Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
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Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish a multi-purpose farm for the breeding, spawning, and hatchery 
of catfish, tilapia, mudfish, eel, and other fresh water fishes, which are viable in concrete tanks and 
mud ponds in the Municipality of Santa Maria, Province of Pangasinan. 
Santa Maria is a land-locked municipality, and many of its communities rely mostly on 
agriculture, particularly the cultivation of rice, corn, and assorted vegetables. Fish, which is 
integral to a healthy staple food for everyone, along with rice, meat, fruits and vegetables, is scarce 
and expensive in this locality. And so, the creation of the proposed multi-purpose farm in Santa 
Maria presents a viable solution to the scarcity of, and will timely meet the increasing demand for, 
this aquatic commodity in this Municipality. It will provide, for its communities, a stable source 
of fry or fingerlings as well as reliable technical expertise for the care and operation of small-scale 
fish farms; thereby, ultimately leading to the empowerment of many people in these communities 
and the creation of secondary income streams, which will augment their incomes from agriculture. 
Moreover, it will empower small-scale fish farmers and strengthen local aquaculture, which leads to 
inclusive rural development, contributes to food security, and aligns with Section 7, Article XIII, of 
the 1987 Constitution, which mandates the State to protect the rights of subsistence fishermen, 
especially of local communities, to the preferential use of local marine and fishing resources, both 
inland and offshore. 
This proposed bill, although local in its scope and application, will eventually redound to 
nation-building, as it will provide a viable source of livelihood for people in the rural areas of 
Santa Maria, and eradicate poverty subsisting therein, particularly in far-lung communities. 
Moreover, it will also help in the rejuvenation of the fish industry. 
It is for the above reasons that approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
6th District, Pangasinan 
July 3, 2025
5:23 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MULTI-PURPOSE FARM FOR THE BREEDING, 
SPAWNING, AND HATCHERY OF CATFISH, TILAPIA, MUDFISH, EEL, AND OTHER 
FRESH WATER FISHES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SANTA MARIA, PROVINCE OF 
PANGASINAN. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative 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 (BFAR-DA), a multi-purpose farm for 
the breeding, spawning, and hatchery of catfish, tilapia, mudfish, eel, and other fresh water fishes 
in the Municipality of Santa Maria, Province of Pangasinan. 
SECTION 2. The BFAR-DA shall disseminate its technical knowledge and expertise on 
the culture of catfish, tilapia, mudfish, eel, and other fresh water fishes to the people in the 
Municipality of Santa Maria, Province of Pangasinan; and shall continuously conduct research and 
experimentation on the breeding, spawning, hatchery, and culture of these fish species with the 
aim of discovering new cost-effective methods and technologies, especially as they apply to local 
conditions.  
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department’s programs the 
establishment of the multi-purpose farm for the breeding, spawning, and hatchery of catfish, 
tilapia, mudfish, eel, and other fresh water fishes in the Municipality of Santa Maria, Province of 
Pangasinan, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
Further, the local government unit concerned shall set aside an amount deemed appropriate for the 
operation and maintenance of the said multi-purpose farm to be sourced from any of its available 
local revenue.  
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SECTION 4. The BFAR-DA shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to 
implement this Act.  
 
SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
 
 
 
Approved.