Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session
5413

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ISAGANI S. AMATONG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Sibuco is a coastal municipality in the Province of Zamboanga del Norte
with a population of 34,620 as of the 2015 census. It faces the Sulu Sea and
thus, fishing is one of the major livelihoods of its residents.

Fishing sardines is the focus of the Sibuco fishermen. However, there are
other species of fish that are caught in the Sulu Sea such as tuna, red
grouper, Salay-salay Ginto (scad), and cuttlefish, which are regarded as “high-
valued species” because of its greater price in the market. To promote fishing
of “high-valued species” and to help the marginal fishermen boost their
income, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources together with the
Southern Philippines Deep Sea Fishing Association, Inc. (SOPHIL) has already
distributed free fishing gears for “high-valued species” to some fishermen in
the area. Despite this commendable action, however, another more pro-active
measure to promote “high-valued species fishing” is to add to the supply of
high-valued species in the Sulu Sea by using scientific and research-based
methods.

Thus, this bill seeks to establish a multi-species marine hatchery in the
Municipality of Sibuco in the Province of Zamboanga del Norte. A multi-species
hatchery will address the problem of low-income fishing of the residents and
will increase the supply of “high-valued species” in the Sulu Sea, thereby
contributing to the economic growth of Sibuco and nearby coastal areas and to
the livelihood of the residents. As such, the policy of the State to provide
support to such fishermen through appropriate technology and research,
adequate financial, production, and marketing assistance, and other services,
under the Constitution, will be promoted.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5413

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ISAGANI S. AMATONG

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF SIBUCO, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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 (BFAR-
DA), a multi-species marine hatchery in the Municipality of Sibuco,
Zamboanga del Norte.

SECTION 2. The BFAR-DA shall, within two (2) years after the establishment
of the multispecies hatchery, transfer the management of the same to the local
government of the Municipality of Sibuco through a memorandum of
agreement. The BFAR-DA shall implement a training and phasing-in program
for local government personnel on the management and operation of the multi-
species hatchery.

SECTION 3. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department’s
programs the establishment of the multi-species marine hatchery in the
Municipality of Sibuco, Province of Zamboanga del Norte, the funding of which
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The local government of the Municipality of Sibuco shall set aside funds
from any available local revenue such amounts as may be appropriate to
support the operation of the multi-species marine hatchery.

SECTION 4. Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the
Department of Agriculture shall issue the rules and regulations on the
supervision, monitoring, and eventual transfer of the management of the
multi-species marine hatchery.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.