Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3380
Introduced by HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, AND HON. 
TERRY L. RIDON 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is embedded in our 1987 Constitution, under Section 7, Article XIII that "The State shall 
protect the rights of subsistence fishermen, especially of local communities, to the preferential 
use of local marine and fishing resources, both inland and offshore. It shall provide support to 
such fishermen through appropriate technology and services, adequate financial, production, 
and marketing assistance, and other.” 
The Philippines is known for its archipelagic state with 7,641 islands surrounded by over 2.2 
million km. of highly productive seas rich in various species of marine and aquatic resources. 
As of 2022, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource (BFAR) reported that there are are 
a total of 2,302,648 registered fisherfolk in the Philippines: 1,173,381 of them are capture 
fisheries, 259,448 are in aquaculture, 257,511 are in gleaning, 157,161 are in vending, and 
45,148 are in processing. Our fisherfolk, together with farmers, are consistently recorded to 
be the poorest among other basic sectors since the 2006 statistical year of the Philippine 
Statistics Authority (PSA) despite contributing 1.3% to 1.5% to the country’s Gross Domestic 
Product (GDP). Furthermore, they supply 50% of our daily protein as part of our daily 
sustenance. These data clearly show that there is a huge disconnect between the strategic 
utilization of our resources and uplifting of the livelihoods of our coastal communities. 
Therefore, to empower our fisherfolk, this bill aims to create the Department of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources which will be the primary policy and regulatory body on fisheries and 
aquatic resources in the country. While we recognize the existence of the current Bureau of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA), the creation 
of a separate department would give the much-needed specialized attention to the needs and 
concerns of the fisheries and aquatic resources industry with their own budget and autonomy 
to completely decide on their succeeding policies and measures on fisheries and aquatic 
resources. In addition, this would allow DA to focus its efforts on land-based farming including 
crop production, poultry, and livestock that would transcend to increased country's food self-
sufficiency. The department will also be empowered not only to conserve, promote, and 
develop the industry but also to protect the rights of our local fishermen. One of the 
department's goals is to likewise address the declining rate of daily catches and annual losses 
due to illegal activities such as illegal fishing amounting to a loss of an estimated P37 billion. 
Indeed, the creation of a new Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources would serve 
the best interest of the country's fisherfolk and the conservation of our marine resources. 
The immediate passage of the bill is most earnestly sought. 
August 7, 2025
3:11 pm


HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
 HON. VINCENZO RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3380 
Introduced by HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, AND HON. 
TERRY L. RIDON 
AN ACT CREATING A DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES, 
PROVIDING FOR ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Department of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources Act". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The following is hereby declared policy of the State: 
a) The State shall promote sustainable development in the management of all fisheries
and marine resources within its national territory;
b) The national territory comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and
waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has
sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains,
including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other
submarine areas. The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the
archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal
waters of the Philippines;
c)
The Philippine waters include its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and extended
continental shelf in the adjacent high seas;
d) It is the primordial policy to maintain a sound ecological balance, protect and enhance
the quality of the environment in its territorial waters. The State shall protect and
conserve the nation's marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea and EEZ
and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens;
e) The State shall adopt the precautionary principle and to prioritize conservation of the
country's marine and aquatic resources, as well as to protect the rights of small-scale
fisher folk in the preferential use of communal marine, fisheries and aquatic resources.
Towards this end, it shall provide such fisher folk with the appropriate technical and
financial support; and
f)
Legitimate and recognized non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are considered as
partners of the State in the protection and conservation of fisheries and aquatic
resources. These NGOs are likewise partners of the State in development and the
promotion of the welfare of the fisher folk.


 
 
SECTION 3. Creation. - To carry out the above-declared policy, the Department of Fisheries 
and Aquatic Resources, hereinafter referred to as the Department, is hereby created 
structurally and functionally in accordance with the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 4. Jurisdiction of the Department. - The Department shall have primary 
jurisdiction over the management, development, utilization and disposition of all fishery and 
aquatic resources of the country, including the habitats of fish and all other marine life and 
over activities which impact on these habitats : Provided, That the Department shall work 
closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other relevant 
agencies to ensure that its policies relating to fishery and aquatic resources are not in conflict 
with general government policies on the protection, preservation and conservation of 
environment and natural resources, and are supportive of the general goal to ensure equitable 
sharing of the benefits derived therefrom for the welfare of the present and future generations 
of Filipinos : Provided further, That the jurisdiction over municipal waters shall be exercised 
jointly by the Department and local government units (LGUs), with the latter managing the 
same in accordance with national fishery policies, laws, rules and regulations. 
 
The Department shall have the sole authority to supervise and regulate the production and 
capture of fish and fishery products within its jurisdiction, as well as the processing and 
marketing of all fisheries and aquatic products in the country. It shall also have the 
responsibility of rationalizing all ocean sector initiatives which impact on fish and marine 
resources or their habitat including, but not limited to: marine energy exploration and 
development; coastal and marine tourism; designation of shipping lanes; protected areas; and, 
marine industry development areas. The regulation of these marine activities, once 
rationalized by the Department, shall reside with the parent agency for the appropriate sector 
involved. 
 
SECTION 5. Powers and Functions. - To accomplish its mandate, the Department shall have 
the following powers, functions and responsibilities: 
 
a) prepare and implement a Comprehensive National Fisheries Industry Development 
Plan; 
b) issue licenses for the operation of commercial fishing vessels; 
c) issue identification cards free of charge to fish workers engaged in commercial fishing; 
d) monitor and review joint fishing agreements between Filipino citizens and foreigners 
who conduct fishing activities in international waters, and ensure that such agreements 
are not contrary to Philippine commitment under international treaties and convention 
on fishing in the high seas; 
e) formulate and implement a Comprehensive Fishery Research and Development 
Program, such as, but not limited to, sea farming, sea ranching, tropical/ornamental 
fish and seaweed culture, aimed at increasing resource productivity, improving 
resource use efficiency, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the country's 
fishery and aquatic resources;  
f) establish and maintain a Comprehensive Fishery Information System; 
g) provide extensive development support services in all aspects of fisheries production, 
processing and marketing; 
h) provide advisory services and technical assistance on the improvement of quality of 
fish from the time it is caught (i.e. on board fishing vessel, at landing areas, fish 
markets, to the processing plants and to the distribution and marketing chain); 
i) 
coordinate efforts relating to fishery production undertaken by the primary fishery 
producers, LGUs, FARMCs, fishery and organizations/cooperatives; 
j) 
advise and coordinate with LGUs on the maintenance of proper sanitation and hygienic 
practices in fish markets and fish landing areas; 
k) establish a corps of specialists in collaboration with the Department of National 
Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Foreign 


 
Affairs for the efficient monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities within 
Philippine territorial waters and provide the necessary facilities, equipment and training 
therefor; 
l) 
implement an inspection system for import and export of fishery/aquatic products and 
fish processing establishments, consistent with international standards to ensure 
product quality and safety; 
m) coordinate with LGUs and other concerned agencies for the establishment of 
productivity enhancing and market development programs in fishing communities to 
enable women to engage in other fisheries/economic activities and contribute 
significantly to development efforts; 
n) enforce all laws, formulate and enforce all rules and regulations governing the 
conservation and management of fishery resources, including in municipal waters 
where it shall solemnly chordinate with the LGUs for such enforcement, and to settle 
conflicts of resource use and allocation in consultation with the NFARMC, LGUs and 
local FARMCs; 
o) develop value-added fishery-products for domestic consumption and export; 
p) recommend measures for the protection/enhancement of the fishery industries;  
q) assist the LGUs in developing their technical capability in the development, 
management, regulation, conservation, and protection of the fishery resources; 
r) formulate and implement rules and regulations for the conservation and management 
of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks; and threatened living marine 
resources such as sharks, rays and ludong, inter alia, in the Philippine Exclusive 
Economic Zone, territorial sea, archipelagic and internal waters, in coordination with 
LGUs and integrated/municipal/city Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management 
Councils; 
s) train, designate and deploy fisheries observers in Philippine flagged fishing vessels 
engaged in commercial fishing in Philippine waters or distant water fishing to ensure 
compliance with conservation and management measures adopted by RFMOS and by 
the Department. 
t) implement boarding and inspection protocols upon Philippine flagged fishing vessels 
in order to promote observance to international treaty obligations on food safety, to 
curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and to comply with conservation and 
management measures; 
u) adopt an appropriate monitoring, control, surveillance and traceability system for 
municipal fishing vessels supplying exporters with concurrence of the local government 
units; 
v) adopt and implement a national plan of action to manage fishing capacity, implement 
the international code of conduct for responsible fisheries, and declare fishery 
management areas as over-exploited in coordination with the LGUs and FARMCs; 
w) require performance bonds and impose and collect reasonable fees and charges for 
laboratory services, inspection, deployment of fisheries observers, and catch 
documentation and validation, taking into account the balance required between 
recovering the costs of services rendered and the socioeconomic impact of their 
imposition, upon prior consultation with stakeholders; 
x) hear and decide administrative cases before it; 
y) determine the appropriate levels of administrative and other sanctions, particularly for 
serious violations, that deprive offenders of economic benefits from their violations of 
the laws, rules and regulations; 
z) initiate the criminal prosecution of offenses committed in violation of the Fisheries Code 
of 1997, as amended, regardless of their status; and  
aa) perform such other related functions which shall promote the development, 
conservation, management, protection and utilization of fisheries and aquatic 
resources. 
 


