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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

nouse pu 9788

Introduced by Rep. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo and Rep. Abdullah D. Dimaporo

EXPLATORY NOTE,

‘This bill seeks to establish a freshwater aquaculture center in Agus River in the
Municipality of Baloi, Lanao del Norte for the breeding and production of tilapia, carp,
pangasius, catfish and other freshwater fish and crustacean species, The Center shall be under
the administration of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources.

The demand for fish protein is constantly on the rise as the human population grows
year in and year out. This natural phenomenon is causing heavy stress on the natural supply
of wild fisheries duc to overfishing and the situation necessitates sustainable means to ensure
steady supply of fish products in the long term, Man’s response is aquaculture.

Aquaculture is a growing industry worldwide. While filling the gaps of human needs
for fish protein, it provides livelihood to millions of people. In the Philippines, it is an
emerging sector in the agriculture industry that provides ineome to hundreds of thousands of
Filipinos and their number is consistently on the rise. Amidst the reality of dwindling fish
stocks due to overfishing, this is the right way to go to ensure food security. More so, the
potential of the sector in contributing significantly to the economic development of the
country should be recognized and maximized.

‘The government should take the lead in enhancing the contribution of aquaculture to
the national economy, especially in the context of ensuring food security. Hence, the State
should allocate considerable resources towards this end especially in the field of research,
breeding and propagation. Doing so will produce multiple benefits not only in ensuring food
security but also in the fight against poverty.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

IMELDA -ANZA-DIMAPORO —ABPULLAH D. DIMAPORO
First dfstrtet, Lanao del Norte Second District, Lanao del Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

BILLNo._ 9788

Introduced By : Rep. Imelda Quibranca-Dimaporo and Rep, Abdullah D. Dimaporo

HOUS

AN ACT

ESTABLISHING A FRESHWATER AQUACULTURE CENTER UNDER THE
BUREAU OF FISHIRIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES FOR THE RESEARCH,
BREEDING AND PRODUCTION OF TILAPIA, CARP, PANGASIUS, CATFISH
AND OTHER FRESHWATER SPECIES IN AGUS RIVER, MUNICIPALITY OF
BALOI, LANAO DEL NORTE TO BE KNOWN AS THE LANAO DEL NORTE.
FRESHWATER AQUACULTURE CENTER 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, a freshwater aquaculture

center for the research, breeding and production of tilapia, carp, pangasius, catfish and other

freshwater fish and crustacean species in Agus River, Municipality of Baloi, Lanao del Norte,

to be known as the Lanao del Norte Freshwater Aquaculture Center,

‘TION 2. The Lanao del Norte Freshwater Aquaculture Center shall conduct
continuing research and experimentation on the breeding and production of tilapia, carp,
pangasius, catfish and other freshwater fish and crustacean species, especially as they apply
to local conditions, to discover new methods and technology adaptive of prevailing weather

conditions that will rejuvenate the freshwater aquaculture industry.

SECTION 3. The Center shall disperse high-variety fry and fingerlings in public
bodies of water in such intervals as may be recommended by the Local Advisory Council

established in the succeeding section, It may also sell such fry and fingerlings to individual or

organized fish farmers at prevailing market prices.


SECTION 4. There shall be established a Local Advisory Council that shall provide
policy direction for the Center and facilitate the exchange of information between the Center
and the stakeholders. The Council shall be composed of the BFAR Director for Region X as
Chairman, the Provincial Governor of Lanao del Norte as Co-Chairman, the President of the
Municipal Mayor’s League of Lanao del Norte, the Mayor of the Municipality of Baloi and
three representatives from the local fisheries sector to be appointed by the Governor, as

members.

SECTION 5. The Department of Agriculture shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to implement this Act

SECTION 6. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department's program

the establishment and operationalization of the Lanao del Norte Freshwater Aquaculture

nnter in Agus River, Municipality of Baloi, Lanao del Norte, initially from its savings and
the yearly funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

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

Approved,