular resource. 
It shall set the allowable fishing effort based on the carrying capacity of the 
resource and TAC and accordingly issue commercial fishing licenses and 
permits. It shall be headed by a Director and two (2) Assistant Directors and 
shall have the 
following divisions: 
 
(1) Coastal Resources Management Division; 
(2) Oceanography Division; 
(3) Fisheries Licensing Division; 
(4) Biotechnology, Biosafety and Bioprospecting Division; and 
(5) Fisheries Law Enforcement Division. 
 
The Fisheries Law Enforcement Division shall operate the National and 
Zonal Monitoring Surveillance System. It shall establish fishery, air and 
ocean patrol as well as conduct law enforcement trainings and recommend 
to the Secretary the deputation of government employees and members of 
fisherfolk associations as fishery guardians. It shall have the supervision 
and control of fishery officers and guardians and the corps of specialists 
responsible for the enforcement of fishery laws, rules and regulations, and 
the efficient monitoring and surveillance of fishing activities within 
Philippine territorial waters. 
 
(b) The Bureau of Marine Protected Areas and Wildlife (BMPAW) – The 


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BMP AW is a line bureau responsible for establishing and maintaining 
marine protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries. It shall lead in the conduct 
of scientific researches on the proper strategies for the conservation and 
protection of marine wildlife and their habitat including breeding and 
propagation. It shall also establish Marine Wildlife Rescue Centers to take 
custody of all confiscated, stranded, or abandoned marine wildlife. It shall 
have the authority to issue Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species (CITES) permits and shall be both the CITES 
management and scientific authority of the Philippines. It shall be the lead 
agency in the fulfillment of the country's obligations under CITES, the 
Convention on Biological Diversity, and other treaties and international 
agreements.  
 
It shall have the following divisions; 
(1) Marine Protected Areas Division; 
(2) Marine Wildlife Rescue Centers; 
(3) CITES Management Authority; 
(4) Endangered Marine Species Captive Breeding Centers; 
(5) Endangered Marine Wildlife Research Center shall be the Department's 
CITES scientific authority which shall coordinate with academic institutions 
designated as scientific authorities; and 
(6) Biodiversity Division 
 
The Undersecretary for Operations shall have direct control and 
supervision over all regional offices and the following units and bureaus: 
(a) Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Inspection Service (FIQIS) – The 
FIQIS shall be responsible for the inspection and quarantine of all fishery 
related activities including the conduct of quarantine and quality inspection 
of all fish and aquatic products coming into and going out of the country by 
air or water transport to detect the presence of fish pest and diseases; the 
regular inspection of processing plants, storage facilities, abattoirs, as well 
as public and private markets in order to ensure freshness, safety and 
quality of products and to ensure that these products conform to the 
standards prescribed by the Department; and the quarantine of aquatic 
animals and fishery products determined or suspected to be with fishery 
pest and diseases and prevent the movement or trade from and/or into the 
country of these products so prohibited or regulated under existing laws, 
rules, or regulations and international agreements of which the Philippines 


Page 15 of 19 
 
is a State Party.  
 
It shall have the following units: 
 (1) Regional Fishery Inspection and Quarantine Offices; 
(2) Cyanide Detection Centers; 
(3) Product Standards Enforcement Division; and 
(4) Regional Fish Health Centers. 
(b) Bureau of Fishery Economics and Statistics (BEES) - The BFES shall be a 
line bureau responsible for establishing benchmark data on the structure of 
the fisheries industry. It shall conduct research and studies on the 
socioeconomics of various fishery operations, collect data on fishery 
production, and establish a network of fishery information, documentation 
and dissemination. 
 
 It shall have the following divisions: 
(1) Fishery Statistics Division; 
(2) Socio-economic Division; and 
(3) Fishery Information Division. 
 
SEC. 11. Regional Offices and Functions. - The Department shall have 
regional offices as may be necessary in the administrative regions, each to 
be headed by a Regional Director, who shall be assisted by an Assistant 
Regional Director. Each regional office shall have support staff as may be 
necessary and four (4) line divisions which shall have the following duties 
and responsibilities: 
 
(a) Provide efficient and effective frontline services to the fisheries sector, 
particularly to the municipal fishermen; 
(b) Implement in its area of jurisdiction the laws, policies, plans, programs, 
projects, rules, and regulations of the Department; 
(c) Coordinate with the regional office of other departments and agencies in 
the 
region; and 
(d) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by 
the 
Secretary. 
 
 


Page 16 of 19 
 
Sec. 12. Appointment And Qualification Of Directors. - The Directors of 
the Bureaus and Offices, and the Regional Directors shall be appointed by 
the Secretary, upon recommendation of the Undersecretaries concerned. 
The Directors must have   a degree in law or a Master of Science degree in 
marine fisheries, oceanography, fisheries biology, marine biology, fisheries 
technology, microbiology or related sciences, or public administration and 
at least five (5) years of experience, either in the public or private sector, in 
marine fisheries research and development or in the fisheries industry. 
 