 
SECTION 6. Composition. - The Department shall be composed of the Office of the 
Secretary, three (3) Undersecretaries for Fisheries Production and Utilization; for Fisheries 
Conservation and Management; and for Operations. 
 
SECTION 7. Secretary of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. - The Secretary of Fisheries 
and Aquatic Resources, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, shall be appointed by the 
President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. 
 
No person shall be appointed Secretary of the Department unless he or she is a Filipino citizen; 
at least a degree holder in fisheries, public administration, management, economics, law or 
other equivalent relevant disciplines; has actual experience in administration and 
management for at least ten (10) years; and has general practical knowledge of fisheries 
and/or management of aquatic resources. 
 
The Secretary shall have the following functions: 
 
a) Supervision and control of the Department and the Bureaus, Offices and Institutes 
under it; 
b) Authority and responsibility for the performance of the powers and functions of the 
Department; 
c) Advise the President on the promulgation of policies, rules and regulations, and other 
issuances relative to the sustainable development and management of fisheries and 
aquatic resources; 
d) Establish management policies and standards for the efficient and effective operation 
of the Department in accordance with the programs of the government. 
e) Promulgate rules, regulations and other issuance in carrying out the Department's 
mandate, objectives, policies, plans, programs and projects; and 
f) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the President. 
 
SECTION 8. Undersecretaries. - The Secretary shall be assisted by three (3) 
Undersecretaries: 
 
1. Undersecretary for Production and Utilization of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; 
2. Undersecretary for Conservation and Management of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources; and 
3. Undersecretary for Operations. 
 
The Undersecretaries shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the 
Secretary. No person shall be appointed Undersecretary of the Department unless he or she 
is a Filipino citizen; at least a degree holder in fisheries, public administration, management, 
economics, law or other equivalent relevant disciplines. 
 
The general functions of the Undersecretaries are as follows: 
 
a) Assist the Secretary on the formulation of policies, programs, plans, rules and 
regulations, as well as on the promulgation of Department Order, Administrative 
Orders, and other issuance with respect to his/her area of responsibility ; 
b) Exercise supervision and control over the bureaus, offices, services and operating 
units under his/her responsibility; 
c) Coordinate the functions and activities of the units under his/her responsibility with 
those of the other units in the Department; 
d) Liaise with concerned government departments, agencies, and offices to ensure 
effective coordination in the management of the fisheries and aquatic resources sector; 
and, 
e) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the Secretary 
 


 
SECTION 9. Undersecretary for Production and Utilization of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources. - The Undersecretary for Fisheries Production and Utilization shall assist the 
Secretary in the overall management of fisheries production, processing, marketing, 
utilization, development of techniques in the industry, among others. 
 
Under the supervision and control of the Undersecretary for Fisheries Production and 
Utilization, the following bureaus, services and offices are hereby created: 
 
1. Bureau of Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries (BAIF) - The BAIF shall, among others, be 
responsible for: regulating aquaculture operations in line with the International Code of 
Conduct for Aquaculture, promoting the intensification of aquaculture operations in 
existing areas; formulating aquaculture development programs; establishing and 
maintaining model aquaculture farms and ponds; providing technical assistance to 
cooperatives and fishpond operators in the development of a viable fishmeal and fish 
feeds industry, undertaking inland fishery resources evaluation; and recommending 
management and conservation measures. 
 
