FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our indigenous fish resources are an important part of our aquatic ecosystem. 
This proposed measure seeks to provide mechanisms to preserve and protect what is 
left of our precious fish resource, namely Cesfraeus P/icafi/is, commonly known as 
"Ludong". 
Ludong is a catamadrous fish; it grows upstream and migrates downstream to 
spawn, endemic to the rivers of Abra, Caraballo, Cordillera and Sierra Madre. Aptly 
called the "President's Fish, a kilogram of this delicious riverine delicacy costs about 
P hp4,OOO. 00. 
This fish appears seasonally from 2-6 days a year from October to November 
after heavy rains and during flashfloods. After spawning, the fish travels upstream but 
the eggs and larvae stay downstream. The fry migrate upstream from December to 
February during moon phase. 
The ludong population has diminished over the years by unrestrained and 
unregulated catching during its spawning season, coupled by destruction of its habitat 
like mangrove forests and watershed areas, and pollution of rivers and lakes making 
this rare and elusive fish threatened species. 
This bill seeks to address the situation by providing for the conservation and 
preservation of the ludong fish in the Philippines. It further seeks to establish a national 
council for the conservation and preservation of ludong, which will promulgate rules and 
regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this bill. 
In view of the above, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF THE FISH 
CESTRAEUS PLICATILlS IN THE PHILIPPINES, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 
“LUDONG”, 
PROVIDING A 
COMPREHENSIVE 
MECHANISM 
FOR 
INFORMATION, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION (IEC) 
CAMPAIGN, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Ludong 
Protecfion and Conservation Act of 2009’’ 
SEC. 2. 
Declarafion of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to protect and conserve the country’s natural resources and its precious aquatic 
resources. As such, the State shall implement measures to conserve and protect 
indigenous aquatic species found in the country and provide holistic programs on 
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign to educate the general 
public. 
Ludong fish in order to preserve and breed this threatened specie. 
Towards this end, the State shall pursue the protection and conservation of the 
SEC. 3. 
Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms shall be defined as follows: 
(a) 
“Conservation” means to protect, sustain, and, where appropriate, restore 
and enhance, healthy populations of Cestraeus Plicafilis (Ludong), as well 
as the habitats that are required to sustain the fish and its productivity by 
utilizing methods and procedures associated with modern scientific 
resource programs, including protection, research, census, 
law 
enforcement, habitat management, propagation, live trapping and 
transplantation, and regulated taking; 
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“Endemic species” means species or subspecies which are naturally 
occurring and found only within specific areas in the country; 
“Habitat“ means place or environment where species or subspecies 
naturally occur or has naturally established their population; 
“Ludong” Cesfraeus plicatilis is a catamadrous fish endemic to the rivers 
of Abra, Caraballo, Cordillera and Sierra Madre; 
“Riverine” means a system of inland wetlands and deep-water habitats 
associated with non-tidal flowing water, characterized by the absence of 
trees, shrubs, or emergent vegetation; 
“Secretary” refers to the Secretary of the Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources (DENR); 
“Threatened species” a general term to denote species or subspecies 
considered as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or other 
accepted categories of wildlife whose population is at risk of extinction; 
SEC. 4. 
Riverine Reseryafion Areas. - There shall be established and set 
aside in all Ludong habitats within the Philippines portions of rivers solely for the 
preservation, protection, and sustainable management of the Ludong fish. 
SEC. 5. 
National Council for the Preservation of the Ludong Fish. - 
There is hereby created a National Council for the Preservation of Ludong fish which 
shall be an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR). The Council shall be headed by the Secretary of the DENR as 
Chairman. The other members of the Council are the following: 
1 .) 
2.) 
3.) 
the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) or his representative; 
the Secretary of the Department of the interior and Local Government 
(DILG) or his representative; 
the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) or 
his representative; 
the Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); 
a representative from academic and research institutions; and 
a representative from an accredited nongovernmental organization. 
4.) 
5.) 
6.) 
The National Council shall have the following powers and functions: 
1 .) 
Prepare a comprehensive program for the conservation and preservation 
of the Ludong fish by conducting the necessary studies on the system and the mode of 
conservation and preservation of the above-cited fish species; 
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2.) 
3.) 
Identify and delineate the boundaries of the bodies of water which shall 
form part of the reservation areas; 
Have general control and supervision over all the local councils for the 
conservation and preservation of Ludong fish; 
provisions of this Act. 
4.) 
Promulgate the necessary rules and regulations necessary to carry out the 
SEC. 6. 
The Local Council for the Preservation of Ludong Fish. - There 
is hereby established a local council for the conservation and preservation of Ludong 
fish, hereinafter referred to as the “local council”, for each of the municipality where a 
reservation area has been identified. The local council shall be composed of the DENR 
Regional Executive Director under whose jurisdiction the reservation area is located 
who shall be the chairman with the following members: a representative of the municipal 
government concerned; a representative from each of the barangay under whose 
territory the reservation area is located; a representative from an accredited non- 
governmental organization and a representative from the private sector. 
The Local Council shall have the following powers and functions: 
1.) 
Implement and enforce all programs and policies laid down by the 
Carry out the general administration and day to day planning of the 
National Council; 
2.) 
program; 
3.) 
would endanger the successful implementation and viability of the program; and 
Secure the reservation area from illegal and destructive activities which 
4.) 
Perform other powers and functions as may be designated by the National 
Council. 
In order to secure the reservation area from illegal activities, the local council and 
the local government under whose, jurisdiction the reservation area is located shall 
employ the services of conservation guards who shall be tasked with the responsibility 
of monitoring the protected areas. They shall have the authority to make arrests against 
those caught violating the provisions of this Act or the rules and regulations issued 
pursuant thereto. 
SEC. 7. 
1) 
2) 
Prohibited Acts - The following acts are hereby prohibited: 
Harvesting of Ludong fish within the reservation areas; 
Illegal fishing activities prejudicial to the reservation areas; 
3 


3) 
Dumping of mine tailing and other industrial wastes within the reservation 
areas; 
Construction or reclamation within the jurisdiction of the reservation areas 
without the necessary license, permit or authority; 
4) 
5) 
Other acts or activities which will result in the destruction of the 
reservation areas. 
SEC. 8. 
Penalties. - Any person, natural or juridical, found guilty of violating 
this Act or any rules and regulations issued by the National Council shall, after notice 
and hearing by the regular courts of record, be fined in the amount of not less than ten 
thousand pesos (Phpl0,000.00) but not more than fifiy thousand pesos (Php50,000.00, 
or imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years, or both, at 
the discretion of the Court: Provided, That if the area requires rehabilitation or 
restoration as determined by the court, the offender shall also be required to restore or 
compensate for the restoration of the damage. 
If the offender is an association or corporation, the president or manager shall be 
directly responsible for the act of his employees and laborers. 
SEC. 9. 
Information, Education and Communication (lEC) Campaign. - 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with 
the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), shall 
conduct a nationwide information, education and communication (IEC) campaign in 
order to inform the general public on the need to conserve and protect our indigenous 
aquatic fish resources. 
SEC. 10. 
Appropriation. - The amount necessary to implement the 
provisions of this act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general 
appropriations of the DENR and the various agencies of the government involved in the 
implementation of the National Council for the Preservation of the Ludong Fish and in 
the various provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 11. 
lmplementing Rules and Regulations (lRR). - Within six (6) 
months from the date of effectivity of this Act, the DENR, in consultation with the DA 
and DlLG shall promulgate necessary implementing rules and regulations to implement 
the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 12. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 13. 
Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of 
this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 14. 
Hfectivify. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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