Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBi||N®.930i
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO,
|0CELYN P. TULFO, ERWIN T. TULFO, EDVIC G. YAP, AND ERIC G0 YAP
AN ACT DEFINING AND PROVIDING FOR MORE SEVERE PENALTIES FOR
LARGE-SCALE EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION 0F CORALS AND
CORAL REEFS, TAKING ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND OTHER SIMILAR
ACTS 0F DESTRUCTION 0F MARINE RESOURCES, FURTHER AMENDING
FOR THIS PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS 0F REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8550,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 1998, AS
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10654
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The vitality of Philippine biodiversity and marine life relies on the crucial support
of  coral  and  coral  reefs.  They  sustain  diverse  marine  species,  safeguard  natural
resources, and support local livelihoods while combating global climate change. It is
a  global  responsibility  to  protect  these  ecosystems  from  threats,  damage,  and
destruction, benefiting the Philippine marine life, economy, and global ecology.
However, corals and coral reefs remain highly vulnerable due to irresponsible
fishing methods and practices that exacerbate the fragility of reef ecosystems.
By amending Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as the ``Philippine Fisheries
Code of 1998'', this bill seeks to impose higher fines and longer years of imprisonment
for the punishable act of endangering species and marine resources for the purpose of
promoting sustainable fisheries  management and  preserving marine biodiversity.
More  crucially,  these  stringent  measures  ensure  the  active  participation  of  the
Philippines in embodying environmental stewardship and sustainability.
foregoing, the urgent
`:-::i#::
In view o
RALPH
ELP.TULF0      JOC
tative
2.nd District Of Quezon Ctry
of this bill is earnest
Rapresen
ACT-CIS Partyitst
1
CT-CIS


Representative
Lone District of Benguet


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTII CONGRESS
Second Reguidr Session
+`PHouseBinNo.9301
INTRODUCEI) BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH l^7ENDEL P. TULFO,
]OCELYN P. TULFO, ERWIN T. TULFO, EDVIC G. YAP, AND ERIC G0 YAP
AN ACT DEFINING AND PROVIDING FOR MORE SEVERE PENALTIES FOR
LARGE-SCALE EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION OF CORALS AND
CORAL REEFS, TAKING ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND 0TIIER SIMILAR
ACTs oF DESTRucrloN oF MARINE RESoURCES, FURTIIER AMENDING
FOR THIS PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS 0F REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8550,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE FISIIERIES CODE OF 1998, AS
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10654
Be it enacted ly the Senate and the House Of Rapresentatives Of the Pldippines in Congress
assembled:
SEcrloN 1. Section 92 of Republic Act No. 8550, as amended by Republic Act No.
10654, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
"Ekef ion 92.. Fishing Though Explosives, Noxious or Pvisorous Substance, or Electricdy. -
RE
Upon conviction by court of law, the offender shall be punished with imprisorment
from :IvyELVE (12) TO TWEr`rlTY (20) YEARS [fivc (5) to ten (10) ycrm], confiscation
of catch,  including  those  not  caucht  inegally  if ccrmingled  with  those  caught
illegally, explosives, and noxious or poisonous substances, or electrofishing devices
and  paraphernalia,  gear,  and  a  fine  equivalent  to  twice  the  alnount  Of  the
administrative fine, without prgivdice to the filing of separate criminal cases when
the use Of the same result to physical ilTjury or loss of human life."


SEC. 2. Section 96 of the same Code, as amended, is hereby further amended to read
as follows:
"Secfuon 96. Ban on Coral Exploittlfron and Exportation. -
X"
Upon conviction by a court Of law, the boat captain, master fishermarty and recrulter
or organizer of fishworkers shall be punished by imprisonment from ten (10) years
to twenty (20) years and a fine equivalent to twice the administrative fine and
forfeitue   Of   the   subject   corals.   HOWEVER,   FOR   LARGE€CAIE   CORAL
FXpljoITAITON, TIE PUNISIRENT SIIALI. BE IAffilsoNhAINT AND.. T|H
FINE AS HEREINPFFORE PROVIDED. FOR TEE PURPOSE OF "IS CODE, TIH
TERM `I.ARGE SCAIE' SHALL COVER CORAI]S, EXTRACTED OR EXELOITED,
WEIGHITNG Norr TESS TIIAN TEN (10\ [GILOGRAMS._
The offender shall be required to pay the cost of restoration of the damaged coral
reefs based on available studies and as determined by the Department."
SEC 3. Section 97 of the same Code, as amended, is hereby further amended to read
as follows:
``Seedon 97. Ban on Murun:nd, Other Methods and Gear Destructive to Carat Reefe and
Other Ma:wine Halritat. -
XXX
Upon conviction by a court of law, the boat captain, master fisherman, and recruiter
or organizer Of fishworkers shall be punished with imprisonment of two (2) years to
ten (10) years and a fine equivalent to twice the amount of the administrative fine.
LARGEi5CALE DESIRUCTION OF CORAI.S, CORAL REEFS, AND SEAGRASS
BEDs, TliRouGI{ `MURCLANI' ACITvrlTES, IrowEVER, sllALL BE p[INlsRED
]^qTII IMPRIsoNhAINT FROM FORTy (4P) ¥EARs Ilo LIFE ThffRlsor`thAINL
oR A FINE FROM ONE nAILLloN PESoS (PIIfl,000000.00\ To TEN NILLloN
4


ppsos (plm.a,ooo,ooo.oo), oR BOTH SUCII FINE AND IhffilsoNIffiNT,. __AI
TliE DISCREIION OF IIiE COURT."
Xex
SEC. 4. Section 102 of the same Code, as amended, is hereby further amended as
follows:
"Sac:honTfxLFishingorTald:ngOfRa:re,Threatened,orEndangeredSpecies.-
XXX
Upon conviction by a court of law, the offender shall be punished by imprisorment
of TWENTY (`20) YEARS TO FORTY (.40) YEARS [tndve (12) ycrmi md one (1) day
to twenty (20) ycars] and a fine equivalent to twice the administrative fine, forfeiture
Of the species, and the cancdlation Of fishing permit."
XXX
SEC. 5. Section 125 of RA No. 8550, as amended, is hereby further amended to read
as follows:
"Seehor\125.Strengtheningprosecationandcon:victionofviolatorsofFisheryl±avs.-The
Department  of  Justice  (DOJ)  shall  embark  on  a  program  to  strengthen  the
prosecution  and  conviction  aspects  of  fishery  law  enforcement  through  the
augmentation of the cunent complement of state prosecutors and through their
continuous training and reorientation on fishery laws, rules, and regulations.
TIH DEPARTRENT SHALL IIREWISE mffLEhAII\IT A SYSTEM OF REwrARD
AND  INCENHVES  FOR  TTH  LAW  ENFQRCEREI`IT  OFFICERS  AND/OR
INFORMANTS OF VIOLATORS OF THS CODE. TIH AMOUNT OF MONETARY
REWARD IF ANY SHALL NOT BE MORE TIIAN FiFrEEN PERCENT
IIxp   rmNIMUM   IMrosABLE   FINE,   AND   SIIALL   BE   PAID   wlTHouT
NECESSARYDELAY,TOTHEPROPERRECIPHI\ITS?HI\ITS,UTREFILINGOFTIH


p`prppMAHON wlTII A cchffl|ENT coilRT, OR UPON TliE IssuANCE. c]F
A coMh4rrMENT ORDER IN CASE OF LAWFUL WARRANTLEss ARREsl..
SEC.6.£jreed.t„.ty.-ThisActshalltakeeffectfifteen(15)daysafteritspublicationin
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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