The Bureau shall be headed by a Director and shall be composed of the following 
divisions: 
 
a) Aquaculture Management and Development Division; 
b) Inland Fisheries Resource Assessment and Conservation Division; 
c) 
Inland Fishery Development and Extension Division; and the 
d) Environmental Impact Assessment and Monitoring Division 
  
2. Bureau of Postharvest and Fisheries Product Standards (BPFPS) - The fishery 
component of the Bureau of Agriculture and Product Standards created under Section 
61 of RA 8435 shall be transferred to the BPFPS which shall formulate and enforce 
standards of quality in the processing, preservation, packaging, labeling, importation, 
exportation, distribution, and advertising of fishery products; conduct research on 
product standardization, alignment of the local standards with the international 
standards; promote and strengthen semi-processing and handling; and shall have a 
Director, two Assistant Directors - one for Product Standards and Technical Services 
and the other for Industry Compliance and Consumer Protection 
 
Under the Assistant Director for Product Standards and Technical Services, the 
following shall be Divisions: 
 
1) 
Technical Services Division 
2) 
Fish Processing Technology Division 
3) 
Standards Development and Promotion Division; and the 
4) 
Value-added Products Development and Promotion Division 
 
Under the Assistant Director for Industry Compliance and Consumer Protection, the 
following shall be the following divisions: 
 
1) 
Industry Compliance Division; 
2) 
Consumer Affairs Division; and the 
3) 
Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Division. 
 
3. Bureau of Fisheries Extension, Training, and Support Service (BFETSS) - The 
BFETSS shall coordinate all development activities with respect to fisheries and 
aquatic resources technology, and shall have a development section for all 
components including inland and ocean fishing, and fishing fears and methods. 
 


 
It shall formulate a National Extension System for Fisheries, which shall be composed 
of three (3) subsystems: the national government subsystem, the local government 
subsystem and the private sector subsystem. It shall deliver the following major 
services: training services; credit and financing support services, business advisory 
services; demonstration services, and information and communication support 
services through tri-media. 
It shall have the following divisions: 
 
a) Training and Skills Development Division; 
b) Technology Transfer and Demonstration Division; 
c) Business Advisory and Information Support Division; and 
d) Training Centers 
 
4. The Bureau of Fishing Technology and Capture Fisheries (BFTCF) - The BFTC shall 
have direct supervision and control over the utilization of marine resources including 
commercial, international and small-scale fisheries. It shall formulate development 
programs for the expansion of the marine fishery industry; explore new fishery 
resources and develop environment friendly but efficient fishing gears. 
 
It shall be headed by a Director and Ovo Assistant Directors and shall have the 
following divisions: 
 
a) Municipal Fisheries Division; 
b) Commercial Fisheries Division; 
c) Fishing Technology Division; and 
d) High Seas Fisheries Division 
 
5. The Fisheries Modernization Credit and Financing Agency (FMCFA) – The FMCFA 
shall administer the funds under Sections 108 to 113 of RA 8550 as well as the 
fisheries related provisions of Sections 20 to 25 of RA 8435, harmonizing and 
integrating the two so as to package and deliver various credit assistance programs 
for the following: 
 
a) Fisheries production including processing of fisheries products and inputs; 
b) Acquisition or construction of fishery equipment, machinery, fishing vessels 
and fishing gears; 
c) Acquisition of fry, fingerlings, fertilizers, feeds and similar items; 
d) Procurement of fisheries products for storage, trading, processing and 
distribution; 
e) Construction, acquisition and repair of facilities for production, processing, 
storage, transportation, communication, marketing and such other facilities in 
support of fisheries; economic activities; High Seas Fisheries Division; 
f) Working capital for fisheries graduates to enable them to engage in fisheries-
related; 
g) Activities which support marine and freshwater bodies conservation and 
ecology enhancing activities such as but not limited to mangrove reforestation, 
promotion of whale shark and manta ray and other endangered marine species 
watching and ecotourism; and the 
h) Development of appropriate technology, both in fishery and ancillary industries 
that are ecologically sound, locally source based and labor intensive, based on 
the requirements of the Fisheries and Aquatic Management Councils. Under 
the supervision and control of the Undersecretary for Fisheries Conservation 
and Management, the following bureaus units board and services are hereby 
created. 
 


