Republic of the Philippines
‘ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hill, Quezon City

15" CONGRESS
2" Regutar Session

House sito, 4942

Introduced by: REP. AGAPITO H. GUANLAQ

On September 22, 2007 a fishkill in Camarines Sur’s Lake Buhi threatened the
livelihood of local fishermen. This was due the loosened sulfur dioxide from surrounding
volcanoes os a result of heavy monsoon rains according to an agency concemed. The fishkill
affected 67.762 people and 13, 238 families residing within in the lake area, On October 10,
2010, reports had it that ai fish kill involving hundreds of los of tilapia and bangus in Laguna
Lake was dure to a chemical spill caused by a liquor and wine distillery In the area of Cabuyao,
Laguna.

The latest of the fish kills occurred in Taal Loke on June 2011. Fish cage owners in the
Taal Lake alone in the province of Batangas fost over 370 tons that translates to around Piso
trillion due to the fish kill incident. The fish Rill according to the Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is a “phenomenon”, but directly links the occurrence to overstoching
of fish coges and the use of environmentally unsound production processes. The BFAR could
‘only react to the situation as it proposes water quality monitoring as apparently the solution
to the long-standing problem.

The importance of Philippine Latees

There are 241 lakes in the Philippines, ten (10) listed as Major Lakes, as follows:

Lake Location Area (he)
Loguna de Bay Laguna and Rizal 89,076
Lake Lana Lanoo del Sur 34,000
Taal Lake Batongas 24,356
Lake Mainit: Surigao de! Norte-Agusan 17,430
Naujon Lake: ‘Orlental Mindoro: 7899
Lake Buluom South Cotabato 6.134
Lake Bato Camarines Sur 3792
Lake Pagusi Agusan 2534
Lake Labas South Cotabato 24a
Lake Lumao Agusan 168

The total area of these 241 lakes Is around 200,000 hectares, with the ten (10) major
lakes occupying about 185,352 hectares, that have long been tapped for fishery production,
Power generation, irrigation. Lake fishery — tilapia and bangus — is sald to contribute to about
15% of the ccumtry’s total production, not to mention the equally important production of
certain species enclemic to particular lakes such as the “twilis” and "maliputo" in Taal Lakes


and “cosili* in Lake Matnit in Surigao del Norte. Other Important uses of lakes is its capability
to supply potable water to the entire Philippine population that now reaches about 90 million
and its use In power generation ond to mention, lakes are tourist destinations.

The Urgency for Managing Philippine Lakes

The latest Taal Lake fish kill underscores the need for effecting effective management
of the country’s lakes and their ecosystems. The need for regulation of economic activities, the
empowerment of all its stakeholders for equitable distribution of wealth and income from
bakes, the protection and conservation efforts have proven urgent.

The major issues and challenges, according to Rafael D. Guerro Ill of the Philippme
Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCMARD) are of the nature akin
to environmental, social and Institutional. Environment issues comprise degradation of lake
ecosystems and loss of biodiversity; social ond economic issues of decreasing Incomes of fisher
folk and conflicts arising from the use of lakes and its resources; and, the lack of management
systems and weak support mechanisms os institutional issues.

This Representation believes that the development of Philippine fakes require
comprehensive intervention that includes the formulation of a common ond comprehensive
development framework, This framework should encompass regulation of economic and other
uses of lakes; the protection and conservation of lake resources ond ecosystems; and,
monagement.and governance. Needless to say that Philippine Lakes deserve equal
development focus from the government.

This proposed legislative measure integrates all development initiatives of stakeholders
in addressing Issues and concerns of developing Philippe lakes in a manner that is
comprehensive, It seeks to harmonize the existing processes and ail other development
interventions through the creation ond establishment of the Philippine Laie Resources
Development and Management Council (PLRDMC).

This Representation strongly believes that the matter of attaining comprehensive
Philippine Lakes development could only be attained through the creation of the PLRDMC.
‘Thus, the enactment of this piece of legislation & ardently sought for.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batosen Hills, Quezon City

18" CONGRESS
t Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 4941

Introduced by: REP. AGAPITO H. GUANLAO

AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE LAMES RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND
MANAGEMENT COBNCIL AND PROVIDING FONDS THEREFOR

Article I: This Act shall be known as the Philippine Lakes Development Act of 2010 or an
Act Creating the Philippine Lakes Resources ond Development Council and
Providing Funds Therefor

Article tk Declaration of Policy — It s hereby declared the policy of the State:

a. to provide for a common framework for the comprehensive or holistic
development of Philippine Lakes ;

b, to achieve food security and the effective use of other potentiots of

: Phillppine lakes as the overriding consideration in the utilization,
management, development conservation and protection of lahes in
order to provide the food and other needs of the population. The
protection and preservation of the economic and livelihood viability of
Philippine lakes through the protection and conservation of lake
ecosystems and the maintenance of its ecological balance:

« to limit access to Philippine lakes for the exclusive use and enjoyment of
Filipino citizens;

d, to ensure the rational and sustainable development, management and
conservation of fakes in the Philippines, consistent with the primordial
objective of maintaining a sound ecological balance, protecting and
enhancing the quality of the environment;

e, to provide support to the lakes’ fishery sector, primarily to the
fisherfolk, including women and youth sectors, through appropriate
technology and research, adequate financial, production, construction of
post-harvest facilities, marketing assistance, and other services. Lake
workers shall receive a just share for their labor in the utilization of
fishery resources;

f. to mamage lake-fisheries and the utilization of its resources for other

uses, in a manner consistent with the concept of an integrated lake area:
. Tmanogement, appropriately supported by research, technical services
‘and guidance provided by the State; ond,

g@ to grant the private sector the privilege to utilize fishery and other
Potential economic and socal uses of lake resources.