SEC. 13. Abolition, Transfer, and Merger. - The Bureau of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources reconstituted by Republic Act No. 8550, is hereby 
abolished and its relevant functions, appropriations, records, properties, 
equipment, and personnel are hereby transferred to the Department of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: Provided, however, that no official or 
employee of the BFAR shall be laid off in the implementation of this section. 
 
The National and Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management 
Councils created by Republic Act No. 8550 shall be transferred to the Office 
of the Secretary of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The 
National Fisheries Research and Development Institute created by Republic 
Act No. 8550 is transferred to the Department and shall serve as its 
principal research arm. 
 
The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) created by 
Presidential 
Decree 
No. 
977, 
including 
its 
relevant 
functions, 
appropriations, records, properties, equipment, and personnel, is hereby 
transferred to the Department of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources as an attached agency under the Office of the Secretary: 
Provided, 
however, That the Secretary of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources shall be the new chairman of the Board: Provided, further, That 
no official or employee of the PFDA shall be laid off in the implementation 
of this Section. 
 
The Philippine 
Technical Advisory Committee of the SEAFDEC 
Aquaculture Department created under Executive Order No. 834 dated 04 
October 1982, including its relevant functions, appropriations, records, 
properties, equipment, and personnel, is hereby transferred and attached to 


Page 17 of 19 
 
the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: Provided, that no 
official or employee of the Board shall be laid off in the 
implementation of this Section. 
 
The fisheries-related functions of the Laguna Lake Development Authority 
(LLDA), including its relevant appropriations, records, and personnel, are 
hereby transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: 
Provided, however, That no official or employee of the LLDA shall be laid 
off in the implementation of this Section. 
 
 The Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development 
is abolished and all its functions, appropriations, records, property, 
equipment, and personnel are transferred to the National Fisheries Research 
and Development Institute of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources. 
 
All marine and coastal related projects and programs of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and all fisheries related 
functions of the DENR, except the enforcement of water pollution laws, 
rules, and regulations, are hereby transferred to the Department of Fisheries 
and Aquatic Resources. The fisheries related sections of the Bureau of 
Agricultural Research, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, and the 
Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture is hereby 
abolished, and all its appropriations, records, property, equipment, and 
personnel are transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources. 
 
SEC. 14. Transitory Provisions. - In creating and organizing the 
Department as 
herein prescribed, the following provisions shall be complied with: 
 
(a) The transfer of a government unit or agency shall include the functions, 
appropriations, funds, records, equipment, facilities, choses in action, rights, 
and other assets and liabilities, if any, of the transferred unit or agency as 
well as the personnel thereof, as may be necessary, who shall, pending 
reappointment, 
continue 
to 
perform 
their 
respective 
duties 
and 
responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and benefits in a 
holdover capacity. 


Page 18 of 19 
 
 
(b) The transfer of functions, which results in the abolition of the 
government unit or agency that has exercised them, shall include the 
appropriations, funds, records, equipment, facilities, choses in action, rights, 
other assets, and personnel, as may be necessary, for the proper discharge 
of the transferred functions. Its liabilities, if any, shall likewise be treated in 
accordance with the Government Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, 
rules, and regulations. Its personnel shall, pending reappointment, continue 
to perform their duties and responsibilities and receive the corresponding 
salaries and benefits in a hold-over capacity. 
 
SEC. 15. Organization Committee. - The duly appointed Secretary of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources shall immediately create an organization 
committee which shall study and formulate the staffing pattern, 
qualification standards, and placement of personnel in the Department, its 
services, bureaus, and offices. The Committee shall be composed of 
representatives from the Department of Budget and Management, Civil 
Service Commission, the fishery industry, and the academe. 
 
SEC. 16. Appropriations. - For the effective implementation of this Act, 
the amount of Five Billion Pesos (Ph5,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated 
from the unappropriated funds of the National Treasury, the current 
budgetary appropriations 
of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, including its regional 
offices, the appropriations of the Philippine Fisheries Development 
Authority, and the budgetary 
provision of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and 
Development. 
 
The amount necessary for the construction of a national office of the 
Department of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources equivalent to Five Hundred Million Pesos 
(P500, 
 000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated funds of the 
National 
Treasury. 
 
The revenues which the Department will generate from its licensing 


Page 19 of 19 
 
operations,the fees collected and the proprietary services delivered by the 
Department, and the administrative fines imposed by the National Fisheries 
Regulatory and Adjudication Board shall constitute the Department's 
revolving fund from which the amounts necessary to carry out special 
research 
projects, 
management 
and 
conservation 
programs, 
staff 
development programs, and acquisition of equipment, vessels, and 
aircraft for the Monitoring and Surveillance Center shall be taken: Provided, 
however, 
 
That the fishpond rentals shall accrue to the National Fisheries Research 
and Development Institute as provided under Section 46 (c) of Republic Act 
No. 8550. The use of such funds shall be subject to COA rules and 
regulations. 
 
SEC. 17. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or inoperative, the other provisions not so declared shall 
remain in force and effect. 
 
SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, administrative 
orders, and 
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
amended 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 19. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation. 
 
Approved,