 
SECTION 10. Undersecretary for Conservation and Management of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources. - The Undersecretary for Fisheries Conservation and Management shall 
assist the Secretary primarily in the development and implementation of conservation and 
protection of the fisheries and aquatic resources industry. 
 
Under the supervision and control of the Undersecretary for Conservation and Management, 
the following bureaus, services and offices are hereby created: 
 
a) Marine Resources Conservation and Management Bureau - The Marine Resources 
Conservation and Management Bureau is a line bureau tasked with the formulation 
and implementation of a Comprehensive Fisheries Management Plan. It shall 
undertake marine fishery resources assessment and biological and environmental 
investigations and formulate conservation measures. In coordination with the National 
Fisheries Research and Development Institute, it shall determine and establish the 
carrying capacity and total allowable catch (TAC) for a particular resource. It shall set 
the allowable fishing effort based on the carrying capacity of the resource and TAC 
and accordingly issue commercial fishing licenses and permits. 
 
It shall be headed by a Director and two Assistant Directors and shall have the following 
divisions: 
 
1) Coastal Resources Management Division; 
2)  Oceanography Division; 
3) Fisheries Licensing Division; 
4) Biotechnology, Biosafety and Bioprospecting Division; and the 
5) Fisheries Law Enforcement Division - The Fisheries Law Enforcement Division 
shall operate the National and Zonal Monitoring Surveillance System. It shall 
establish fishery air and ocean patrol as well as conduct law enforcement 
training and recommend to the Secretary the deputation of government 
employees and members of fisher folk associations as fishery guardians. It 
shall have the supervision and control of fishery officers and guardians and the 
corps of specialists responsible for the enforcement of fishery laws, rules and 
regulations and the efficient monitoring and surveillance of fishing activities 
within Philippine territorial waters. It shall have the following units:  
 
i. 
The National and Fisheries Zone Monitoring and Surveillance Center 
which shall have a National Coordinating Center and several Fisheries 
Zones Monitoring and Surveillance Centers. It is further subdivided into 
the Vessel Tracking and Remote Sensing Office, and the Database and 
Information Center; 
 
ii. 
The Fisheries Air Patrol and Ocean Patrol, and the Regulatory Staff 
composed of Fishery Officers, Deputized Fisheries Guardians and the 
corps of specialists from the DND, PNP-MARICOM, DILG, DFA and 
DOJ; 
 
iii. 
The Fishery Officers shall have full police powers relative to the 
enforcement of fishery laws, rules and regulations including arrest, 
search and seizure, and shall have the authority to directly file 
complaints for violation of fishery laws, rules and regulations. 
 
b) The Bureau of Marine Protected Areas and Wildlife (BMPAW) - The BMPAW is a line 
bureau responsible for establishing and maintaining marine protected areas and 
wildlife sanctuaries. It shall lead in the conduct of scientific researches on the proper 
strategies for the conservation and protection of marine wildlife and their habitat 
including breeding or propagation. It shall also establish Marine Wildlife Rescue 


 
Centers to take custody of all confiscated, stranded or abandoned marine wildlife. It 
shall have the authority to issue Committee on International Trade on Endangered 
Species (CITES) Permits and shall be both the CITES Management and Scientific 
Authorities of the Philippines. It shall be the lead agency in the fulfilment of the 
country's obligations under CITES, the Convention on Biological Diversity and other 
treaties and international agreements. 
 
It shall have the following divisions: 
 
a. Marine Protected Areas Division; 
b. Marine Wildlife Rescue Centers; 
c. CITES Management Authority; 
d. Endangered Marine Species Captive Breeding Centers; 
e. Endangered Marine Wildlife Research Center - The Endangered   
MarineWildlife Research Center shall be the Department's CITES Scientific 
Authority which shall coordinate with academic institutions designated as 
scientific authorities; and the 
f. Biodiversity Division 
 