The State shall ensure the attainment of the following objectives of lake fishery and its
other uses through:

L

Conservation, protection and sustained management of the coumtrys takes
ecosystems and its resources;

Poverty alleviation and the provision of supplementary livelihood among
fisherfolk and lake shore communities;

improvement of productivity of aquaculture and other economic ond socal
uses within the lates ecological limits;

Upgrading of post-harvest technology; and,

Regulation and monitoring of all economic activities in the lake areas,

Artide lI Creation of the Philippine Lakes Resources Development and Management
‘Council (PLRDMC)

Section 1. There is hereby created under the office of the President, a Philippine
Lakes Resources Development and Management Council (PLDC) solely
for the purpose of attending to the needs for the development of lake-
fishing industry and the regulation, monitoring and development of
other uses and socio-economic activities within Philippine lakes that shall
have the following functions:

a. set and recommend policies and formulate standards for the
effective, efficient, economical and environmentally sound
operations of lake-fishing industry in accordance with the
programs of the government;

« set and recommend policies and formulate standards for the
effective and economical and efficent operations of other uses of
Philippine lake resources in accordance with the government
programs;

d. exercise overall supervision over all functions and activities of all
‘other bodies concerned with the development of Philippine lakes;

2 establish, with the assstance of the Department of the
Agriculture, create Municipal and or City Lake Resources
Development Councils os may be necessary and appropriate and
organize the intemal structure of the PLRDMC in such manner as
is necessary in the efficient and affective attainment of its
objectives and purposes; and

perform such other functions as maybe necessary or proper to
attain the objectives of this Act.

Section Il Composition of the Philippine Lakes Resources Development and
Management Council (PLRDMC)

a. The Philippine Lokes Resources Development and Management Council
(PLRDMC) shail be composed of the following:

1, the Secretary of Agriculture, as chairman;
2. the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government;
3._ five (5) members representing the fisherfolk and fishworkers.


b.

Section Hl.

Section 1,

a

Section VI.

>

. five (5) members representing the lake-fishery operators and the
processing sectors:

5. A representative each from sectors using Jakes other than fishery:

6 two (2) members from the academe: and

7. one (1) representative of NGO Involved In lake-development

The Council shall hove a Secretariat and a Central Office located in Manila,

The members of the PLDC, except for the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the interior and focal Govemmment, shall serve for a term of
‘three (3) years without reappointment.

Functions of the PLROMC. - The PLRDMC shall have the following functions:

asskt_ in the formulation of national policies for the protection,
sustainable development and management of lakes and its resources for
the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture;

‘assist the Office of the President in the preparation of a National Lakes
Resources Management and Development Plan: and

perform such other functions as may be provided by low.

The Municipal/City Lake Resources Development and Management
Councils (M/CLRDMC3). - The M/CLRDMCs shall be created in each of
the municipalities and cities abutting mojor lakes, However, the LGU
may create the some whenever necessary,

Functions of the M/CLROMC%.- The MICLRDMCS shall exercse the
following functions:

@& —_ assist in the preparation of the Lake Resources Development and
Management Pian and submit such plant to the Municipal
Development Council;

b. Tecommend the enactment of lake-fishery ordinances to the
sangguning = bayan/sangguniang = panlungsod through its
‘Committee on Fisheries;

ca ‘assist in the enforcement of laws, rules and regulations on lakes:

d advise the sangguniang bayan/paniungsod on lake-fishery and
matters of its other uses thru its Committee on Fisheries. if such as
been organized; and

e perform such other functions which may be assigned by the
senggumiang Mayon/panlungsod.

Composition of the M/CFARMC.- The regular members of the
MICFARMGS shall be composed of:

Municipal/City Planning Development Officer; as chairperson
Chairperson, Agricuiture/Fishery Committee of the Sanggumicn
Bayem/Panlumgsod:

Tepresentative of the Municipal/City Development Cound:
Tepresentative from the accredited non-government orgemization:
representative from the private sector;

. Fepresentative from the Department. of Agriculture; and,

ne

aoe


7. at least ten (10) (1) fisherfolk representatives, , one (1) fishworker
and three (2) representatives each from youth and women sector.

The Council shall adopt rules and requiations necessary to govem its proceedings.

ARTICLE tv,

ARTICLE V.

ARTICLE VI.

Appropriations. - The Philippine Lakes Resources Development and
Management Council shall be appropriated an Initial One Hundred Million
(P100,000,000) Pesos for its initial operations ond all other subsequent
requirements for its continued operations shall be part of the General
Appropriations Act.

Separability Clouse. it omy port or provision of this Act be declared
unconstitutional, the other ports or provisions hereof which are not affected
thereby, shall continue in full force and effect.

Effectivity Clause, This Act shail take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at feast two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.