CEMEO

Republic of the Philippines 22 AUG 2016

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Quezon City

17™ CONGRESS
1 Regular Session

321i

House Bill No,

Introduced by EMMANUEL A. BILLONES

Explanatory Note

The even distribution of rainfall throughout the year makes Roxas City and the
Province of Capiz highly suitable for agriculture and aquaculture industries. Its
waters teem with the best gifts of the sea—blue marlin, tuna, prawns and shrimps,
crabs, eel, shellfish and other marine species. Prawns and milkfish are also cultured
in fishponds.

The vibrant economy of Roxas City rests on its food production and processing
especially marine products. The fishing port at Barangay Libas provides anchorage
and center for trade and marine products. There are also several sophisticated food-
processing plants in the city exporting their products to Japan, the United States and
European countries. The abundance of marine products has earned Roxas City the
moniker “Seafood Capital of the Philippines.”

Thus, the establishment of a fisheries and aquatic resource center in Roxas City is,
indeed imperative to complement or complete the existing circumstances and
prerequisites of being a total seafood capital of the Philippines.

The center will provide technical assistance and services to the fishery sector not
only in Roxas City but also in the whole province of Capiz. It shall set the directions,
objectives, and the operations of many fishing activities. It will engage in technology,
research and development in the field of fishery, and streamline all concems of
fisheries and aquatic sectors.

This bill was filed during the Thirteenth Congress and was approved on third reading
by the House of Representatives. It was subsequently transmitted to the Senate for
concurrence but the dearth of time had impeded the approval of the said bill. Thus,
the refilling of this bill is needed and its immediate approval is earnestly sought.

Suelo au xf
EMMANUEL A. BILLONES

Representative
1" District, Capiz

{bil fsheriesBaquatiieey



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17™ CONGRESS

1 Regular Sessi
3571
House Bill No.

Introduced by EMMANUEL A. BILLONES

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES CENTER IN THE
CITY OF ROXAS, PROVINCE OF CAPIZ, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled

SECTION 1. There is hereby established, under the supervision of the Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture, a fisheries and
aquatic resources center in the City of Roxas, Province of Capiz.

SECTION 2. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department's
program the funding requirements for the establishment and operation of the
fisheries and aquatic resources center in the City of Roxas, Province of Capiz.
Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued operation and
maintenance shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 3. This Secretary of Agriculture shall issue such rules and
regulations necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act.

SECTION 4, This Act shall take effect upon its approval

Approved,