Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by 
HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF 
HINUNANGAN, PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
This bill seeks to establish a multi-species marine hatchery in the Municipality of Hinunangan, 
Province of Southern Leyte.  It will not only address the decreasing supply of fish and other marine 
products but will also contribute to economic development and poverty alleviation.   
Historically known for its rich marine resources, the Municipality of Hinunangan has always been 
self-sufficient in its fish requirements.  In the last decade, however, its marine food supply is 
seriously being threatened by the impacts of climate change that seasonally destroy fishing 
equipment and mangrove ecosystems that serve as a source of food and a nursery ground for a 
number of fish species that are important to local fisheries, changing economic structures that 
open job opportunities for local folks outside the province, and increasing access to higher 
education even for the children of poor families.  The present reality is disturbing since it is vital 
to the integrity of a local economy and to the livelihood of its residents that a sustainable supply 
of fisheries is maintained.  Moreover, other municipalities will also put pressure on the supply of 
fisheries if no alternative livelihood sources are made available or if no measures to increase the 
supply of fisheries are undertaken.   
Fish hatchery technology is already proven globally but has been slow in being introduced in the 
country due to the prohibitive cost of establishing the same.  Thus, it is necessary that government 
funds are invested to promote it to give the present fisherfolk a chance to increase their catch or 
for fish operators to increase their yield.  Even the country’s fishery agency has called for the 
necessity of putting a fish hatchery in every province. 
The Hinunangan Central Multi-Species Marine Hatchery that will be created under this measure 
will reduce the reliance on imported fried in the Second District of Southern Leyte as it will be 
tasked to produce good quality eggs of different marketable marine species that will be sold to the 
satellites for hatching and larva rearing.  
September 9, 2022
4:44 pm
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Corollarial, this measure would spur economic activity, provide livelihood, and ensure food 
security to a district still recovering from the damage of Typhoon Odette. 
In view of the foregoing, ug sa ngalan sa SERBISYONG TINUORAY, approval of the bill is 
earnestly sought. 
CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
Representative, Second District of Southern Leyte 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by 
HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF HINUNANGAN, PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE, 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 by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the 
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Department of Agriculture (DA-BFAR) a multi-species marine hatchery in the 
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Municipality of Hinunangan, Province of Southern Leyte to be known as the “Hinungan 
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Central Multi-Species Marine Hatchery”.   
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SEC. 2. Within three (3) years after the start of operations, the DA-BFAR shall transfer the 
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management of the multi-species marine hatchery to the local government of the 
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Municipality of Hinunangan.  In preparation for the said transfer, a training and phasing-
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in program shall be implemented by BFAR-DA in collaboration with the Southern Leyte 
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State University (SLSU) for the local government personnel as early as the start of 
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operations. 
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SEC. 3. Notwithstanding the transfer of the management of the multi-species marine hatchery, 
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the BFAR-DA, together with SLSU, shall continue to collaborate with and provide 
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technical assistance to the LGU personnel in undertaking research and experimentation 
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on the breeding and production of marine species as they apply to local conditions, the 
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establishment of satellite hatcheries, and to introduce innovative simple techniques that 
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can support the needs of the small-scale farmers and hatchery operators to ensure the 
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sustainable growth of the fishing industry in Southern Leyte.   
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SEC. 4. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department’s programs the establishment 
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and operation of the multi-species marine hatchery in the Municipality of Hinunangan, 
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Southern Leyte, the funding of which shall be included in the allocation of the Department
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from the annual General Appropriations Act. The local government of the Municipality 
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of Hinunangan shall set aside funds from any available local revenue in an amount deemed 
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appropriate for the operation of the hatchery. 
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SEC. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
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issue the rules and regulations on the establishment, management, operation, supervision, 
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monitoring, and transfer of the multi-species marine hatchery and the exit of DA-BFAR 
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personnel from the facility. 
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SEC 6.  All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are 
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contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 7.  Should any part or provision of this Act be held unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions 
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which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or 
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in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,      
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