RECEIVED A
pare: LESEP_ 2013.
ge P

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

16" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo,__28877

Introduced by Representative REGINA ONGSIAKO REYES
Lone District, Marinduque

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is a line agency
under the Department of Agriculture, transferred from the Ministry of
Environment and Natural Resources to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in
1984 in compliance with Executive Order No. 967 issued on June 30 of the
same year. In 1998, the BFAR underwent reconstitution by virtue of Republic
Act No. 8550 entitled "An Act Providing for the Development, Management
and Conservation of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Integrating All Laws
Pertinent thereto and for Other Purposes’, otherwise known as the Philippine
Fisheries Code of 1998, and was specifically mandated with the development,
improvement, management and conservation of the country’s fisheries and
aquatic resources.

It is worth nothing that the mandate of BFAR is very similar to that of
the DENR, which is to control and supervise the exploration, development,
utilization and conservation of the country’s natural resources, Hence, as the
agency tasked to overlook the protection, conservation and management of
the fisheries and aquatic resources of the country, BFAR must be reverted to
the jurisdiction of the DENR for a more focused policy implementation and
administrative coordination. This bill, therefore, seeks to transfer the Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) from the Department of
Agriculture (DA) to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR).


In line with the government's objective of improving the quality and
efficiency of government services by eliminating or minimizing duplication of
functions and responsibilities, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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

REGINA ONGSJAKO REYES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

16 CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2887

Introduced by Representative REGINA ONGSIAKO REYES
Lone District, Marinduque

AN ACT
TRANSFERRING THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND
AQUATIC RESOURCES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1, The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is hereby
transferred from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources.

Sec. 2. Within six (6) months from the approval of this Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Environment and Natural
Resources shall coordinate and make the necessary arrangements for the
smooth transfer of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, including provisions for
the transfer of personnel, applicable appropriations, records, equipment,
properties, and assets and liabilities from the Department of Agriculture to the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources.


Sec. 3.  A\ll other functions and activities in the Department of
Agriculture directly related to the development and regulation of fisheries and
aquatic resources shall likewise be transferred to the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources including its personnel, applicable
appropriations, records, equipment, properties, and assets and liabilities,

Sec, 4, Allincumbents of various positions in the Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources shall continue to exercise their usual functions, duties
and responsibilities, pending the issuance of the appropriate implementing
rules and regulations.

Sec. 5. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
Act shall be taken from the current appropriations of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources. Thereafter, such sum as may be
necessary for its continued implementation, shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 6, All laws, decrees, executive issuances, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified

accordingly.

Sec. 7, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED.