i ,  I 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) "7 2!L 
-3 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
S.B.No. 774 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is composed of some 7,100 islands. It is blessed by enormous 
bodies of water with abundant marine resources, Two-thirds of the territorial area of the 
Philippines is composed of water, covering a total area of 171 million hectares. 
For this reason, a significant number of Filipinos engage in fishing as their main 
source of livelihood, The life-giving support of Philippine waters and its bounties cannot 
be but over-emphasized. It is however, ironic that the government gives more attention to 
land-based agriculture over those of marine and other water- based agriculture over those 
of marine and other water-based food production activities. 
To ensure the preservation and proper development of the country's archipelago 
waters and marine resources, this bill proposes the creation of the Department of fisheries 
and Aquatic Resources @FAR). The DFAR shall have the power to manage, develop, 
protect, conserve and utilize all fisheries and aquatic resources of the country, except for 
municipal waters, which shall remain under the jurisdiction of local government units. 
The DFAR shall likewise regulate the production, capture, processing and marketing of 
fisheries and marine products in the country. This is to make sure that the country's 
marine wealth is to be exclusively used for the benefit of the Filipino people. 
The creation of the DFAR will be a significant breakthrough in providing utmost 
protection to PhiIippine waters and marine resources. It will correct the traditional bias of 
government for land-based agriculture and provide the long-delayed attention local 
fishermen and Philippine water resources need. It will give impetus to the government's 
continuing efforts to increase food production to meet the demands of the country's fast 
growing population. The immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 


Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT CREATING A DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND 
AQUATIC RESOURCES, PROVIDING FOR ITS POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, 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. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Department of Fisheries 
and Aquatic Resources Act of 2007". 
SEC. 2. Creation. - The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, 
hereinafter referred to as the Department, is hereby created structurally and knctionally 
in accordance with the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 3. Declaration of Policies. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
promote the sustainable development and management of all fisheries and marine 
resources in Philippine waters including the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and in the 
adjacent high seas, consist with the primordial objective of maintaining a sound 
ecological balance, protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment. It is the 
policy of the State to protect and conserve 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. It is the policy of the State to adopt the precautionary 
principle and to prioritize conservation of the country's marine and aquatic resources. It is 
also the policy of the State to protect the rights of small-scale fishermen in the 
preferential use of communal marine, fisheries and aquatic resources. Towards this end, it 
shall provide such fishermen with the appropriate technical and financial support. 
SEC. 4. Jurisdiction of the Department. - The Department shall have primary 
jurisdiction over the management, conservation, development, protection, utilization and 
disposition of all fishery and aquatic resources of the country, including the habitats of 
fish and all other marine life and over activities which impact on these habitats, except 
for municipal waters, which shall remain under the jurisdiction of local government units. 
The latter shall manage their municipal waters in accordance with national fishery 
policies, laws, rules and regulations. The Department shall have the authority to supervise 
and regulate the production and capture of fish and fishery products within its 
jurisdiction, as well as the processing and marketing of all fisheries and aquatic products 
in the country. The Department shall have the responsibility of rationalizing all ocean 
sector initiatives which impact on fish and marine resources or their habitat including, but 
not limited to: marine energy exploration and development; coastal and marine tourism; 
designation of shipping lanes; protected areas; and, marine industry development areas. 
The regulation of these marine activities, once rationalized by the Department, shall 
reside with the parent agency for the appropriate sector involved. 


SEC. 5. Powers nnd Functions. - To accomplish its mandate, the Department 
shall have the following powers, functions and responsibilities: 
(a) Authority and responsibility over oceans use on fisheries and their habitat; 
(b) Coordinate the implementation of fisheries and ocean sector policies, plans 
and laws for all maritime components; 
(c) Promulgate and enforce fisheries and oceans habitat regulations, which clarie 
and amplify the aforementioned departmental mandate in accordance with the published 
fisheries and oceans management plans within its territorial jurisdiction; 
(d) Prepare and implement a comprehensive Fisheries Management Plan, based 
on the precautionary principle and the principle of sustainable development, using 
scientifically-generated information or best available evidence on the status of the 
fisheries and marine resources; 
(e) Formulate and implement, consistent with the development framework of the 
National Economic Development Authority, a fishery industry development program and 
set policies and standards for the efficient and economic operations of the fishing industry 
in accordance with the objectives of food security and rational and sustainable 
development; 
(f) Promulgate laws, rules and regulations governing the conservation and proper 
utilization of fisheries and aquatic resources except in municipal waters; 
(g) Issue licenses for the operation of commercial fishing vessels and permits for 
the conduct of fishery activities subject to the specific carrying capacities of the resource 
as determined by scientific studies or best available evidence with preference given io 
resource users in the local communities living adjacent or nearest to the municipal waters, 
(h) Issue fishworker licenses and identification cards free of charge io fishworkers 
engaged in commercial fishing; 
(i) 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 
through its fishery officers and guardians who shall be vested with full police powers 
including arrest, search and seizure and through deputized government officials and 
employees, punong barangays and officers and members of fisherfolk associations who 
have undergone training on law enforcement; 
(j) Perform quasi-judicial and allied functions and settle conflicts of resource use 
and allocation in consultation with the NFARMC and LGUs; 
(k) It shall prescribe rules and regulations including visitorial powers, procedures 
and guidelines concerning the classification, establishment, construction, maintenance 
and operation of all fishing ports, landing sites and fish markets and the operation of 
business therein except those that are owned and operated by local government units; 
(1) Establish and maintain a Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 
Information System (PFARIS) that will function as the principal depository and 
information server of all fisheries and ocean-related information in the country, including 
but not limited to the status of fisheries and marine resonrces and their habitat, all matters 
pertaining to fisheries production, processing, marketing and research results and 
technology advances; 
(m) Develop and implement a Monitoring Control and Surveillance System 
(MCSS) for Philippine fisheries and oceans at the national and regional levels to ensure 
that the fisheries and marine resources in Philippine waters are judiciously and wisely 
utilized and managed on a sustainable basis; 


(n) Actively engage in the conservation, protection and rehabilitation of rare, 
threatened and endangered marine species as it may determine, including their habitats; 
(0) Implement relevant provisions of international treaties and agreements such 
as, but not limited to, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of 
Wild Flora and Fauna, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Convention on 
Biological Diversity, and formulate rules and regulations for the conservation and 
management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory species; 
(p) Designate marine areas as protected areas for the special purposes stated in 
the notice of declaration; 
(4) Formulate and enforce the Code of Practice for Aquaculture and Code of 
Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; 
(r) Promote international economic and technical cooperation in the fisheries and 
oceans sectors and in integrated oceans management, especially within the ASEAN 
region; 
(s) Impose administrative sanctions, including fines for minor fisheries and 
oceanic fractions, in accordance with the schedules and limits as agreed upon by the 
Department of Justice and embodied in fisheries regulations; 
(t) Acquire, maintain, operate, purchase, lease or dispose, through the Philippine 
Fisheries Development Authority @FDA), equipment and facilities such as slupyards, 
fishing vessels, fishing gears, and refrigerated trucks, ice plants and cold storages, 
communication, and aquaculture facilities; 
(u) Fix, assess and collect reasonable fees, tolls, charges, rentals and the like, 
through the PFDA, for the use, sale of properties, equipment, facilities and services to 
support the Department's projects and to adjust the same as warranted; 
(v) Provide, through the PFDA, infrastructure support such as municipal fishing 
ports and markets, 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; 
(w) Establish and implement, through the PFDA, a National Marketing Assistance 
Program, aimed at ensuring the generation of the highest' possible income for fisherfolk 
and fishery-related enterprises, matching supply and demand in both domestic and 
foreign markets; 
(x) Administer a fisheries modernization credit program to finance fishery 
projects of fisherfolk, fish farmers, fish processors, commercial fishers and other 
qualified borrowers; and 
b) Perform all other functions consistent with this Act and as may be provided by 
law. 
SEC. 6. Sfructuraf Organization. - The Department shall consist of the Office of 
the Secretary and three Undersecretaries for Fisheries Production and Utilization, 
Fisheries Conservation and Management, and for Operations; one council, the National 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council, one institute, the National 
Fisheries Research and Development Institute, one office, the Office of Ocean and 
Marine Affairs and the following services: the Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources Information Service, Policy Analysis and Planning Service, as well as 
Personnel, Finance, Legal and Property and General Services. The Office of Ocean and 
Marine Affairs shall have authority and responsibility over ocean use. It shall be the 
Department's primary agency tasked with the implementation of the National Marine 
Policy and the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the 
Sea. Any and all use of the ocean shall require the assessment and clearance by this 


Office, which shall rationalize initiatives that will negatively impact on fisheries or their 
habitat. It shall coordinate the implementation of fisheries and ocean sector policies, 
plans and laws for all maritime components. It shall be headed by a Director and shall 
have the following divisions: 
(a) Oceans Use Assessment and Clearance Division; 
(b) National and International Oceans Law and Policy Division; 
(c) Special Projects Division; and 
(d) Technical Division. 
