Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |; ©
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 8120

Introduced by Representative Gabriel H. Bordado, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is a country rife with natural resources. Being an archipelago,
with a total coastline length of 36,289 km and a total territorial water area of
2,200,000 sq km, marine resources are abundant and contribute significantly to the
country's economic stability. Aside from its income generation for the country, fishing
plays an important role in both the Filipinos’ food security and employment.

In 2017, the Philippines, where fish ranks second only to rice as the staple
food, had a mean per capita consumption of fish and fishery products of 40 kg/year.
And as of 2018, fishing contributed 13.3% of the total gross value added of the
agriculture sector, providing a source of income to 1.9 million fisherfolk in the
country.

Agriculture and fishing also plays a major role in the economy of the Bicol
Region, which is surrounded by Lamon Bay to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the
west, and Sibuyan Sea and Ragay Gulf to the west. Though not the largest
contributor to the fishing industry, Region V still supplied 6.6% of the P265 billion
generated in the country last 2018. It is an industry that adds to the efforts of
improving the lives of Bicolanos.

tt is important to both nurture and strengthen this thriving industry as well as

protect and preserve the marine ecosystem not only in the region but also in the
country. This bill seeks to create a multi-species hatchery in Brgy. Balongay,

Calabanga, Camarines Sur.
|. BORDADO, JR.

i¢t, Camarines Sur

/

Resources
Lamarca, Napoleon Salvador J. Fisheries Country Profs: The Philippines. 2017

Fish Contribution to the Economy, 2018. BFAR-DA Website. 2018.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No, _8120
Introduced by Representative Gabriel H. Bordado, Jr.

“AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SATELLITE MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY IN
BARANGAY BALONGAY, MUNICIPALITY OF CALABANGA, PROVINCE OF
CAMARINES SUR, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 4. There shall be established, under the supervision of the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA), a
satellite multi-species marine hatchery (HATCHERY) in Barangay Balongay,
Municipality of Calabanga, Province of Camarines Sur.

SEC. 2. The BFAR-DA shall transfer the management of the hatchery to the local
government of Calabanga within two (2) years after its construction through a
memorandum of agreement. It shall implement a training and phasing-in program for
local government personnel on the management and operation of the satellite
hatchery.

SEC. 3. The Secretary of Agriculture shalll include in the Department's programs the
establishment of the hatchery in the Municipality of Calabanga, the funding of which
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The local government
unit concemed shall set aside funds from any available local revenue in an amount
deemed appropriate for the operationalization of the hatchery.

SEC. 4. 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 subsequent transfer of the management of the hatchery to the
local government of Calabanga.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from complete publication in
the Official Gazette or in the newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,