HOUSE OF REPEL

REC

Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

“TION UNI
BILLS ANU INDEX SERVICE

1399

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish the Philippine Eel Research Center in the
Municipality of Jabonga, Province of Agusan del Norte.

Global demand for eels has been growing dramatically. Between 1997
and 2007, around a million tons of eel commodities were exported worldwide
valuing over USD 1 billion. It is estimated that 400,000 tons of live eels were
exported during the same period reaching a peak of over 50,000 tons in the
year 2004 (FAO, 2009). The mounting appetite is mainly driven by East Asia
where eels are highly prized as a delicacy for its believed medicinal and
aphrodisiac properties.

Eels command a premium price in the world market. In the
Philippines alone, an adult eel could fetch P1,000 while a of eel fries
would cost P15,000. However, these tempting rewards have attracted many
people to gather ecls in the wild leading to serious deterioration of its
population. In fact, the Anguillid eel found in the Philippines is now
considered an endangered species.

Exacerbating the effect of over-gathering is the very nature on how
eels grow and develop. Eels are catadromous, meaning in their life cycle they
live partly in saltwater (spawning area) and freshwater (growth habitat).
Currently, there is no method to reproduce eel larva for aquaculture due to
these natural complexities; thus fishermen need to catch the wild eels when
they enter the river and travel upstream, and farm them in ponds.

In order to ensure that Filipinos will be able to benefit sustainably in
the lucrative global trade of eels, the government must build research and
technological capabilities in the breeding of eels and development of eel
fishery management measures.

‘The Municipality of Jabonga in the Province of Agusan del Norte is an
ideal location for such research center for eels due to its proximity to both


Lake Mainit and Butuan Bay where these creatures thrive. There are no
official records on the actual production in the province; however gathering
of eels, known locally as casili, and its fries in the adjacent areas has been
going on for a long time. Notably, the casili even grew to become closely
associated with Agusan del Norte as a local delicacy.

In addition, the establishment of the first eel farm in the Philippines
in the nearby City of Cabadbaran will be a boost to our bid to host this
research center because this will foster public-private partnership in the
effective transfer and application of technologies.

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

ERLPE wk ne! AMANTE


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

138°

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE EEL RESEARCH CENTER
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF JABONGA, PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL
NORTE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
session assembled.

SECTION 1. Short Title, - This Act shall be known as the
“Philippine Eel Research Center Act.”

SECTION 2. Creation of the Philippine Eel Research Center. —
‘There is hereby created a Philippine Eel Research Center, hereinafter
referred to as the PERC, which shall lead in the research and
development related to the eel industry, and shall be under the
supervision and control of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources. The PERC shall be located in the Municipality of Jabonga,
Province of Agusan del Norte.

SECTION 3. Objectives and Functions - The PERC shall have the
following objectives and functions:

a. Undertake scientific research activities to support the
development of the eel industry particularly in the areas of cel
cultivation, processing, and conservation;

b. Conduct training programs for farmers, entrepreneurs, and
private corporations to transfer knowledge and technology on
the proper reproduction and cultivation of eels, as well as
processing for domestic and foreign consumption;



c. Implement conservation and preservation programs for all
indigenous eel species; and,

d. Enter into memoranda of agreement and receive donations
through the Department of Agriculture from local and foreign
sources.

SECTION 4. Executive Director of the PERC. — The Executive
Director of the PERC shall be appointed by the Secretary of
Agriculture

SECTION 5. Personnel and Staff — The PERC Executive Director
shall appoint such other personnel and staff as may be necessary for
the effective operation of the PERC subject to existing rules and
regulations.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Secretary
of Agriculture shall issue rules and regulations as he may deem
necessary for the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriation. — The amount necessary to carry out
the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and
thereafter.

Any income from the sale of elver stocks and other
valuable produce of the PERC shall be placed in a revolving fund to be
used to support its operations.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected
hereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 10. —_Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,