The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority created by Presidential Decree 
No. 977 as amended, shall be an attached agency of the Department of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources under the Office of the Secretary. 
SEC. I. Functions of the Secretary of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. ~ The 
Secretary of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, 
shall be appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on 
Appointments, and shall have the following functions: 
(a) Supervision and control of the Department and the Bureaus, Offices and 
Institutes under it; 
(b) Authority and responsibility for the performance of the powers and functions 
of the Department; 
(c) Advise the president on the promulgation of policies, rules and regulations, 
and other issuance relative to the sustainable development and management of fisheries 
and oceans resources: 
(d) Establish management policies and standards for the efficient and effective 
operation of the Department in accordance with the programs of the goveimnent; 
(e) Promulgate rules, regulations and other issuance in carrying out the 
Department's mandate, objectives, policies, plans, programs and projects; and 
(f) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the 
President. 
SEC. 8. Functions of the Undersecretaries of the Department of Fisheries and 
Marine Resources. - There shall be three (3) Undersecretaries: the Undersecretary for 
Fisheries Production and Utilization; the Undersecretary for Fisheries Conservation and 
Management; and the Undersecretary for Operations; who shall be appointed by the 
President upon the recommendation of the Secretary. The Undersecretaries for Fisheries 
Production and Utilization and for Fisheries Conservation and Management shall have 
the following functions: 
(a) Advise the Secretary on the formulation of policies, programs, plans, rules and 
regulations, as well as on the promulgation of Department Order, Administrative Orders, 
and other issuance with respect to hidher area of responsibility; 
(b) Exercise supervision and control over the bureaus, offices, services and 
operating units under hidher responsibility; 
(c) Coordinate the functions and activities of the units under his/.her responsibility 
with those of the other units in the Department; 
(d) Liaise with concerned government departments, agencies, and offices to 
ensure effective coordination in the management of the fisheries and oceans sector; and 


(e) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the 
Secretary. 
The Undersecretary for Operations shall have the following functions: 
(a) Exercise supervision and control over the regional offices; 
(b) Coordinate, harmonize and package the policies, plans, programs and projects 
of all the Bureaus, Services, Offices and Units of the Department, for the proper 
implementation by the regional offices; 
(e) Advise the Secretary in the formulation of policies, plans and programs as well 
as on the promulgation of rules, regulations and orders with respect to hisher area of 
responsibility; 
(d) Exercise supervision and control over the Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine 
Service and the Bureau of Fishery Economics and Statistics; 
(e) Establish linkage with local government units, local fisherfolk associations and 
organizations, non-government organization and peoples' organization and supervise 
support and extension services at the regional, provincial and municipal levels; and 
(f) Perform other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the 
Secretary. 
SEC. 9. Qualwcntious of the Undersecretaries. - No person shall be appointed 
Undersecretary of the Department unless he is a Filipino citizen; at least a degree holder 
in fisheries, publication administration, management, economics, law or other equivalent 
relevant disciplines; has actual experience in administration and management for at least 
ten (10) years; and has general practical knowledge of fisheries. 
SEC. 10. Organizational Structure of the Department. - The functions of the 
Department under this Act shall be carried out by the bureaus, agencies and services 
created in the Department. 
Under the supervision and control of the Undersecretary for fisheries Production 
and Utilization, the following bureaus, services and offices are hereby created 
(a) Bureuu of Aquaculture und Inland Fisheries (BAIPJ - The BAIF shall, 
among others, be responsible for: regulating aquaculture operations in line with the 
International Code of Conduct for Aquaculture, promoting the intensification of 
aquaculture operations in existing areas; formulating aquacultnre development programs; 
establishing and maintaining model aquaculture farms and ponds; providing technical 
assistance to cooperatives and fishpond operators in the development of a viable fishmeal 
and fishfeeds industry, undertaking inland fishery resources evaluation; and 
recommending management and conservation measures. 
The Bureau shall be headed by a Director and shall he composed of the following 
divisions: 
(i) 
(ii) 
(iii) 
(iv) 
(b) Burean of Posthurvest nnd Fisheries Product Stundards (BPFPS) - The 
fishery component of the Bureau of Agriculture and Product Standards created under 
Section 61 of RA 8435 shall be transferred to the BPFPS which shall formulate and 
enforce standards of quality in the processing, preservation, packaging, labeling, 
importation, exportation, distribution, and advertising of fishery products; conduct 
research on product standardization, alignment of the local standards with the 
international standards; promote and strengthen semi-processing and handling; and 
Aquaculture Management and Development Division; 
Inland Fisheries Resource Assessment and Conservation Division; 
Inland Fishery Development and Extension Division; and the 
Environmental Impact Assessment and Monitoring Division. 


shall have a Director, two Assistant Directors, one for Product Standards and Technical 
Services and the other for Industry Compliance and Consumer Protectioxl and the 
following divisions: 
Under the Assistant Director for Product Standards and Technical Services - 
(i) 
Technical Services Division; 
(ii) 
Fish Processing Technology Division. 
(iii) 
(iv) 
Under the Assistant Director for Industry Compliance and Consumer Protection - 
(i) 
Industry Compliance Division; 
(ii) 
(iii) 
(c) Bureuu of Fisheries Extension, Truining, nnd Support Service (BFETSAJ - 
The BFETSS shall coordinate all development activities with respect to fisheries and 
oceans technology, and shall have a development section for all components including 
inland and oceans fishing, and fishing fears and methods. It shall formulate a National 
Extension System for Fisheries, which shall 
be composed of three (3) subsystems: the national government subsystem, the local 
government subsystem and the private sector subsystem. It shall deliver the following 
major services: training services; credit and financing support services, business advisory 
services; demonstration services, and information and communication support services 
through hi-media. It shall have the following divisions: 
andards Development and Promotion Division; 
Value-added Products Development and Promotion Division; and the 
Consumer Affairs Division; and the 
Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Division. 
(i) 
(ii) 
(iii) 
(iv) 
Training Centers; 
(d) The Bureau of Fishing Technology and Capture Fisheries (BFTCfJ -The 
BFTCF shall have direct supervision and control over the utilization of marine resources 
including commercial, international and small-scale fisheries. It shall formulate 
development programs for the expansion of the marine fishery industry; explore new 
fishery resources and development environment friendly but efficient fishing gears. It 
shall be headed by a Director and two Assistant Directors and shall have the following 
divisions: 
Training and Skills Development Division; 
Technology Transfer and Demonstration Division; 
Business Advisory and Information Support Division; 
(i) 
Municipal Fisheries Division; 
(ii) 
Commercial Fisheries Division; 
(iii) 
Fishing Technology Division 
(iv) 
(e) The Fisheries Modernization Credit and Financing A g e q (FMCFA) - The 
FMCFA shall administer the funds under Sections 108 to 113 of RA 8550 as well as the 
fisheries-related provisions of Sections 20 to 25 of RA 8435, harmonizing and integrating 
the two so as to package and deliver various credit assistance programs for the following: 
(9 
Fisheries production including processing of fisheries products and 
inputs; 
(ii) 
Acquisition or construction of fishery equipment, machinery, fishing 
vessels and fishing gears; 
(iii) 
Acquisition of fry, fingerlings, fertilizers, feeds and similar items; 
(iv) 
Procurement of fisheries products for storage, trading, processing and 
distribution; 
(v) 
Construction, acquisition and repair of facilities for production, 
processing, storage, transportation, communication, marketing and 
such other facilities in support of fisheries; economic activities; 
High Seas Fisheries Division; and the 


(vi) 
(vii) 
Working capital for fisheries graduates to enable them to engage in 
fisheries-related 
Activities which support marine and freshwater bodies conservation 
and ecology-enhancing activities such as but not limited to mangrove 
reforestation, promotion of whaleshark and manta ray and other 
endangered marine species watching and eco-tourism; and 
Development of appropriate technology, both in fishery and ancillary 
industries that are ecologically sound, locally source based and labor 
intensive, based on the requirements of the Fisheries and Aquatic 
Management Councils. Under the supervision and control of the 
Undersecretary for Fisheries Conservation and Management, the 
following bureaus, units, board and services are hereby created 
(viii) 
0 
Marine Resources Conservation and Management Bureau. - The Marine 
Resources Conservation and Management Bureau is a line bureau tusked with the 
formulation and implementation of a Comprehensive Fisheries Management Plan. It shall 
undertake marine fishery resources assessment and biological and environmental 
investigations and formulate conservation measures. In coordination with the National 
Fisheries Research and Development Institute, it shall determine and establish the 
carrying capacity and total allowable catch (TAC) for a particular resource. It shall set the 
allowable fishing effort based on the carrying capacity of the resource and TAC and 
accordingly issue commercial fishing licenses and permits. It shall be headed by a 
Director and two Assistant Directors and shall have the following divisions: 
(i) 
Coastal Resources Management Division; 
(ii) 
Oceanography Division; 
(iv) 
Fisheries Licensing Division; 
(v) 
(vi) 
Fisheries Law Enforcement Division. 
