NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 415

Introduced by: HON. CARL NICOLAS C. CARL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations elucidated that aquaculture
in the Philippines has a long history and involves many species and farming practices in diverse
ecosystems. Most of the production comes from the farming of seaweed. milkfish. tilapia. shrimp.
carp, oysters, and mussels. Aquaculture contributes significantly to the country’s food security,
employment, and foreign exchange camings. Aquaculture is growing much faster than capture
fisheries. However, the global position of the Philippines in aquaculture production has fallen
steadily from 4" place in 1985 to 12 place today. The Philippines now contributes only a little
over one percent of global farmed fish production compared to five percent previously.

The future growth of Philippine aquaculture may not be sustained unless now markets are
developed, market competitiveness is strengthened, and farming risks are reduced. In this age of
intemational trade and competition, the Philippine aquaculture industry needs to plan and
implement a development and management program with a global perspective.

With this, we need an additional aquaculture center in Baybay City to fill the demand for
fish (and scashells) to fill the gap in fish production.

This bill was previously filed in the 18" Congress by the undersigned and was approved
by the House on 2020-11-25. It was transmitted and received by the Senate on 2020-11-26 and
was deliberated upon by the Senate Committee on Agriculture. Food and Agrarian Reform
together with the Senate Committee on Finance on 2021-06-16,

Respectfully submitted.

YE f=
(FES S
CARL NICOLAS C. CARE

Representative
5" District, Leyte



Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Guevon City. Met Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 415.

Introduced by: HON. CARL NICOLAS C. CARL

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MULTI-SPECIES MARINE HATCHERY IN BAYBAY.
CITY, PROVINCE OF LEYTE, 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 Burcau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA), multi-specie marine breeding
fami/stations and hatcheries for the production and multiplication of fish and shellfish in Bavbay.
Leyte

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

SECTION 3. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department of Agriculture's
programs the immediate establishment of the multipurpose fishery breeding farm and hatchery
herein mandated, Henceforth. funds for their operation and upkeep of needed facilities shall be
included in the General Appropriations Act. The local government unit concerned shall set aside
from any available local revenue such amounts as may be appropriate to support the operation of
the multi-purpose fishery breeding farm and hatchery

SECTION 4. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act. the BFAR-DA shall
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations on the supervision and monitoring.
and the transfer or withdrawal by the BFAR to implement this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fift
or. in a newspaper of general circulation

15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette

APPROVED,