TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session  
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. 1857
Introduced by Representative Binky April M. Tupas 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
AN ACT  
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND COASTAL 
RESOURCES, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
 Based on the Philippine Fisheries Profile prepared by the Bureau of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources1, a total of 2,299,127 fisherfolk engaged in 
diverse fishing and aquaculture activities were registered in the BFAR 
Fisherfolk Registration System (FishR) in 2023. Majority of which are involved 
in capture fishing which accounts for 50.9% of the total livelihood distribution, 
followed by aquaculture with 11.4%, gleaning with 11.1%, fish vending with 
7.0%, and fish processing with 2.0%. 
In 2023, fisheries production recorded a total volume of 4.26 million MT 
equating to a total value of Php 328.74 billion. Although the production volume 
experienced a slight decline from 4.34 million MT in 2022, the total production 
value increased by about Php 2.00 billion from the previous year’s 
performance. Aquaculture held the largest volume share at 56.0%, while 
capture fisheries, composed of both commercial and municipal fisheries, 
accounted for 44.1% of the total fisheries production volume. Conversely, 
capture fisheries contributed a substantial 62.3% share of the total value of 
production, equating to Php 204.72 billion. Aquaculture, on the other hand, 
contributed only Php 124.02 billion, or 37.7% of the total value, despite having 
a significant production volume. 
Seaweed remained the top produced commodity across all sub sectors 
with 1.62 million MT or 38.2% of the total volume production which accounted 
to approximately Php 12.71 billion. This was followed by tuna which 
contributed the largest share in terms of production value with Php 51.08 
billion. Milkfish, sardines, tilapia, roundscad, and big-eyed scad were also 
among the top commodities with the highest production volume, with each 
contributing more than 100,000 MT to the total fisheries production. In terms 
of value, tuna ranked the highest contribution to the total value of production 
1 2023 Philippine Fisheries Profile, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, October 
2024 
July 14, 2025
1:36 pm




TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session  
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. 1857
Introduced by Representative Binky April M. Tupas 
AN ACT  
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND COASTAL 
RESOURCES, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Republic of the Philippines in Congress assembled:  
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Department of 
Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act of 2025.”  
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State: 
(a) To protect and conserve the nation’s fisheries, coastal, and marine wealth
in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone, and the
adjacent high seas;
(b) To undertake the sustainable development and management of all
fisheries, coastal, and marine resources in its archipelagic waters, territorial
sea, and exclusive economic zone;
(c) To reserve fisheries, coastal, and marine resources for the exclusive use
and enjoyment of Filipino citizens and to protect the rights of small-scale
fishermen subsisting on the nation’s marine resources.;
(d) To ensure the rational and sustainable development, management and
conservation of the fishery and aquatic resources in Philippine waters
including the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and in the adjacent high seas,
consistent with the primordial objective of maintaining a sound ecological
balance, protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment. The
Philippines shall pursue its commitment to international conventions and
cooperate with other states and international bodies, in order to conserve and
manage threatened, aquatic species, straddling and highly migratory fish
stocks and other living marine resources.
SEC. 3. Creation of the Department of Fisheries and Coastal Resources. 
– There is hereby created the Department of Fisheries and Coastal
Resources, hereinafter referred to as the Department.


SEC. 4. Jurisdiction of the Department. – The Department shall have 
primary jurisdiction over the conservation, development, exploration, 
management, policy planning and utilization of all fishery and coastal 
resources of the country, including the habitats of fish and all other marine life 
and activities which impact on marine life.  
 
The Department shall have the authority to supervise and regulate the 
production and harvesting of fish and fishery products within its jurisdiction, 
as well as the processing and marketing of all fisheries and aquatic products 
in the country.  
 
