Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

4235

HOUSE BILL NO..

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ADRIAN MICHAEL A. AMATONG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

No less than the Constitution itself provides that “the State shall protect the
right of subsistence fishermen, especially of local communities, to the preferential use
of the communal marine and fishing resources, both inland and offshore.”
Furthermore, the State shall “provide support to such fishermen through appropriate
technology and research, adequate financial, production and marketing assistance,
and other services.”

Despite this constitutional mandate, however, there is a glaring inadequacy in
the number of our municipal fish landing centers, the designated places where our
subsistence fisherfolk unload their fish catch and dock their fishing boats. In the
2021 Listing of Marine Fish Landing Centers of the Philippine Statistics Authority,
there are only 12,773 municipal fish landing centers in the whole Philippines. Of this
number, 12,366 are considered “traditional” or without any regulatory or managing
administration, 396 are managed by the LGU, and only 11 are managed by the
Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA).

That there is a need to establish more PFDA-managed municipal landing
centers in the country is also shown by the said 2021 PSA Listing. The traditional
municipal fish landing centers produce only an average daily unloading of 1,636 kg
during peak months and 146 kg during lean months, while the LGU-managed
municipal fish landing centers produce an average daily unloading of 4,013 kg during
peak months and 384 kg during lean months. On the other hand, the very few PFDA-
managed fish landing centers produce an average daily unloading of 29,632 kg during
peak months and 2,116 kg during lean months, way better than the combined
production numbers of traditional and LGU-managed municipal fish landing centers.

Thus, this bill seeks to establish a fish landing center in Barangay
Malintubuan, Municipality of Labason, Province of Zamboanga del Norte. The
establishment of a PFDA-managed municipal fish landing center in the coastal
barangay of Malintubuan is feasible, considering that the area boasts of rich marine
resources and most of its residents are small-time fishermen who mainly rely on
fishing for their livelihood and daily substinence. It is also noteworthy that this bill
was already passed by the House of Representatives during the 18 Congress, but for
lack of time remained pending in the Senate.

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

AD! A. AMATONG


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL n0.4235

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ADRIAN MICHAEL A. AMATONG

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FISH LANDING CENTER
IN BARANGAY MALINTUBUAN, MUNICIPALITY OF LABASON, PROVINCE
OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, 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 of the
Department of Agriculture, through the Philippine Fisheries Development
Authority (PFDA), a fish landing center in Barangay Malintubuan, Municipality
of Labason, Province of Zamboanga del Norte.

SEC. 2. Within two (2) years after the construction of the fish landing center,
the PFDA, through a memorandum of agreement, shall transfer its
management to the local government unit (LGU) concerned. It shall implement
a training and phasing-in program for the local government personnel on the
management and operation of the fish landing center.

SEC. 3. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department’s
programs the establishment of the fish landing center, the funding of which
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The LGU
concerned shall set aside funds from any available local revenue the amount
necessary for the operationalization of the fish landing center.

SEC. 4. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of
Agriculture shall issue the rules and regulations on the supervision,
monitoring, and transfer of the said fish landing center by the PFDA to the
LGU concerned.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,