REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. CESAR V. SARMIENTO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Global statistics would reveal that nearly half of all fish eaten today is
farmed, not caught. This is true for the Philippines. Latest statistics show that
45.6% of fish produced came from aquaculture zones production compared to
27.2% for municipal fisheries and 27.2% for capture fisheries. The diminishing
productivity encountered by both municipal and capture fisheries proves that
mariculture parks are the key to providing sustainable livelihood to coastal
fishermen.

Mariculture, or sea farming, involves the cultivation of marine
organisms for food and other products in the open ocean, in an enclosed
section of the ocean, or in tanks, ponds or raceways which are filled with
seawater.

Catanduanes, being an island, is endowed with rich marine and aquatic
resources. All towns in the province, except for one, have a coastal area.
Majority of my constituents’ livelihood is fishing and the establishment of such
parks in my district will provide opportunities for a sustainable sea farming that
will benefit our coastal communities.

Mariculture is an economic enhancement strategy that involves key
infrastructure development and technology transfer that will equip fishermen,
cooperatives, associations, and investors to venture into cost efficient and
sustainable mariculture projects. It is in this light that the passage of this bill is

earnestly sought.
Se

CESAR V. SARMIENTO


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

en

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. CESAR V. SARMIENTO.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MARICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PARK IN
THE MUNICIPALITIES OF VIRAC, BATO, BARAS, GIGMOTO, VIGA,
PANGANIBAN, BAGAMANOC, SAN ANDRES, CARAMORAN AND
PANDAN IN THE PROVINCE OF CATANDUANES AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There is hereby established, under the supervision of the
Department of Agriculture, a Mariculture Development Park in the
municipalities of Virac, Bato, Baras, Gigmoto, Viga, Panganiban, Bagamanoc,
San Andres, Caramoran and Pandan in the Province of Catanduanes.

SECTION 2. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the
Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA) and the Catanduanes State Colleges
College of Agriculture and Fisheries (CSC-CAF) are hereby tasked to provide
technical assistance in the establishment and maintenance of such facilities
as may be necessary to implement the intents and purposes of this Act. For
this purpose, the BFAR-DA together with the CSC-CAF and the concerned
Local Government Units (LGUs), shall formulate the operating guidelines
necessary for the operation and maintenance of the said mariculture

development parks.


SECTION 3. The BFAR-DA, in coordination with CSC-CAF and the
concerned LGUs, shall conduct continuing experimentation for the purpose of
improving said park and for maximizing income potentials of the fishermen in
the area.

SECTION 4. The base of research operations shall be the BFAR-DA in
Virac, Catanduanes and the CSC-CAF.

SECTION 5. The BFAR-DA, CSC-CAF in collaboration with the LGUs
concerned shall take steps as may be necessary to promote and attract
investments in this economic endeavor.

SECTION 6. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the
Department's programs the establishment of said mariculture development
parks, the funding of which shall be included in the General Appropriations
Act. The LGUs concerned shall set aside funds from any available local
revenues in an amount deemed appropriate for its operationalization

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in two newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,