Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
      First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___________ 
_____________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Honorable Gerardo “Gerryboy” J. Espina, Jr. 
_____________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill was originally filed in the 18th Congress. It was approved by the House and was 
transmitted and received by the Senate. After thorough deliberations, the Senate committee referred 
the bill for 2rd reading. However, the Senate failed to act on the approval of the said measure. Hence, 
it is now being re-filed in the 19th Congress. 
Biliran aside from being a coastal municipality, one of the main livelihoods of the 
people is fishing marine creatures like shrimp, crabs, shells, seaweeds, and squids. As the 
years go by, fish were in real short supply, fisherfolks had to go far off the coast to find 
fish. Admittedly, our marine resources may not be sustainably available since the resource 
competition is intense.  To lighten the impact of resource depletion, the available 
technologies that improves stocks of high-value marine commodities could be propagated 
by establishing a multi-species marine hatchery in areas where it is most likely to succeed, 
and where resource end-users could best benefit from these facilities. 
The bill seeks to establish a multi-species marine hatchery in the municipality of 
Biliran to catalyze the development of aquaculture in the town which can provide both 
direct and indirect employment to its people. 
Furthermore, the municipality of Biliran in the province of Biliran hosts the Biliran 
Province State University (BiPSU) where, as an educational institution, champions the 
honing of skills of our youth in agriculture, fisheries, sustainable development and 
extension services. While the DA-BFAR's mandate includes the popularization of 
aquaculture and similar endeavors, the task to manage and sustain a multi-species marine 
hatchery in the municipality of Biliran area could best be handled by the BiPSU where the 
location and human resources are readily available.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Hon. Gerardo “Gerryboy” J. Espina, Jr. 
Representative 
Lone District of Biliran 
July 26, 2022
11:32 am
2329


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___________ 
_______________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Honorable Gerardo “Gerryboy” J. Espina, Jr. 
_______________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY  
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BILIRAN, PROVINCE OF BILIRAN 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 (BFAR-DA), a multi-
species marine hatchery in the Municipality of Biliran, Province of Biliran. 
SEC. 2. The BFAR-DA shall, within two (2) years after the establishment of the multi-
species marine hatchery, transfer the management of the same to the Biliran Province State 
University (BiPSU) through a memorandum of agreement. The BFAR-DA shall implement 
a training and phasing-in program for BIPSU personnel on the management and operation 
of the hatchery 
The BFAR-DA and the BIPSU shall conduct continuing research and 
experimentation on the breeding and production of marine species, especially as they 
apply to local conditions, to discover new methods and technology that shall benefit the 
fisheries industry. Furthermore, they shall develop an extension program that shall cater 
to the marginal fisherfolk on the propagation of high-value marine species. 
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 
Biliran, Province of Biliran, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General 
2329


Appropriations Act. The BIPSU shall set aside funds from any available revenue in an an 
amount deemed appropriate for the operationalization of the hatchery. 
SECTION 5. Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the Department of 
Agriculture and the BIPSU shall issue the rules and regulations on the establishment, 
supervision, monitoring, and the eventual transfer of the management of the multi-species 
marine hatchery to the BIPSU. 
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in national newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved.