Republic of the Philippines
“HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2313

HOUSE BILL NO,

Introduced by the Honorable BENHUR L. SALIMBANGON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The vastness of the Philippine maritime zone and its rich resources dictate that we
should have a marine-based economy. Our aquatic territory exceeding 220 million
hectares is more than seven (7) times our land territory which is only 30 million hectares
Being on archipelago of more than seven thousand islands, the Philippines should have
been the center of the fishing industry in Asia, if not of the world.

To ensure that the fisheries and aquaculture sectors have the necessary support to
maintain their sustainable and viable industries, there must be an army of knowledgeable
and capable fisheries officers at the municipal/city level to provide assistance to these
Sectors. These fisheries officers will provide frontline services so that the sectors will be
Kept current in the technologies that they will need to be competitive: will have assistance
in complying with fisheries laws, rules, and regulations; and will have access to local and
international markets for their produce

This Bill seeks to further strengthen the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources by upgrading the Bureau Director and Assistant Directors to the ranks of
Undersecretary and Assistant Sectetary, respectively. ‘The higher ranks of these bureau
officials will give them a position of strength when they negotiate for Philippine fisheries,
especially’ in international trade negotiations and agreements.

Approval hereof is earnestly sought.

BENHUR L. SALIMBANGON

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4
HOUSE BILLNO, 2813

Introduced by the Honorable Benhur L. Salimbangon

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES (BFAR),
‘AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 66 OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 8550,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 1998, PROVIDING
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES:

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

SECTION 1. Section 66 of Republic Act 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine
Fisheries Code of 1998, shall be amended to read as follows:

SC. 66. Composition of BFAR. ~ As a line bureau, the BFAR shall be headed’
tor WITH THE RANK OF UNDERSECRETARY and assisted by two (2)

Directors WHO SHALL HAVE THE RANK OF ASSISTANT
SECRETARY AND who shall supervise the administrative and technical services of the
bureau respectively. It shall establish regional AND provincial and municipal] offices.

THE BUREAU SHALL ALSO HAVE MUNICIPAL/CITY FISHERIES
OFFICERS WITH RANKS as may. be appropriate and necessary to.can'y out
effectively and efficiently the provisions 6f this Code.”

SEC, 2)’ The amount necessary to effectively carry out the implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual appropriations of the Department of Agriculture,

SE This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,