SECTION 11. Undersecretary for Operations. - The Undersecretary for Fisheries 
Operations shall assist the Secretary in the overall supervision and control over all regional 
offices. Undersecretary for Operations shall have direct control and supervision of the 
following units and bureau: 
 
a) The Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Inspection Service (FIQIS) – The FIQIS shall 
have the line functions and shall be responsible for the inspection and quarantine of 
all fishery related activities including the conduct of quarantine and quality inspection 
of all fish and fishery/aquatic products corning into and going out of the country by air 
or water transport to detect the presence of fish pest and diseases, the regular 
inspection of processing plants, storage facilities, abattoirs, as well as public and 
private markets in order to ensure freshness, safety and quality of products and to 
ensure that these products conform to the standards prescribed by the Department; 
and the quarantine of aquatic animals and fishery products determined or suspected 
to be with fishery pest and diseases and prevent the movement or trade from and or 
into the country of these products so prohibited or regulated under existing laws, rules 
or regulations and international agreements of which the Philippine is a State Party. 
 
It shall have the following units: 
1) Regional fishery Inspection and Quarantine Offices; 
2) Cyanide Detection Centers; 
3) Product Standards Enforcement Division; and the 
4) Regional Fish Health Centers 
 
b) The Bureau of Fishery Economics and Statistics (BFES) - The BFES shall be a line 
bureau responsible for establishing benchmark data on the structure of the fishery 
industry. It shall conduct research and studies on the socio-economics of various 
fishery operations, collect data on fishery production, and establish a network of fishery 
information, documentation and dissemination. It shall have the following divisions: 
 
1) Fishery Statistics Division; 
2) Socioeconomic Division; and the  
3) Fishery Information Division 
 
SECTION 12. Attached Agencies. - The Office of Ocean and Marine Affairs shall be the 
Department's primary agency tasked with the implementation of the National Marine Policy 
and the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Any and 


 
all use of the ocean shall require the assessment and clearance by this Office, which shall 
rationalize initiatives that will negatively impact the fisheries or their habitat. It shall coordinate 
the implementation of fisheries and ocean sector policies, as well as plans and laws for all 
maritime components. It shall be headed by a Director and shall have the following divisions: 
 
a) Ocean-Use Assessment and Clearance Division; 
b) National and International Ocean Law and Policy Division; 
c) Special Projects Division; and 
d) Technical Division 
 
The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority created by Presidential Decree No. 977 as 
amended, shall be an attached agency of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 
under the Office of the Secretary. 
 
The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) created by Republic Act 
No. 8550, as amended, shall also be an attached agency of the Department of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources, to serve as the primary research arm thereof. To ensure the independent 
and objective implementation of its research activities, the NFRDI shall have a separate 
budget specific to its manpower requirements and operations. 
 
SECTION 13. Organizational Structure of the Department. - The functions of the 
Department under this Act shall be carried out by the bureaus, agencies and services created 
in the Department. 
 
SECTION 14. Regional Offices and Functions. - The Department shall have such 
departmentwide regional offices as may be necessary in the administrative regions, each to 
be headed by a Regional Director, who shall be assisted by an Assistant Regional Director, 
each regional office shall have support staffs as may be necessary and four line divisions 
which shall have the following duties and responsibilities: 
 
a) Provide efficient and effective front-line service to the fishery and aquatic industry 
sector, particularly to the municipal fishermen; 
b) Implement in its area of jurisdiction, the laws, policies, plans, programs, projects, rules 
and regulations of the Department; 
c) Coordinate with the Regional Office of the other departments, offices and agencies in 
the region; and 
d) Perform other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the Secretary. 
 
SECTION 15. Appointment and Qualification of Directors. - The Directors of the Bureau, 
Offices and Agencies and the Regional Directors shall be appointed by the Secretary, upon 
recommendation of the Undersecretaries concerned. The Directors must have a degree in law 
or Master of Science degree in marine fisheries, oceanography, fisheries biology, marine 
biology, fisheries technology, microbiology, or related sciences, or public administration and 
at least five years of experience either in the public or private sector, in marine fisheries 
research and development, or in the fisheries industry. 
 
SECTION 16. Abolition, Transfer and Merger. - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources reconstituted by Republic Act No 8550, is hereby abolished and its relevant 
functions, appropriations, records, properties, equipment and personnel are hereby 
transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: Provided, however, That 
no official or employee of the BFAR shall be laid off in the implementation of this section. 
 
The National and Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils created 
by Republic Act No. 8550 shall be transferred to the Office of the Secretary of the Department 
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
 


 
The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute created by Republic Act No. 8550 
is transferred to the department and shall serve as its principal research arm. 
The National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council created by Executive 
Order No. 240 is transferred to the Department. 
 
