Republic of the philippines             a
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES   F
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSEB|LLNo.8007
Introduced by Representative Wilbert T. Lee
AN ACT
PROVIDING A FUEL SUBSIDY FOR MUNICIPAL FISHERIES,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution under Article XIII,  Section 7 explicitly provides that the State shall
protect   the   rights   of   subsistence   fisherfolk,   especially   of   local   communities,   to   the
preferential use of the communal marine and fishing resources, both inland and offshore.
The  fishing  industry  is  one  of the  main  drivers  of the  Philippine  economy.  In  2022,
total fisheries production grew to 4,339.89 thousand metric tons or by 2.2 percent,  from the
previous year's output of 4,248.26 thousand metric tons. Increases in production were noted
in  marine  municipal  flsheries  and  aquaculture,  while  commercial  and  inland  municipal
flsheries reported setbacks during the year. I
Meanwhile,  the  marine  municipal  fisheries  output  reached  946.88  thousand  metric
tons  in  2022.  It  reported  an  increase  of 2.2  percent  above  the  926,37000  metric  tons  of
production  it  had  in  2021.  The  subsector  contributed  21.8  percent  to  the  total  fisheries
production  in  2022.2   0n  the  other  hand,  the  inland  municipal   fisheries  production  was
registered  at  175.35  thousand  metric  tons  in  2022.  This  volume  of production  during  this
period indicates a decrease of 14.7 percent from the 205.54 thousand metric tons output in the
Previous year.3
Despite the  fishing sector's  major contribution,  our fishermen  continue to  be  among
the  fundamental  sectors'  poorest  people.  According  to  the  preliminary  estimates  of PSA's
2021   poverty   statistics,   fisherfolk  registered  the  highest  poverty  incidence  rate   of  30.6
percent,  significantly  higher  than  the  26.2  percent  in  2018.4  These  sectors  had  the  highest
I    Philippine  Statistics  Authority  (PSA).  Fisheries  Situation  Report  for  Major  Species,  January  to  December
2022
2   Ibid.
3   supranotes no.  I
4     Fisherfolk,      farmers     remain     poorest     in     PH     ~     PSA.     (2021).     Retrieved     26     April     2023,     from:
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/3/26/fisherfolk-farmers-poorest-2021.html.
1


proportion   of  individuals   belonging   to   families   with   income   below   the   official   poverty
thresholds compared to other basic sectors.5
The  fisheries  production  in  the  last  quarter  of 2022  dropped  by  6.6  percent.6  This
demonstrates that the country's agriculture and fishing industries have received poor attention
from  the  national  government.7  Other factors that contributed  to the  decline  in  agri-fisheries
production  include the govemment's  lack of assistance  for underserved communities as well
as  its  persistent  refusal  to  give  production  subsidies  to  those  in  need,  noting  that  only  4
percent of the country's  more than two  million  registered  fishermen  had  benefitted  from  the
P3,000 fuel discount.8
Thus,  the measure proposes to guarantee a fuel  subsidy  for municipal  fisherfolk who
utilize  motorized  boats.  It  proposes  to  provide  a  fuel  voucher  not  lower than  One Thousand
Pesos  (PHP  I,000.00)  per  month  for  each  eligible  beneficiary.  In  addition,  beneficiaries  of
this  program  shall  also  be  automatically  enrolled  and  covered  under  the  National   Health
Insurance  program  of the  Philippine  Health  Insurance  Corporation  (PhilHealth).  The  Social
Security  System  (SSS)  shall  also  provide  microinsurance mechanisms to  beneficiaries of the
Program.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill  is earnestly sought.
5Fisherfolk,      farmers      remain      poorest      in      PH      -      PSA.      (2021).      Retrieved     26      April      2023,      from:
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/3/26/fisher folk-farmers-poorest-2021.html.
6 F>ofia,K. D. (20T3). When those who feed the nation are  the poorest:  Farmers, fiisherfolk in deepest poverty pit.
Retrieved    26   April    2023,    from:    https://newsinfo.inquirer.nev1748786/when-those-who-feed-the-nation-are-the-poorest-
farmers-fisher folk-in-deepest-poverty-pit.
7 Pc=f\a, K. D . (202.I). When those who feed the nation are the poorest:  Farmers, fish€rfolk in de.epes[ p?verly p.il.
Retrieved    26   April    2023,    from:    https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1748786/when-those-who-feed-the-nation-are-the-poorest-
farmers-fisher folk-in-deepest-poverty-pit.
8  Pofna, K. D.  (2023). When  those  who feed  the  nation  are  the  poorest:   Farmers, fisherfolk  in  deepesl  I)overly
p/./.  Retrieved  26  Apri 1  2023,  from:  https://newsinfo. inquirer.net/ 1748786/when-those-who-feed-the-nation-are-the-poorest-
farmers-fisher folk-ill-deepest-poverty-pit.
2


