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Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
‘Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6493

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Abulug lies between the municipalities of Ballesteros and Pamplona on the
Northwestern part of Cagayan along the China Sea. It has been a flourishing fishing
village long before Don Juan Salcedo sailed to the mouth of Abulug River in 1572

Fish is one of the important industrial products of Abulug. However, the primitive
practices of the fishermen vis-a-vis the lack of scientific knowledge in the maintenance,
preservation, and conservation of fisheries and aquatic resources led to the damage of
its natural resources. Furthermore, the livelinood of the farmers greatly suffered.

Measures have to be put in place to prevent further destruction of our fisheries and
aquatic resources without sacrificing the plight of fishermen in the area. Article Il,
Section 7 of the 1986 Philippine Constitution specifically provides this protection:

“Section 7. 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. It shall provide
support to such fishermen through appropriate technology and research,
adequate financial, production, and marketing assistance, and other
services. The State shall also protect, develop, and conserve such
resources. The protection shall extend to offshore fishing grounds of
subsistence fishermen against foreign intrusion. Fish workers shall receive
a just share from their labor in the utilization of marine and fishing
resources.”

Hence, there is a need to establish a fishery research center in the Municipality of
Abulug complete with technologically-advanced features and modern scientific
equipment, which shall facilitate, monitor, and implement various research needs and
activities of the fisheries sector. Likewise the center will provide a venue for intensive
training and development of human resources in the field of fisheries, a repository of all
fisheries researches and scientific information. It will also benefit the fishermen in the
neighboring shore-towns of Ballesteros, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Claveria, Sta
Paxedes, and the Babuyan Islands, and even the Aparri in the First District of Cagayan


This bill seeks to establish a Fisheries Research Center in the Municipality of Abulug
with the aim of improving the Fishery Industry in the Second District of Cagayan. It has
been filed during the 15” Congress, favorably acted by the concerned Committee,
approved by the House on Third and Final Reading, and consequently transmitted to
the Senate for its action. It was also favorably acted by the concerned Senate
Committee but its consequent approval by the Senate was stalled by the sine die
adjournment of the 15" Congress.

Hence, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Me tree) Afinl



Republic ofthe Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.___6 49

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FISHERIES RESEARCH CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
ABULUG IN THE SECOND DISTRICT OF CAGAYAN AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. There shall be established under the supervision of the Department of
Agriculture, a fisheries research center in the Municipality of Abulug, in the Province of
Cagayan.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department's program for the
establishment of the said fisheries research center, 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 revenues in an amount
deemed for its operationalization

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,