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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City “
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

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HOUSE BILL NO. 5006

Introduced by AGRI PARTYLIST
Representative Orestes T. Salon and Representative Delphine Gan Lee

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create a center for the conservation of the Sinarapan fish
species and to provide measures for their protection.

Probably one of the most unusual freshwater fishes found anywhere in the
world, the Sinarapan or Tabios is endemic to Lake Buhi and Lake Bato in the
Camarines Sur Province. It was first discovered in 1902 where it was described as the
smallest known vertebrate. Extensive research showed that the biggest Sinarapan
specimen only grew as big as 15 millimeters with an average length of only 12.5
millimeters. The Sinarapan is unique among the fish species of the world. It is the
only known species of goby known to exist only in freshwater.

Sinarapan is an important food source for the Bicolano fishermen. These are
caught in big quantities and then dried to make a meal called hadi. Sinarapan are also
fried in oil, or boiled with vegetables, and have a delicious flavor. When more are
caught than the local market demands, the surplus are salted or dried in cakes and
exported to the neighboring towns in Camarines Sur and Albay Provinces.'

However, badi is no longer served in the native restaurants. Years of neglect
and abuse have seriously depleted the population of the Sinarapan, which are found
nowhere else on the planet. Moreover, the introduction of various non-native fish has
also been a factor in depleting the numbers of Sinarapans to at times critically low

levels. It is now considered an endangered species” and is in dire need of protection.

| hutp://Avww.aenet.org/voleano/sinarap.him.
? Endangered Wildlife and Plants of the World, Anne Hildyard, Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2001


Studies conducted by Dr. Victor Soliman showed that Sinarapan can still be
found in Lakes Buhi and Bato. The fish now thrives in Lakes Manapao, Katugday and
Makuwaw, which are tarns or mountain lakes in Mt. Asog in Buhi, Camarines Sur.
The fish stock in Lakes Buhi and Bato has not recovered significantly from the
adverse effects of overfishing. There are intrinsic and extrinsic factors that can explain
ock had

the low population of Sinarapan in Lakes Buhi and Bato. Primarily, the s
experienced the immediate and lagged effects of biological overfishing of various
forms — growth, recruitment and ecosystem. In growth overfishing, very high
proportion of immature Sinarapan was caught or died from fishing operations.
Recruitment overfishing results from excessive proportion of adults being fished or
dying in fishing.

Hence this measure which seeks to conserve the Sinarapan species through the
creation of the Center for the Conservation of the Sinarapan and by providing
measures and prohibitions that will aid in the preservation efforts for this national
treasure.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly and earnestly

recommended.

—aie_ 4
REP. ORESTES T. SALON REP. Kee GAN LEE

v


REN

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
t Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5006

Introduced by AGRI PARTYLIST
Representative Orestes T. Salon and Representative Delphine Gan Lee

AN ACT
CREATING A CENTER FOR THE CONSERVATION
OF THE SINARAPAN FISH SPECIES AND PROVIDING MEASURES FOR
THEIR PROTECTION
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Sinarapan

Protection Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~It is the policy of the State to protect and
advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the
rhythm and harmony of nature. It is also the policy of the State to conserve the
country’s wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainability. Towards this end, the

State shall:

(A) Conserve and protect the Sinarapan fish species and their habitats to

promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversi

(B) _ Regulate the collection and trading of Sinarapan;


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(C) Pursue, with due regard to the national interest, the Philippine
commitment to international obligations, particularly those concerning the
protection of wildlife and their habitat; and

(D) Initiate and support scientific studies on the conservation of the

Sinarapan.

For purposes of this Act, the term “Sinarapan” or “Tabios” refers to a species
of fresh water fish or goby endemic to the Philippines and is scientifically known as

Mistichthys luzonensis.

SECTION 3.Center for the Conservation of the Sinarapan. ~ There is hereby
created a Center for the Conservation of the Sinarapan, hereinafter referred to as the
“Center” under the supervision of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
The Center is hereby authorized to organize and establish a technical staff composed
of qualified personnel and may hire the services of experts and consultants, both local
and foreign. Further, it may enlist the services of government officials and employees

as may be necessary.

SECTION 4 . Powers and Functions of the Center. — For the implementation
of the purposes and objectives of this Act, the Center shall have the following

functions:

(A) _ Initiate programs and projects as may be necessary for the conservation
and protection of the Sinarapan fish species and coordinate the

implementation thereof;


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(B) Coordinate programs as may be required including the delineation of
any areas within the Sinarapan fish habitat to ensure the survival of the
species;

(C) Accept donations in cash or in kind from domestic and international

sources in support of its activities subject to the appropriate rules of the

(D) Initiate programs and activities geared towards encouraging the active

participation and involvement of the civil society groups, private sector and
the academe in the conservation efforts of the Center;

(E) Enter, make and execute contracts of any kind as may be necessary or

incidental to the attainment of its purposes with any person or corporation;

(F) _ Call on any government agency, office or instrumentality or local
governments for such assistance as it may deem necessary for the
performance of its functions and powers:

(G) Encourage, support, coordinate and/or undertake scientific studies and
researches concerning the Sinarapan and cause the publication of such
studies as may be deemed appropriate by the Center; and

(H) Perform other things, business and functions directly or indirectly

necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of the purposes and

objectives of this Act.

SECTION 5. /ilegal Acts. — It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and
knowingly exploit Sinarapan fish species and their habitats, or undertake the following

acts, except as may be provided by the Center:


(A) _ Fishing, capturing, killing, or destroying Sinarapan species;

(B) _ Inflicting injury which cripples and/or impairs the reproductive
system of Sinarapan species;

(C) Dumping of waste products in the natural habitat of the
Sinarapan;

(D) Introduction of foreign species in the natural habitat of the
Sinarapan;

(E) Trading, transporting, collecting, hunting or possession of
Sinarapan, their by-products and derivatives; and

(F) Any act analogous to the foregoing with the effect of harming or

depleting the Sinarapan population.

SECTION 6. Penalties. — Any person who violates any of the provisions of
this Act shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and not more
than twelve (12) years or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) but not more than One million five hundred thousand pesos

(P1,500,000.00) or both at the discretion of the courts.

SECTION 7. Funding. — The amount of Ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) is
hereby authorized to be appropriated out of the funds in the National treasury not
otherwise appropriated for the initial operations of the Center. Thereafter, such sum as
maybe necessary for the continued operation of the Center shall be included in the

General appropriations Act.


SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations, — Within thirty (30) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture in coordination with the
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall issue the implementing rules

and regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof, is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise

affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
to or inconsistent with the provisions of this act is hereby repealed, modified or

amended accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in-two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.