Municipal waters shall remain under the jurisdiction of local government units 
which shall manage the municipal waters in accordance with national fishery 
policies, laws, rules and regulations.  
 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. – The Department shall have the following 
powers, functions and responsibilities:  
 
I. Policy and Planning  
 
(a) Formulate, recommend. and implement national policies, plans, and 
programs, and guidelines on fisheries and coastal resources;  
 
(b) Formulate and implement, consistent with the development framework of 
the National Economic and Development Authority, a fishery and aquatic 
resources development program with the objectives of food security and 
sustainable development;  
 
(c) Formulate policies and initiatives based on the commitments of the country 
on international treaties and agreements;  
 
(d) Prepare and implement a Comprehensive Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources Management Plan;  
 
II. Enforcement, Regulation and Industry Development  
 
(e) Implement the provisions of Republic Act No. 8550 and the relevant 
provisions of Republic Act No. 8435 and enforce all fishery laws, rules and 
regulations;  
 
(f) Promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to the classification, 
construction, maintenance and operation of all fishing ports, landing sites and 
fish markets and the operations of business therein except those owned and 
operated by LGUs;    
 
(g) Exercise quasi-judicial functions to resolve and settle conflicts on resource 
use and allocation in consultation with the National Fisheries Regulatory and 
Adjudication Board (NFRAB) and LGUs;   
 
(h) Regulate and issue licenses and permits for the operation of commercial 
fishing vessels and fishery related activities; 
 


(i) Provide a fisheries modernization credit program to finance fishery projects 
of fishermen, fish farmers, fish processors, commercial fishers, and other 
stakeholders in the fishing industry; 
 
(j) Acquire, maintain, operate, purchase or dispose equipment and facilities 
such as slupyards, fishing vessels, fishing equipments, refrigerated trucks, 
ice plants and cold storages, communication, and aquaculture facilities;  
 
(k) Fix, assess and collect reasonable fees, tolls, charges, rentals and the like 
for the use, sale, lease or properties, equipment, facilities and services;  
 
(l) Provide infrastructure support such as municipal fishing ports, farm to 
market roads, quality laboratories in fish ports, marketing facilities, local 
fisheries shipbuilding and repair facilities, and post-harvest facilities, in 
cooperation with concerned agencies;  
 
(m) Implement a National Marketing Assistance Program aimed at providing 
a steady market for fishermen, fish farmers and fishery –related enterprises;   
 
III. Resource Sharing and Capability-Building  
 
(n) Ensure knowledge, information and resource-sharing, and database-
building on fisheries, coastal and marine-related information;    
 
(o) Develop the Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Information 
System (PFARIS) that will serve as the depository and information server of 
all fisheries, aquatic, and marine-related information; 
 
(p) Assist and provide technical expertise to government agencies and local 
government units;   
 
IV. Fisheries Conservation and Management  
 
(q) Promulgate rules, and regulations governing the conservation, 
exploration, and utilization of all fishery and coastal resources except in 
municipal waters; 
 
(r) Designate marine sanctuaries and marine protected areas; 
 
(s) Engage in the conservation, protection and rehabilitation of rare, 
threatened and endangered marine species as it may determine, including 
their habitats; 
 
(t) Institutionalize a monitoring control and surveillance system to ensure that 
fisheries, aquatic, and marine resources are utilized and managed on a 
sustainable basis;  
  
(u) Perform all other functions consistent with this Act and as may be provided 
by law. 
 


SEC. 6. Composition. - The Department shall be headed by a Secretary. 
The Department proper shall be composed of the Office of the Secretary, the 
Offices of the Undersecretaries, and the Assistant Secretaries. 
 
SEC. 7. Secretary of Fisheries and Coastal Resources. –The Secretary 
shall be appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the 
Commission on Appointments. The Secretary shall have the following 
functions: 
 
(a) Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations of 
the Department and its attached agencies;  
 
(b) Establish policies and standards for the effective, efficient, and economical 
operation of the Department, in accordance with the programs of the 
government;  
 
(c) Review and approve requests for financial and manpower resources of all 
operating offices of the Department;  
 
(d) Designate and appoint officers and employees of the Department, 
excluding the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, regional and assistant 
regional directors, in accordance with civil service laws, rules and regulations;  
 
(e) Exercise disciplinary powers over officers and employees of the 
Department in accordance with law including their investigation and 
designation of a committee or officer to conduct such investigation;  
 
(f) Coordinate with LGUs, other agencies and public and private interest 
groups, including nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and people's 
organizations (POs) on Department policies and initiatives;  
 
(g) Prepare and submit to the President through the Department of Budget 
and Management (DBM) an estimate of the necessary expenditures of the 
Department during the next fiscal year, on the basis of the reports and 
estimates by bureaus and offices;  
 
(h) Advise the president on the promulgation of executive and administrative 
orders and formulation of regulatory and legislative proposals on matters 
pertaining to fisheries and coastal resources;  
 
(i) Promulgate rules, regulations and other issuances in carrying out the 
Department’s mandate, objective, policies, plans, programs and projects; and 
 
(j) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by 
the President.  
 