The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority created by Presidential Decree No. 977 
including its relevant functions, appropriations, records, properties, equipment and personnel, 
is hereby transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as an attached 
agency under the Office of the Secretary: Provided, however, That the Secretary of the 
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources shall be the new chairman of the Board: 
Provided, further, That no official or employee of the PFDA shall be laid off in the 
implementation of this Section. 
 
The Philippine Technical Advisory Committee of the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department 
created under Executive Order No. 834 dated October 4, 1982, including its relevant functions, 
appropriations; records, properties, equipment and personnel, is hereby transferred and 
attached to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: Provided, That no official or 
employee of the Board shall be laid off in the implementation of this section. 
 
The fisheries-related functions of the Laguna Lake Development Authority, including its 
relevant appropriations, records, and personnel, are hereby transferred to the Department of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: Provided, however, that no official or employee of the LLDA 
shall be laid off in the implementation of this Section. 
 
The Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development is abolished and 
all its personnel, records, appropriations, property and equipment are transferred to the 
National Fisheries Research and Development 'Institute of the Department of Fisheries and 
Marine Resources. 
 
The Marine Research and Conservation Division and the different Sections there under and 
the Coastal Environment Program including its relevant appropriations, personnel, records, 
property and equipment, all marine and coastal related projects and programs of the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and all fisheries related functions 'of the 
DENR under Executive Orders No. 192 and 292, except the functions of the enforcement of 
water pollution laws, rules and regulations, are hereby transferred to the Department of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
 
The fisheries-related sections of the Bureau of Agricultural Research, the Bureau of 
Agricultural Statistics and the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture 
are hereby abolished and all its personnel, records, appropriations, property and equipment 
are transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources. 
 
SECTION 17. Transitory Provisions. - In accomplishing the acts of organizing the 
department as herein prescribed, the following provisions shall be complied with: 
 
a) The transfer of a government unit or agency shall include the functions, Appropriations, 
funds, records, equipment, facilities, chooses in action, rights, other assets and 
liabilities, if any, of the transferred unit or agency as well as the personnel thereof, as 
may be necessary, who shall, pending reappointment, continue to perform their 
respective duties and responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and 
benefits in a hold-over capacity. 
 
b) The transfer of functions which results in the abolition of the government unit or agency 
that has exercised them, shall include the appropriations, funds, records, equipment, 
facilities, chooses in action, rights, other assets and personnel as may be necessary 
to the proper discharge of the transferred functions. Its liabilities, if any, shall likewise 


 
be treated in accordance with the Government Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, 
rules and regulations. Its personnel shall, pending reappointment, continue to perform 
their duties and responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and benefits in 
a holdover capacity. 
 
SECTION 18. Organization Committee. - The duly appointed Secretary of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources shall immediately create an organization committee which shall study and 
formulate the staffing pattern, qualification standards, and placement of personnel in the 
Department, its services, bureaus, and offices. The Committee shall be composed of 
representatives from the Department of Budget and Management, Civil Service Commission, 
the fishery industry and the academe. 
 
SECTION 19. Appropriations. - For the effective implementation of this Act, the amount of 
Php5 Billion is hereby appropriated from the funds of the National Treasury and the current 
budgetary appropriations of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, including its 
regional offices, the appropriations of the Philippine Fishing Development Authority, and the 
budgetary provision of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research Development. 
 
The revenues which the Department will generate from its licensing operations, the fees 
collected & the proprietary services delivered by the Department, and the administrative fines 
imposed by the National Fisheries Regulatory and Adjudication Bond shall constitute the 
Department's revolving fund from which amounts necessary to carry out the special research 
projects, management and conservation programs, staff development programs, and the 
acquisition of equipment, vessels, and airplanes, helicopters of the Monitoring and 
Surveillance Center shall be taken: Provided, however, That the fishpond rentals shall accrue 
to the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute as provided under Section 46 
(c) of Republic Act No. 8550. The use of such funds shall be projected to COA rules and 
regulations. 
 
SECTION 20. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional 
inoperative, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect. 
 
SECTION 21. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the Act or the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto are 
hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
 
SECTION 22. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication 
in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.