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSH 0F RIIPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEI]NTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSEBILLNo.8007
Introduced by Representative Wilbert T. Lee
AN ACT
PROVIDING A FUEL SUBSIDY FOR MUNICIPAL FISHERIIIS,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be   it  enacted  by  the  Senate   and  House   Of  Representatives  Of  the   Philippines   in
Congress assembled:
1                       Section  1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Pc777/ow;.cJPczmbcz#gha 4c/ o/
2         2023.„
3                       See.  2.  Declaration  of Policy.  -The  State  recognizes  the  crucial  role  of municipal
4        fisher folk  in  ensuring food  security  in the country.  It  is  hereby declared a policy  of the  State
5        to provide support to municipal fisher folk,  in  recognition of their sacrifices and contributions
6       to  the  nation,  and  in  pursuit  of the  Constitutional  mandate  to  promote  social justice  in  all
7       phasesofdevelopment.
8                     Sec.  3.  The  Pantawid  Pambangka  Program.  -Pursuant  to  the  declared  policy  of
9       this  Act,  hereby  established  the  Pantawid  Pambangka  Program,  herein  referred  to  as  the
10        Program  which   shall   provide  a  fuel  voucher  not  lower  than  One  Thousand  Pesos  (PHP
11        I,000.00)  per  month  for  each  eligible  beneficiary  under this  Act:  Provz.cJccJ,  that the  amount
12        shall be revised every year to account for inflation. The program  shall be administered  by the
13        Department of Agriculture (DA).
14
15                      Sec.  4.  Program  Beneficiaries.  -The  beneficiaries  of this  Act  shall  be  municipal
16       fisherfolk   who   fish   within   municipal   waters,   whether   coastal   or   inland,   and   who   use
17        motorized  fishing vessels of three (3) gross tons or  less: Provj.c7ecJ, that registration  under the
18       National   Program   for  Municipal   Fisher folk  Registration   of  the   Bureau   of  Fisheries  and
19       Aquatic Resources shall be a precondition forthe receipt of benefits under this Act.
1


1                      Sec. 5.  Convergence of social services. -Beneficiaries of this program  shall  also be
2        automatically  enrolled  and  covered  under  the  National   Health   Insurance  program  of  the
3        Philippine   Health   Insurance  Corporation  (PhilHealth).  The   Social   Security   System   (SSS)
4       shall also provide micro-insurance mechanisms to beneficiaries of the program.
5                      See.  6.  Non-Diminution  of  Benefits.  -  Nothing  in  this  Act  shall  be  construed  to
6       reduce   existing   benefits   granted   under  existing   laws,   decrees,   executive   orders,   or  any
7       contract, agreement, or policy between the employer and employee.
8
9                      Sec. 7. Appropriations. -The equivalent often percent (10%) of any  increase  in the
10       collections  in  the  excise  tax  on  fuel  shall  be  earmarked  for the  implementation  for this  Act,
11        which  shall  be  indicated  as  a  separate  line  item  under  the  annual  appropriations  of the  DA
12        underthe General Appropriations Act.
13
14                      See.  8.  Imp]ementing  Rules  and  Regulations.  -  Within  six  (6)  months  from  the
15       effectivity of this Act,  the  DA  shall  promulgate the necessary  rules  and  regulations to  carry
16        outtheprovisionsofthisAct.
17
18                      See.   9.   Separability   Clause.   -   If  any   provision   or   part  of  this   Act   is  declared
19        unconstitutional,  the remaining parts or provisions  not affected  shall  remain  in  full  force and
20        in effect.
21
22                       See.10.  Repealing clause.  -All  laws,  decrees,  executive  orders,  proclamations, and
23        administrative  regulations  or  parts  thereof  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of this  Act  are
24        hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
25
26                      See.11.  Effectivity  clause.  -This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its
27       complete publication in the official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
2