FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 547 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution under Article XIII, Section 7 explicitly provides that the 
State shall protect the rights of subsistence fisherfolk, 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 fisherfolk 
through appropriate technology and research, adequate financial, production, 
and marketing assistance, and other services. The right of fishworkers to receive 
a just share from their labor in the utilization of marine and fishing resources is 
likewise expressly affirmed in the same provision. 
This mandate is echoed in Chapter I, Section 2 of Republic Act Noo 8550 
(RA 8550), otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, which 
declares the state policy that the rights of fisherfolk shall be protected and that to 
them shall be extended all the support that they need to improve their quality of 
living. In pursuance of these legal provisions, the Department of Agriculture has 
promulgated rules and regulations and other issuances to give life to these noble 
principles. 
This bill gives paramount importance to the sufficient identification of the 
fishing vessel and its crew and the provision of proper training and equipment 
relating to disaster preparedness. This is another step towards truly empowering 
our fisherfolk, alleviating their quality of life and those of their families, and 
assuringothem of the dignity that they deserve, in life and even in death. 
°In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.5 47 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
AMEN.DING SECTIONS 19,28,30,37,38 AND 65 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
8550, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 
. 
1998 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 8550 ("RA 8550'), otherwise 
known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"Sec. 19. Registry of Municipal Fisherfolk. -The LGU shall maintain a 
registry of municipal fisherfolk, who are fishing or may desire to fish in 
municipal waters for the purpose of IDENTIFICATION OF THESE 
INDIVIDUALS, OF determining priorities among them, of limiting entry into 
the municipal waters, and of monitoring fishing activities and/or other 
related purposes: Provided, That the FARMC shall submit to the LGU the 
list of priorities for its consideration. 
xxx 
The LGUs shall also maintain a registry of municipal fishing vessels by 
type of gear and other boat particulars with the assistance of the FARMC. 
THIS REGISTRY SHALL LIKEWISE BE POSTED IN BARANGAY HALLS 
OR OTHER STRATEGIC LOCATIONS WHERE IT SHALL BE OPEN TO 
PUBLIC INSPECTION." 
SEC. 2. Section 28 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 28. Commercial Fishing Vessels Registration. - The registration, 
documentation, inspection and manning of the operation of all types of fishing 
vessels plying Philippine waters shall be in accordance with existing laws, rules 
and 
regulations, 
ESPECIALLY 
THOSE 
PERTAINING 
TO 
THE 
SEAWORTHINESS OF THE VESSELS, THE SAFETY OF THEIR CREW AND 
DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLANS." 
SEC. 3. Section 30 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 30. Renewal of Commercial Boat License. - The commercial fishing 
boat licehse shall be renewed every three (3) years: PROVIDED, THAT THE 
FISHING VESSEL HAS PASSED THE EVALUATION OF THE APPROPRIATE 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS SEAWORTHINESS AND 


, 
ITS COMPLIANCE WITH DISASTER MANAGEMENT MEASURES AS MAY BE 
PROVIDED BY LAW, RULES AND REGULATIONS." 
SEC. 4. Section 37 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 37. Medical Supplies and Life-Saving Devices. - All fishing vessels 
shall be provided with adequate medical supplies and life-saving devices to be 
determined by the Occupational Safety and Health Center: Provided, That [a 
fishing vessel of twenty (20) GT or more shall have as a member of its crew a 
person qualified as a first aider duly certified by the Philippine National Red 
Cross] ALL MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF FISHING VESSELS SHALL BE 
REQUIRED TO UNDERGO MANDATORY BASIC FIRST-AID AND DISASTER 
PREPAREDNESS TRAINING UNDER THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED 
CROSS, FREE OF CHARGE; PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT ALL FISHING 
VESSELS SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH STANDARD FIRST-AID KITS AS MAY 
BE DETERMINED BY THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS." 
SEC. 5. Section 38 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 38. Reportorial Requirements. - Each commercial fishing vessel 
shall keep a daily record of THE COMPLETE NAMES OF THE MEMBERS OF 
THE CREW ONBOARD, fish catch and spoilage, landing pOints, and quantity 
and value of fish caught, and off-loaded for transshipment, sale and/or other 
disposal. Detailed information shall be duly certified by the vessel's captain and 
transmitted monthly to the officer or representative of the Department, at the 
nearest designated landing point." 
SEC. 6. Section 65 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 65. Functions of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
-As aline bureau, the BFAR shall have the following functions: 
, 
x x x 
c. issue identification cards AND CORRESPONDING STAINLESS STEEL 
NAME TAGS SIMILAR TO THOSE USED BY MILITARY PERSONNEL, 
'free of charge, to fishworkers engaged in commercial fishing. 
THESE IDENTIFICATION CARDS AND TAGS SHALL CONTAIN THE 
COMPLETE NAME OF THE MEMBER OF THE CREW, HER/HIS 
RELIGION, BLOOD GROUP WITH 
RH FACTOR, AND SOCIAL 
SECURITY NUMBER. 
THE CREW MEMBER SHALL ATTEST TO THE TRUTH OF THE 
FOREGOING INFORMATION AS STATED IN HEN HIS IDENTIFICATION 
CARD 
AND 
TAG. 
SUCH 
ATTESTATION 
SHALL 
BE 
STATED 
EXPLICITLY IN THE CORRESPONDING IDENTIFICATION CARD: " 
xxx 
SEC. 7. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other issuances 
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed 
and modified accordingly. 
SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the completion 
of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved,