NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
SENATE
S. No. 2705
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24 JIJN-4 P3:06
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Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FISHERFOLK RESETTLEMENT AREAS 
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN 
SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF 
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
UNITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SEC. 108 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
8550, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 
1998," AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10654
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to the preliminary estimates on poverty incidence from the Philippine 
Statistics Authority (PSA), fisherfolk are the poorest among basic sectors1. Fisherfolk 
ranked highest in terms of proportion of individuals belonging to families with income 
falling below official poverty thresholds compared with other basic sectors. The 
poverty incidences of the poorest in the basic sectors as follows: Fisherfolk at 30.6%, 
Farmers at 30%, Children at 26.4%, and Individuals Residing in Rural Areas at 25.7%. 
The PSA has likewise emphasized in the same report that the poverty incidence among 
fisherfolk has increased by 4.4 percentage points from 26.2% in 2018.
Almost three decades since the enactment of Republic Act No. 8550 or the 
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, the establishment of settlement areas for our 
fisherfolk remain delayed. Fisherfolk are reliant on coastal resources for their 
subsistence and livelihood. But the Philippines, which is frequently hit by typhoons and
1 Philippine Statistics Authority. (2023 March 24). Fisherfolks and Farmers Remain to Have the Highest 
Poverty Incidences Among the Basic Sectors in 2021 [Press Release]. 
https://psa.gov.ph/system/files/phdsd/Press%20Release_5%20%281%29.pdf


natural disasters, expose fisherfolk to risks that endanger their lives and their source 
of income. The lack of a settlement area situated in a secure zone yet close to vital 
livelihood areas exacerbates the difficulties encountered by our fisherfolk, as the 
absence of adequate shelter could worsen the following issues: (i) poor sanitation 
which could affect their health and lead them to spend a significant portion of their 
earnings on medical expenses; (ii) increased vulnerability from informal and insecure 
settlements, forcing them to move farther from their source of livelihood; and (iii) 
formal access to basic services such as in health and education which could further 
marginalize these individuals. These only exacerbate their situations and continue the 
cycle of poverty.
Under this proposed measure, the Department of Agriculture, the Department 
of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the Department of Environment and 
natural Resources, and Local Governments of Cities or Municipalities exercising 
jurisdiction over coastal areas and municipal waters are mandated to identify, 
establish, and create settlement areas which have adequate access to fishing grounds. 
It likewise provides that fisherfolk shall be granted preference in the award of 
settlement rights for previously identified or established settlement areas with 
adequate fishing grounds. Furthermore, the proposed measure provides that the 
establishment of settlement areas shall be in favor of fisherfolk registered with their 
respective city or municipality and who are without real property. Local Government 
Units are likewise mandated that for those exercising jurisdiction over coastal areas 
and municipal waters are mandated to integrate fisherfolk settlement areas within 
their respective comprehensive land use plans.
Beyond the provision of a secure and dignified settlement, this proposed 
measure will be an avenue by which we can break the cyclical nature of poverty among 
our fisherfolk by also ensuring comprehensive health, social, and economic 
development for them and their families.
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
L
GGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
S. No.
)
SENATE
2705
,1 
ai.
of!. •;
24 JLIN-4 P3:06
RI.CL! J15.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FISHERFOLK RESETTLEMENT AREAS 
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN 
SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF 
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
UNITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SEC. 108 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
8550, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 
1998," AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10654
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 108 of Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as "The
2 
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998", as amended by Republic Act No. 10654, is hereby
3 
amended to read as follows:
4 
"SEC. 108. Fisherfoik Resettlement Areas. - [The Department shall
5 
establish and create fisherfoik settlement areas in-coordination with concerned
6 
agencies-of the government, where certain areas of-the public domain7
7 
specifically near the fishing grounds, shall be reserved for the settlement of the
8 
municipal fisherfoik. Nothing in this section shall bo construed to vest ownership
9 
of any resettlement area to a municipal fisherfoik for whom said areas may
10 
have been reserved for or had been actually granted to.] THE DEPARTMENT
11 
OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND
12 
URBAN DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND
13 
NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF CITIES
14 
OR MUNICIPALITIES EXERCISING JURISDICTION OVER COASTAL


1 
AREAS AND MUNICIPAL WATERS, SHALL IDENTIFY, ESTABLISH, AND
2 
CREATE SETTLEMENT AREAS WHICH HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO
3 
FISHING GROUNDS: PROVIDED, THAT IN PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED
4 
OR ESTABLISHED SETTLEMENT AREAS WITH ADEQUATE FISHING
5 
GROUNDS, FISHERFOLK SHALL 
BE GRANTED PREFERENCE IN THE
6 
AWARD OF SETTLEMENT RIGHTS THEREAT: PROVIDED, FURTHER,
7 
THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SETTLEMENT AREAS SHALL BE IN
8 
FAVOR OF FISHERFOLK WHO ARE REGISTERED AS SUCH WITH THEIR
9 
RESPECTIVE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY AND WHO ARE WITHOUT REAL
10 
PROPERTY: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS
11 
EXERCISING JURISDICTION OVER COASTAL AREAS AND MUNICIPAL
12 
WATERS ARE HEREBY MANDATED TO INTEGRATE SETTLEMENT
13 
AREAS FOR FISHERFOLK IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPREHENSIVE
14 
LAND USE PLANS".
15 
Sec. 2. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared
16 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
17 
Sec. 3. Repeating Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
18 
other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
19 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
20 
Sec. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
21 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,