Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 896

Introduced by Honorable Gerardo “Gerryboy” J. Espina, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally filed in the 18 and 19% Congresses. It was approved
by the House and was transmitted and received by the Senate. After thorough
deliberations, the Senate committee referred the bill for the 2nd reading. However,
the Senate failed to act on the approval of the said measure during the last Congress.
Hence, it is now being re-filed in the 20th Congress.

Biliran, aside from being a coastal municipality, one of the main sources and
livelihoods of the people, is fishing for marine creatures like shrimp, crabs, shells,
seaweeds, and squids. As the years went by, fish were in real short supply, and
fisherfolks had to go far off the coast to find fish. Admittedly, our marine resources
may not be sustainably available since the resource competition is intense. To
mitigate the impact of resource depletion, technologies that enhance stocks of high-
value marine commodities could be promoted by establishing a multi-species marine
hatchery in areas where it is most likely to succeed and where resource end-users
can benefit the most from these facilities.

The bill seeks to establish a multi-species marine hatchery in the municipality
of Biliran to catalyze the development of aquaculture in the Municipality and the
whole province, which can provide both direct and indirect employment to its
people. The DA-BFAR's mandate includes the popularization of aquaculture and
similar endeavors, the task of managing and sustaining a multi-species marine
hatchery, particularly in Biliran, Biliran. While the Biliran Province State University
(BiPSU), Biliran campus, where the location and human resources are readily
available, can be tapped to benefit the local community and the whole province of
Biliran as well.

The DA-BFAR in Region VIII has selected BiPSU, Biliran campus, as the only
feasible location to start with a multi-species marine hatchery, which fortunately, the
said university has a 1-hectare brackish fishpond, a multi-species hatchery, and a fish
cage used for instruction, research, production, and extension services.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 895

Introduced by Honorable Gerardo “Gerryboy” J. Espina, Jr.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF BILIRAN, PROVINCE OF BILIRAN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
‘THEREFOR

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 Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA), a multi-
species marine hatchery in the Municipality of Biliran, Province of Biliran.

SEC. 2. Prior to the establishment of the multi-species marine hatchery, the BFAR-
DA shall conduct a full-scale Feasibility Study in the Biliran Province State University
(BiPSU), Biliran Campus, Municipality of Biliran, Province of Biliran, in support of its
construction to comply with the requirements of the Department of Budget Management

SEC. 3. Within two (2) years after the construction of the multi-species marine
hatchery, the BFAR-DA shall transfer the management to the BiPSU through a
memorandum of agreement. It shall implement a training and phasing-in program for
BIPSU personnel on the management and operation of the hatchery.

The BFAR-DA and the BIPSU shall conduct continuing research and
experimentation on the breeding and production of marine species, especially as they
apply to local conditions, to discover new methods and technology that shall benefit the
fisheries industry. Furthermore, they shall develop an extension program that shall cater
to the marginal fisherfolk on the propagation of high-value marine species.


SEC. 4. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department's programs the
conduct of the feasibility study and the consequent establishment of a multi-species marine
hatchery in the Municipality of Biliran, Province of Biliran, the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The BIPSU shall set aside funds from
any available revenue in an amount deemed appropriate for the operationalization of the
hatchery.

SEC. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the Department of
Agriculture and the BIPSU shall issue the rules and regulations on the establishment,
supervision, operation, monitoring, and the eventual transfer of the management of the
multi-species marine hatchery to the BIPSU.

SEC. 6. This Act shalll take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in national newspaper of general circulation.
Approved.