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Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES oct ot
Quezon City Palle,

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Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

- 4939
HOUSE BILL NO.

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INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ISAGANI S. AMATONG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

No less than the Constitution itself provides that “the State shall protect the
rights of subsistence fishermen, especially of local communities, to the preferential
use of the communal marine and fishing resources, both inland and offshore.”
Furthermore, the State shall “provide support to such fishermen through appropriate
technology and research, adequate financial, production and marketing assistance,
and other services.”

Despite this constitutional mandate, however, there is a glaring inadequacy in
the number of our municipal fish ports. It is for this reason that the Philippine
Institute for Development Studies suggests that the national government should
prioritize the building of new ports in municipalities.

This bill seeks to establish a fish port in Barangay Macuyon, Municipality of
Sirawai, in the Province of Zamboanga del Norte. Its construction in the said coastal
barangay is feasible because of the rich marine resources in the area and that most of
its residents are small-time fisher folks who mainly rely on fish and marine resources
in and around the area for their livelihood and daily substinence.

The proposed fish port is not only expected to provide a simplified and
organized trading, but will facilitate easy handling of fishery products right from its
sources to the middlemen and to the consumers as well. It will also be a place for the
fishermen to refuel, resupply, and dry-dock their small fishing vessels.

Thus, this bill will promote the mandate of the Constitution and will provide new
economic opportunities for the residents of Barangay Macuyon.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bit no. 493 9

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ISAGANI S. AMATONG

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FISHPORT IN BARANGAY MACUYON,
MUNICIPALITY OF SIRAWAI, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. There shall be established, under the supervision of the
Department of Agriculture, through the Philippine Fisheries Development
Authority (PFDA), a fish port in Barangay Macuyon, Municipality of Sirawai, in
the Province of Zamboanga del Norte

SECTION 2. Within two (2) years after the construction of the fish port, the
PFDA, through a memorandum of agreement, shall transfer its management to
local government unit concerned. It shall implement a training and phasing-in
program for the local government personnel on the management and operation
of the fish port.

SECTION 3. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department's
programs the establishment of the fish port, the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The local government unit
concerned shall set aside funds from any available local revenue the amounts
necessary for the operation of the fish port.

SECTION 4. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture shall issue the rules and regulation on the
supervision, monitoring, and the transfer to the local government unit
concerned by the PFDA of the said fish port

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,