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THRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S.NO. 2522 
(In Substitution of SB Nos. 799,1743 and 1764, in consideration of H. No. 4067) 
Prepared by the Committees with Senators Villar, Roxas, Magsaysay, Jr. 
and its Members as authors thereof 
AN ACT 
DEFINING HANDLINE FISHING, PROVIDING EFFECTIVE 
REGULATIONS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Tifle. - This Act shall be known as “The Handline Fishing Law 
of 2006”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State: 
a. to promulgate specific policies and procedures governing handline fishing and 
utilization of handline fishing boats; 
b. to support the development of the handline fishing industry and promote the 
competitiveness, sustainability and social development of handline fishing 
and its allied industries; 
c. to strengthen existing rules and regulations governing handline fishing 
and ensure the safely and seaworthiness of handline fishing boats. 
SEC. 3. Handline Fishing, DeJined. - Handline fishing is a traditional fishing 
method that uses the hook and line, a passive fishing gear with a single vertical line carrying 
one hook and used by simply dropping the line into the water and waiting for the fish to bite. 
Handline fishing boat, on the other hand, refers to boat with or without outrigger 
and with or without auxiliary small boats on board that exclusively utilizes the traditional 
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fishing method. 


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SEC. 4. Handline Fishing Boat Documentation. The registration, inspection, 
manning and other documentation of handline fishing boats as flag boats shall be with the 
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), 
while the licensing 
and related 
documentation of said boats as fishing boats shall be with the Bureau of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources (BFAR). 
SEC. 5. Fklaing by Philippine Handline Fishing Boats in Internafional 
Waters.- 
Handline fishing boats of Philippine registry may operate in international 
waters or waters of other countries that allow such operations: Provided, That they 
comply with the appropriate and applicable safety, manning, radio communications and 
other standards and requirements geared at promoting seaworthiness: Provided, however, 
That they secure an appropriate international fishing permit and certificate of clearance 
from the BFAR Provided Jicrther, That the fish caught by handline fishing boats shall 
be considered as caught in Philippine waters and therefore not subject to all import duties 
and taxes when the same is landed in government designated fish landings and fish ports 
in the Philippines: Provided, $nuZZy, That fishermen on board Philippine registered 
handline fishing boats conducting fishing activities beyond the Philippine Exclusive 
Economic Zone are not considered as overseas Filipino workers. 
SEC. 6. Manning Complement of Handline Fishing Boats. - Every handline 
fishing boat of Philippine registry, except auxiliary boat, when actually operated, shall be 
manned in accordance with the following: 
(a.) The person holding the position of Boat Master shall be issued a Boat Captain 
License after submitting a Certificate of Engagement from the present boat 
owner whom he works with, Affidavit of boat owner taking the risk and 
responsibility for engaging the Boat Master, and Certificate of Completion for 
theoretical and practical training for all applicants to the position. The 
Identification Card of the Boat Master shall be stamped with the words 
“ONLY FOR HANDLINE FISHING BOAT”. 


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@.)The person holding the position of Boat Engineer shall be issued a Boat 
Engine Officer License after submitting a Certificate of Engagement from the 
present boat owner whom he works with, Affidavit of boat owner taking the 
risk and responsibility for engaging the Boat Engineer, and Certificate of 
Completion for theoretical and practical training for all applicants to the 
position. The Identification Card of the Boat Engineer shall be stamped with 
the words “ONLY FOR HANDLINE FISHING BOAT”. 
Provided, That upon approval of this Act, incumbent Boat Masters and Boat Engineers 
shall be issued their respective licenses after submission of their Certificate of 
Engagement, Affidavit of boat owner taking the risk and responsibility and Certificate of 
Completion for theoretical and practical training. Provided, further, That the Certificate 
of Completion for theoretical and practical training shall be complied within one (1) year; 
Provided, furthermore, That for handline fishing boats, the Boat Master, Boat Engineer 
and others required by the appropriate minimum safe manning document, shall also 
submit a copy of their respective Seaman’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB). 
SEC. 7. 
Construction of Handline Fishing Boats. - Existing and newly 
constructed handline fishing boats shall be admeasureare-admeasured and shall follow 
prepared boat plans based on the following: 
(a.) For boats of 5 gross tons and below including auxiliary boats, a picture and 
actual dimensions of the boat submitted by the owner or boat builder; 
(b.) For boats above 5 gross tons, the boat plan signed and sealed by a Naval 
Architect. However, boat plans complying with the dimensions and specifications of 
previously approved and sealed plans by a registered Naval Architect shall be considered 
as having been approved and sealed by a registered Naval Architect. 
SEC. 8. ImpIementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of the Department of 
Agriculture, within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, through a technical 
working committee composed of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), 
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), National 


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Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and other concerned government agencies, in 
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consultation with fisherfolk and handline fishing industry organizations and other 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations including but not limited 
to the the establishment of one-stop shop for the industry; provision for first aid, life saving 
and firefighting devices; 
operation of radio communication facilities; 
reportorial 
requirements and similar standards that promote seaworthiness for the full implementation 
of this Act. 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause - All existing laws, decrees, executive orders and rules 
and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SEC. 10. Effectiviw. - This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever 
comes first. 
Approved,