HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
pare 25 AUG 2016
BY:
Seventeenth Congress —_

First Regular Session REGISTRATION UNIT
3320 { BLLs AND INCE X SERVICE

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVKS
Quezon City, Metro Manila

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Gil P. Acosta

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall protect the
nation's marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone,
and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens, The Congress may, by law,
allow small-scale utilization of natural resources by Filipino citizens, as well as cooperative
fish farming, with priority to subsistence fishermen and fish- workers in rivers, lakes, bays,
and lagoons.

The enactment of Republic Act 8435 or the Agriculture and Fishery Modernization
Act (AFMA) adopted the principles to ensure that the poorer sectors of the society have
equitable access to resources, income opportunities, basic and support services and
infrastructure especially in areas where productivity is low as a means of improving their
quality of life compared with other sectors of society where public investment in agriculture
and fisheries must be put in place in order to assure efficiency and effectiveness in the use of
scarce resources and thus, obtain optimal returns on its investment.

Palawan has long been the source of food and non-food-based resources that the
whole country is enjoying. The vast oceans surrounding the island are proven to be a rich
source of fishery products and are supplying major markets in the country.

Palawan’s local fishermen have been harnessing these resources that ensure food
security. While many of our fisher folks now enjoy the catch, the difficulty of having those
catch processed and marketed to high end markets is obvious. The lack of facilities for post-
harvest activities precludes the further development of fishery products that commands more
value other than raw fresh produce.

The establishment of fish port complex in Barangay Macarascas and in Barangay
Tagburos in the City of Puerto Princesa shall fulfil the mandates elucidated in the articles of
Republic Act 8435 to modemize the agriculture and fishery sectors in the Philippines.

Once established, the fish port facilities will surely uplift the livelihood of fishermen
and fish workers in Palawan; the facilities will likewise provide an avenue for food security,
and the modernization of the sector will provide the sustainable harvest of resources and
conservation of fishing grounds

5 2


Taking into account the points raised, immediate passage of this bill is hereby

earnestly sought.
t a u

GJLP. ACOSTA

3" District of Palawan

FREDERICK F. ABUEG FRANZ JOSEF GEORGE E. ALVAREZ

2" District of Palawan 1* District of Palawan


wayauawne

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__ 3820

Introduced by Representative Gil P. Acosta

AN ACT ESTABLISHING FISH PORT COMPLEX
IN BARANGAYS MACARASCAS AND TAGBUROS IN THE CITY OF PUERTO
PRINCESA
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 Department of Agriculture (DA),
through the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), fish port complex in Barangays

Macarascas and Tagburos in the City of Puerto Princesa;

Section 2. The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department’s programs the establishment
of the fish ports, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 3. The city and municipal government units concerned shall set aside funds from any
available local revenue to fund the operationalization of the fish ports.

Section 4. The DA, through the PFDA, shall issue the rules and regulations necessary for the
effective implementation of this Act within sixty (60) days from its effectivity.

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.