Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill Number 2338

Introduced by REP. EMMANUEL “TAWI” BILLONES
and JANE TAN CASTRO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN AQUACULTURE FEED MILL PLANT IN
BARANGAY BAHIT, MUNICIPALITY OF PANAY, PROVINCE OF CAPIZ AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill has been approved in the 18" Congress, the House of Representatives under
House Bill No. 9622 per Committee Report No. 1056; and in consequence, the bill was
transmitted to the Senate, but the same was not finally passed because Congress had already
adjourned,

‘The aquaculture industry has been a source of livelihood in the Province of Capiz that
sustained the lives of many Capizefios and contributed to Roxas City’s being the Sea Food
Capital of the Philippines. What is more, the said aquaculture industry in the Province of Capiz
has substantially contributed to the national economy since the primary source of aquaculture
products, such as but not limited to prawns and mud crabs, that were exported to different
countries was the Province of Capiz. Sadly, the past years, however, have witnessed the
downturn and the demise of the industry. While the Province of Capiz remains to be a suitable
and befitting location for aquaculture industry, engaging in the same has become economically
tough and unavailing. The price of the aquaculture feeds has become so_ prohibitive if not
exorbitant to the point of rendering aquaculture not worth the toil. Solely, this is brought about
by the absence of an aquaculture feed mill plant in the Province of Capiz. At present, the
aquaculture feeds supply in Capiz comes partly from the Provinces of Iloilo and Cebu, while
the bulk come from Manila. The cost of transport of the aquaculture feeds from their sources


to Capiz jacks up the price of the feeds. This accounts to the high retail cost of the aquaculture
feeds which, in turn, diminishes if not negate the projected profit. The passage of this bill is
both necessary and urgent in order to save a very important industry that is intertwined not
only with the Capizefios’ economic environment but also their culture and tradition.

In this light, the passage of this bill is imperative and earnestly sought.

Cnr Lw v
EMMANUEL “TAWI” BILLONES

Representative
1* Congressior

‘Of Capiz

2™ Congressional District of Capiz


CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC}
NINETEENTH CONGRESS }
FIRST REGULAR SESSION }

HOUSE OF REP} TATIVE
WAO esse

BY: REPRESENTATIVES
EMMANUEL BILLONES AND JANE TAN CASTRO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN AQUACULTURE FEED MILL PLANT IN
BARANGAY BAHIT, MUNICIPALITY OF PANAY, PROVINCE OF CAPIZ
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and 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
(DA-BFAR), an aquaculture feed mill plant in Barangay Bahit, Municipality of
Panay, Province of Capiz.

SECTION 2. The DA-BFAR shall, upon the effectivity of this act,
prepare a project study and/or proposal detailing the mechanics for the
establishment of the aquaculture feed mill and the budget needed therefor. The
Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department’s programs the


establishment of the said aquaculture feed mill plant in Barangay Bahit,
Municipality of Panay, Province of Capiz, and the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 3. Within sixty (60) days from the passage of the Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture shall issue the rules and regulations on the establishment,
supervision, operation, monitoring, and the eventual transfer of the management
and operation of the feed mill plant to the Management Board which shall be
composed of five (5) members comprising of one (1) representative from each of
the Local Government Unit (LGU) concerned, the Panay Aqua Farmers
Consumer Cooperative (PAFCC) representing the private sector and which is
hereinafter referred to as the “Proponent Cooperative”, the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST), the Capiz State University (CAPSU), and the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The Management Board is the policy
making body of the aquaculture feed mill plant and its members shall serve for a
term of five (5) years.

SECTION 4. Within five (5) years after the establishment of the
aquaculture feed mill plant, the DA-BFAR, through a memorandum of
agreement, shall constitute and convene the abovementioned Management
Board, and transfer to the same the joint management of the aquaculture feed mill
plant with the assistance of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD). The DA-BFAR shall implement a
training and phasing-in program for the incoming members of the Management
Board on the management and operations of the aquaculture feed mill plant.

SECTION 5. The Management Board shall develop an education and
training program which shall cater the marginal fisherfolk to educate them on
new methods and technologies on aquaculture as well as the production of feeds.

SECTION 6. The LGU concerned shall set aside funds from any
available local revenue in an amount deemed appropriate for the operations of the
feed mill plant.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.