RECEIVED
DATE December 5, 202105

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
House Bill No.10635

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 10654, which amended Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as “The
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998" provides that “Except in cases specified under this Code,
it shall also be unlawful for any commercial fishing vessel to fish in municipal waters.”
Unfortunately, intrusion of commercial fishing vessels within municipal waters remains
prevalent and unabated specially at night. There is also a problem in the implementation of
vessel monitoring measures as mandated by RA 10654 for commercial fishing vessels.

Hence, this bill which seeks to address this problem that leaves local fishermen at the mercy
of commercial fishing vessels.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is eaestly requested.

RUF . Ri }UEZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
Third Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 10635

AN ACT
TO ENHANCE PROTECTION TO MUNICIPAL FISHING AND ARTISANAL FISHERFOLKS
BY ESTABLISHING A TEN (10) KILOMETER MUNICIPAL FISHING BUFFER ZONE
BEYOND THE FIFTEEN (15) KILOMETER MUNICIPAL WATERS AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTIONS 4 AND 18 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8550 OR THE PHILIPPINE
FISHERIES CODE OF 1998, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as "The Philippine
Fisheries Code of 1998", is amended, as foliows:

"SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Code, the following terms
and phrases shall mean as follows:

XXX

57. Municipal fishing - refers to fishing within municipal waters OR WITHIN
MUNICIPAL WATERS BUFFER ZONE using fishing vessels of three (3)
gross tons or less, or fishing not requiring the use of fishing vessels.

58-A. MUNICIPAL WATERS BUFFER ZONE - MARINE WATERS
INCLUDED BETWEEN TWO (2) LINES DRAWN PERPENDICULAR TO
THE GENERAL COASTLINE FROM POINTS WHERE THE BOUNDARY
LINES OF THE MUNICIPALITY TOUCH THE SEA AT LOW TIDE AND A
FOURTH LINE PARALLEL TO THE THIRD LINE THAT SERVES AS
BOUNDARY OF THE MUNICIPAL WATERS AND TEN (10)
KILOMETERS FROM SUCH THIRD MUNICIPAL WATERS BOUNDARY
LINE.

xxx"
SEC. 2. Section 18 of the same Act is hereby amended, as follows:

"SEC. 18. Users of Municipal Waters. - All fishery related activities in
municipal waters OR IN MUNICIPAL WATERS BUFFER ZONE, as defined
in this Code, shall be utilized by municipal fisherfolk and their
cooperatives/organizations who are listed as such in the registry of
municipal fisherfolk AND SHALL BE LIMITED TO MUNICIPAL FISHING.

The DEPARTMENT, WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF THE municipal or
city government, however, may, through its local chief executive and acting
pursuant to an appropriate ordinance, authorize or permit small [and
medium] commercial fishing vessels to operate within the [ten point one


(10.1) to fifteen (15) kilometer area from the shoreline in] municipal waters
BUFFER ZONE as defined herein, provided, that all the following are met:

(a) no commercial fishing in municipal waters with depth less than seven
(7) fathoms as certified by the appropriate agency;

(b) fishing activities utilizing methods and gears that are determined to be
consistent with national policies set by the Department;

(©) prior consultation, through public hearing, with the M/CFARMC has
been conducted; [and]

(q) the applicant vessel as well as the shipowner, employer, captain and
crew have been certified by the appropriate agency as not having violated
this Code, environmental laws and related laws [.]; AND,

(E) THE APPLICANT VESSEL IS EQUIPPED WITH A VESSEL
MONITORING SYSTEM (VMS) THAT IS CONSISTENTLY REPORTING
ITS LOCATION PRESCRIBED BY AND REGISTERED WITH THE
DEPARTMENT.

In no case shail the authorization or permit mentioned above be granted
for fishing in bays as determined by the Department to be in an
environmentally critical condition and during closed season as provided for
in Sec. 9 of this Code.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations or
parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,