Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

‘House Bill No. 7237

Introduced by Honorable HORACIO P. SUANSING, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIII, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution provides:

“The State shall protect the rights of subsistence fishermen, especially of local
communities, to the preferential use of the communal marine and fishing
resources, both inland and offshore. It shall provide support to such fishermen
through appropriate technology and research, adequate financial, production,
and marketing assistance, and other services. The State shall also protect,
develop, and conserve such resources. The protection shall extend to offshore
{fishing grounds of subsistence fishermen against foreign intrusion. Fishworkers

shall receive a just share from their labor in the utilization of marine and fishing
resources.”

This bill seeks to establish an inland multi-species freshwater hatchery in the
Municipality of Kalamansig, Province of Sultan Kudarat. Given the municipality’
geographical makeup, Kalamansig’s local economic networks predominantly rely on
agricultural and fisheries production for income generation. The establishment of a
local multi-species freshwater hatchery under the supervision and management of the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture (BFAR-
DA) and the pursuit of research and experimentation in modern and locally adaptive
breeding and production techniques for freshwater species will help the Municipality
of Kalamansig in catalyzing the development of aquaculture as an alternative source
of municipal income.

Moreover, establishing a multi-species freshwater hatchery in Kalamansig will
provide additional direct employment to local workers and will expand and diversify
income opportunities to local workers that may have relevant and/or transferrable
skills, e.g,, those who fish in municipal waters, graduates of courses relating to
agriculture.


Furthermore, the establishment of a multi-species freshwater hatchery in Kalamansig
would aid in long-term efforts to assure food security not only in the municipality,
but in the Province of Sultan Kudarat as a whole.

In view of the potential benefits of the establishment of a local multi-species

freshwater hatchery in the Municipality of Kalamansig, Province of Sultan Kudarat,
early consideration and approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

HORACIO mane JR.
Second District of Sultan Kudarat


Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Moe Bill No. 7237

Introduced by Honorable HORACIO P. SUANSING, JR.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MULTI-SPECIES FRESHWATER HATCHERY IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF KALAMANSIG, PROVINCE OF SUL TAN KUDARAT,
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 Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA), a
multi-species freshwater hatchery in the Municipality of Kalamansig, Province of
Sultan Kudarat.

SECTION 2. Prior to the establishment of the multi-species freshwater hatchery, the
BFAR-DA shall conduct a full-scale Feasibility Study in support of its construction to
comply with the requirements of the Department of Budget and Management.

Within two (2) years after the construction of the multi-species freshwater
hatchery, the BFAR-DA, through a Memorandum of Agreement, shall transfer its
management to the local government unit of the Municipality of Kalamansig. The
BFAR-DA shall implement a training and phasing-in program for the personnel of the
local government unit concerned on the management and operation of the multi-
species freshwater hatchery.

SECTION 3. The BFAR-DA shall conduct continuing research and experimentation
in the breeding and production of freshwater species, especially as they apply to local
conditions, to discover new methods and technology that shall benefit and enhance
the fisheries industry.

SECTION 4. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department's programs
the establishment of the multi-species freshwater hatchery in the Municipality of
Kalamansig, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General


Appropriations Act. The local government unit concerned shall set aside funds from
any available revenue in an amount deemed appropriate for the operationalization of
the hatchery.

SECTION 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of
Agriculture shall issue the rules and regulations on the supervision, operation,
monitoring and the eventual transfer of the management of the multi-species
freshwater hatchery to the local government of Kalamansig.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication
either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of national circulation.

Approved,