Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4557

Introduced by Honorable Deogracias Victor ‘DV’ B. Savellano

EXPLANATORY NOTE

For an archipelagic nation, the Philippines’ production output from its water bodies to
meet the food needs of its people is dismally low in comparison to neighboring countries
with similar features. While the country has vast and long coastlines, marine products are
not efficiently and effectively produced and this is replicated by the outputs of its many
lakes, bays, rivers and other inland water bodies. One glaring example is the Laguna Lake,
which, if properly sustained and conscientious efforts are taken, could yield more for the
sustenance of the people of Metropolitan Manila and its environs. Sadly, while there is an
authority that focuses on its development, fish production is still below par. Fish cages
which have long been traditionally used in the lake, remain ineffective in terms of
production.

Unless aggressive efforts are undertaken to hamess the vast potentials of the
country’s numerous inland water bodies, they will remain underused and ineffective. There
is a need for the country’s fisheries and marine sciences community to pool resources and
talents to tap the vast potentials of these bodies of water. For instance, in the Province of
llocos Sur, there are a big number of lakes, rivers, bays and ponds that remain untapped for
its fish production potentials. If only there is synergy in the efforts of the Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, the
Departments of Agriculture and Science and Technology, the private sector and the
academe, these inland bodies could probably effectively complement the fish output of
traditional fishermen.

It is for this reason that an Aquatic Research and Experimental Breeding Station for
fish thriving in inland bodies of water is proposed to be established at the University of
Norther Philippines. With a pooled funding coming from the food and fisheries production
agencies, the state-run university can harness its research function in collaboration with



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House BILL No. 4557

Introduced by Honorable Deogracias Victor ‘DV’ B. Savellano

AN ACT

ESTABLISHING AN AQUATIC RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTAL BREEDING
STATION FOR LAKES, RIVERS, BAYS, PONDS, AND OTHER INLAND FISHES AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES IN THE CITY OF VIGAN,
PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There shall be established, under the supervision and control of the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), an aquatic research and
experimental breeding station for lakes, rivers, bays, ponds, and other inland fishes at
the University of Northern Philippines in the City of Vigan, Province of llocos Sur.

SECTION 2. Within two (2) years after the construction of the aquatic research and
experimental breeding station, the BFAR through a memorandum of agreement, shall
transfer its management to the University of Northern Philippines (UNP). It shall
implement a training and phasing-in program for personnel on the management and
operation of the station.

SECTION 3. The Executive Director of BFAR shall include in the bureau's programs the
establishment of aquatic research and experimental breeding station, the funding of
which shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 4. Within sixty (60) days from the passage of this Act, the Executive Director
of BFAR shall issue rules and regulations on the supervision, operation and monitoring
and the transfer or withdrawal by the BFAR, of the aquatic research and experimental
breeding station.


SECTION 5. All laws, rules, regulations, proclamations, executive orders or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act, are hereby amended accordingly.

SECTION 6. If any section or part of this Act is held unconstitutional, no other section or
provision shall be affected.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,