SEC. 8. Undersecretaries. - The Secretary shall be assisted by three (3) 
Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President upon 
recommendation of the Secretary: Provided, that two (2) of the 
Undersecretaries shall be career officers.  
 


SEC. 9. Assistant Secretaries - the Secretary shall be assisted by four (4) 
Assistant Secretaries who shall be appointed by the President upon 
recommendation of the Secretary: Provided, that two (2) of the Assistant 
Secretaries shall be career officers.  
 
SEC. 10. Qualifications - No person shall be appointed Secretary, 
Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary of the department unless he or she is 
a resident of the Philippines, of good moral character, of proven integrity, and 
with at least seven (7) years of competence and expertise in any of the 
following: fisheries, biology, public administration, management, economics, 
law or other equivalent relevant disciplines.  
 
SEC. 11. Regional Offices. - The Department shall have such department-
wide regional offices as may be necessary in the administrative regions, each 
to be headed by a Regional Director, who shall be assisted by one (1) 
Assistant Director, appointed by the President. The regional offices shall, 
within their respective administrative regions, the following functions: 
(a) Provide efficient and effective front-line service to the fishery and coastal 
sector, particularly to fisher folks; 
 
(b) Implement laws, policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and regulations 
of the Department; 
 
(c) Coordinate with the Regional Offices of the other departments, offices, 
agencies and LGUs in the region; and 
 
(d) Perform other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the 
Secretary.  
 
SEC. 12. Transfer of Agencies and Personnel. –  
 
The following agencies are hereby abolished, and their powers and functions, 
applicable funds and appropriations, records, equipment, property, and 
personnel transferred to the Department:  
 
(1) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources;  
 
(2) Philippine Fisheries Development Authority;  
 
(3) The National fisheries Research and Development Institute;  
 
(4) The National and Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 
Management Councils created under Republic Act No. 8550; 
 
(5) The Philippine Technical Advisory Committee of the SEAFDEC 
Aquaculture Department created under Executive Order No. 834 dated 
October 04, 1982;  
 


(6) The fisheries related functions of the Laguna Lake Development Authority;  
 
(7) The Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and 
Development;  
 
(8) The Marine Research and Conservation Division and the different sections 
there under and the Coastal Environment Program, all marine and coastal 
related projects and programs of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources, and all fisheries related functions of the DENR;  
 
(9) The fisheries related functions of the Bureau of Agricultural Research, 
Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, and the Agricultural Institute of the 
Department of Agriculture 
   
SEC. 13. Structure and Staffing Pattern. – Subject to the approval of the 
DBM, the Department shall determine its organizational structure, staffing 
pattern, qualification standards, and placement of personnel in the 
Department, its bureaus, services, and offices. Officers and employees of the 
department shall be appointed in accordance with the civil service law, rules, 
and regulations.  
  
SEC. 14. Transition Period. – The transfer of functions, assets, funds, 
equipment, properties, transactions and personnel of the affected agencies, 
and the formulation of the internal organic structure, staffing pattern, and 
revised budget of the Department shall be completed within six (6) months  
from the effectivity of this Act, during which time, the existing personnel shall 
continue to assume their posts in holdover capacities until new appointments 
are issued: Provided, That after the abolition of the agencies as specified in 
Section 15 (a) of this Act, the Department in coordination with the DBM, shall 
determine and create new positions, the funding requirements of which 
should not exceed the equivalent cost of positions abolished.  
 
SEC. 15. Appropriations. – The amount needed for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year's 
appropriation of agencies as specified in Section 15 (a) of this Act. Thereafter, 
the amount needed for the operation and maintenance of the Department 
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.  
 
SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The duly appointed 
Secretary of the Department shall immediately create an organization 
committee composed of representatives from the Department of Budget and 
Management, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources, Civil Service Commission, representative from the fishing 
sector, and the academe, for the formulation of the necessary rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.  
 
SEC. 17. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional or inoperative, the other provisions not so affected shall 
remain in force and effect.  
 
SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. – All laws, degrees, executive orders, rules and 
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act or the rules and 


regulations promulgated pursuant thereto are hereby repealed, amended, or 
modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 19. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,