ISE WF REPRESENTA’

: a RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES pate, 30 JUN 2078
Quezon City Te

17™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session i

REGISTRATION UNIT

HOUSE BILLNO._@23 | BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

|

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This year, five fishing vessels were apprehended in Bicol waters and charged with the
conduct of illegal fishing activities. The arrests only served to highlight the fact that illegal
fishing has already become a serious and major concern in the region.

Ilegal fishing is now not only rampant but has become a large-scale operation in
Bicol. Ilegal-fishing vessels originating from outside the region enter the vast Bicol waters,
particularly the Sorsogon, Masbate and Albay waters as well as the Pasacao area, with
seeming impunity. ‘The boats are sometimes equipped with high-powered weapons,
hampering the efforts and already limited capabilities of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) and of the Coast Guard.

Clearly, there is an urgent need to provide an effective solution to this serious
problem which not only affects the all-important fishing industry in Bicol but also results in
the degradation of the region’s marine ecosystems.

The most significant step that can be taken is to strengthen the capabilities and
resources of those who already have the mandate to guard Bicol waters --- the Philippine
Navy, the BFAR, the Coast Guard, and the maritime component of the Philippine National
Police (PNP). This bill seeks to do this thru the creation of a special agency: the Bicol
Region Anti-Ilegal Fishing Authority (BRAIFA) which shall be under the joint
administration of the Philippine Navy and the BEAR and with manpower complements from
the Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police, and other concerned government agencies.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is eamestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 733

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

AN ACT
CREATING THE BICOL REGION ANTI-ILLEGAL FISHING AUTHORITY
(BRAIFA) AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR.

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “BRAIFA Creation Act of 2009”.

SEC. 2. There is hereby created the Bicol Region Anti-Ilegal Fishing Authority or
BRAIFA, hereinafter referred to as the Authority.

SEC. 3. Duties of the BRAIFA. The BRAIFA shall have the following
responsibilities within the Bicol region:

1. Patrolling of Bicol regional waters;

2. Patrolling of contiguous fishery resources (e.g, bays which straddle
several municipalities, cities, or provinces) in the absence of or upon
request of existing IFARMCs (Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Management Councils);

3. Enforcement of anti-illegal fishing laws, rules and regulations in Bicol
regional waters and contiguous fishery resources _ including
arrest/apprehension of suspected illegal fishers, impoundment of vessels &
equipment used in illegal fishing, and filing of cases against suspected
illegal fishers;

4. Assistance upon request of LGUs and anti-illegal fishing units or teams
created by LGUs, including Bantay Dagat and the Fisheries & Aquatic
Resources Management Councils (FARMCs); and

5. Other duties and responsibilities as may be provided by law.


SEC. 4. Composition of the Authority. The Authority shall be composed of personnel
who shall be detailed from the offices of the following government agencies:

1. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) under the Department
of Agriculture (DA),

2. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
3. The Philippine Coast Guard, and
4. The Philippine National Police Maritime Command.

Further, the Philippine Navy shall assign at least two (2) of its vessels with firepower
capability for the use of the Authority. The vessels” corresponding officers and personnel
shall become part of the Authority.

SEC. 5. Co-Administrators of the Authority. The highest-ranking official of the
BFAR assigned to the Authority and the highest-ranking officer of the Philippine Navy
assigned to the Authority shall serve as its Co-Administrators.

SEC. 6. The BRAIFA Advisory Council. There shall be a BRAIFA Advisory Council
to be composed of the Governors of the six Bicol provinces. The Council shall meet at least
twice every year with the Authority for feedback and reports.

SEC. 7. The BRAIFA Fund. For purposes of this Act, there is hereby created a
BRAIFA Fund which shall be appropriated yearly out of the allocation of the Department of
Agriculture (DA) in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

For the same purpose, the DA may seek financial assistance from any source and may
receive any donation therefrom,

SEC. 8. All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two
(2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,