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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
23 NOV-7 R2:17
SENATE
s. No. 2473
RECEIVED ffi
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL FRESHWATER MULTI-SPECIES MARINE 
HATCHERY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAROTAC VIEJO, PROVINCE OF 
ILOILO, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The global declining trend of capture fisheries calls for intensified promotion of 
aquaculture activities and top potential areas for aquaculture fish production. 
Aquaculture is growing much faster than capture fisheries. The Philippines now 
contributes only a little over 1 percent of global farm fish production compared to 5 
percent previously. In addition, there is a need to fill the gap in fish production as the 
estimated requirement for fish fry in the Philippines is about 3.5 billion annually, while 
local production is only at 2.5 billion a year.
Barotac Viejo is a coastal municipality in the province of Iloilo. The municipality 
has a land area of 185.78 square kilometers or 71.73 square miles which constitutes 
3.72% of Iloilo's total area. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 
48,614.1
To strengthen the fishing industry and to provide additional income 
opportunities to the small fisherfolks of the municipality, this bill is being proposes to 
establish a central freshwater multi-species marine hatchery in the Municipality of 
Barotac Viejo, Province of Iloilo.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of the bill is requested.
CYNlrllA A. VILLAR
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. ^473
23 NOV-7 R2:17
RECEIVED 8V:
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar
3
4
5
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL FRESHWATER MULTI-SPECIES 
MARINE HATCHERY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAROTAC VIEJO, 
PROVINCE OF ILOILO, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. There shall be established, under the 
supervision of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of 
the Department of Agriculture (DA-BFAR), a central freshwater 
multi-species marine hatchery in the Municipality of Barotac Viejo, 
Province of Iloilo.
6 
SEC. 2. Prior to the establishment of the central freshwater
7 
multi-species marine hatchery, the DA-BFAR shall conduct a full-
8 
scale feasibility study in support of its construction to comply with
9 
the requirements of the Department of Budget and Management.
10 
Within two (2) years after the construction of the central
11 
freshwater multi-species marine hatchery, the DA-BFAR shall,
12 
through a memorandum of agreement, transfer its management
13 
to the local government of the Municipality of Barotac Viejo,
14 
Province of Iloilo. It shall implement a training and phasing-in
15 
program for local government personnel on the management and
16 
operation of the hatchery.


1 
SEC. 3. The DA-BFAR shall conduct continuing research and
2 
experimentation on the breeding and production of marine
3 
species, especially as they apply to local conditions, to discover
4 
new methods and technologies that will enhance the fishing
5 
industry.
6 
Sec. 4. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the
7 
Department's programs the conduct of the feasibility study and
8 
the consequent establishment of the central freshwater multi-
9 
species marine hatchery in the Municipality of Barotac Viejo,
10 
Province of Iloilo, the funding of which shall be included in the
11 
General Appropriations Act. The local government unit concerned
12 
shall set aside funds from any available local revenue in an
13 
amount deemed appropriate for the operationalization of the
14 
hatchery.
15 
Sec. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act,
16 
the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue the rules and regulations
17 
on the supervision, operation, monitoring, and the eventual
18 
transfer of the management of the central freshwater multi-
19 
species marine hatchery to the local government of the
20 
Municipality of Barotac Viejo, Province of Iloilo.
21 
Sec. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
22 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
23 
circulation.
24
Approved,