The Fisheries Law Enforcement Division shall operate the National and Zonal 
Monitoring Surveillance System. It shall establish fishery air and ocean patrol as well as 
conduct law enforcement trainings and recommend to the Secretary the deputation of 
government employees and members of fisherfolk associations as fishery guardians. It 
shall have the supervision and control of fishery officers and guardians and the corps of 
specialists responsible for the enforcement of fishery laws, rules and regulations and the 
efficient monitoring and surveillance of fishing activities within Philippine territorial 
waters. It shall have the following units: 
Biotechnology, Biosafety and Bioprospecting Division; and the 
(i) The National and Fisheries Zone Monitoring and Surveillance Center which 
shall have a National Coordinating Center and several Fisheries Zones Monitoring and 
Surveillance Centers. It is further subdivided into the Vessel Tracking and Remote 
Sensing Office, and the Database and Information Center; 
(ii) The Fisheries Air Patrol and Oceans Patrol, and the Regulatory Stuf 
composed of Fishery Officers, Deputized Fisheries Guardians and the corps of specialists 
from the DND, PNP-MARICOM, DILG, DFA and DOJ. The Fishery Officers shall have 
full police powers relative to the enforcement of fishery laws, rules and regulations 
including arrest, search and seizure, and shall have the authority to directly file 
complaints for violation of fishery laws, rules and regulations. 
(g) The Burenu of Marine Protected Areas and U3ldlge (BMPAW - The 
BMPAW is a line bureau responsible for establishing and maintaining marine protected 
areas and wildlife sanctuaries. It shall lead in the conduct of scientific researches on the 
proper strategies for the conservation and protection of marine wildlife and their habitat 
including breeding or propagation. It shall also establish Marine Wildlife Rescue Centers 
to take custody of all confiscated, stranded or abandoned marine wildlife. It shall have the 
authority to issue Committee on International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES) 
Permits and shall be both the CITES Management and Scientific Authorities of the 
Philippines. It shall be the lead agency in the fulfillment of the country's obligations 
under CITES, the Convention on Biological Diversity and other treaties and international 
agreements. It shall have the following divisions: 


(i) 
Marine Protected Areas Division; 
(ii) 
Marine Wildlife Rescue Centers; 
(iii) 
CITES Management Authority; 
(iv) 
Endangered Marine Species Captive Breeding Centers; Endangered 
Marine Wildlife Research Center shall be the Department's CITES 
Scientific Authority which shall coordinate with academic institutions 
designated as scientific authorities; and the 
(v) 
Biodiversity Division. 
The IJndersecretary for Operations shall have direct control and supervision over 
all regional offices and the following unit and bureau: 
(h) The Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Inspection Sentice (FIQIS) - The 
FIQIS shall have the line functions and shall be responsible for the inspection and 
quarantine of all fishery related activities including the conduct of quarantine and quality 
inspection of all fish and fishery/aquatic products coming into and going out of the 
country by air or water transport to detect the presence of fish pest and diseases, the 
regular inspection of processing plants, storage facilities, abattoirs, as well as public and 
private markets in order to ensure freshness, safety and quality of products and to ensure 
that these products conform to the standards prescribed by the Department; and the 
quarantine of aquatic animals and fishery products determined or suspected to be with 
fishery pest and diseases and prevent the movement or trade from and or into the country 
of these products so prohibited or regulated under existing laws, rules or regulations and 
international agreements of which the Philippine is a State Party. It shall have the 
following units: 
(i) 
(ii) 
Cyanide Detection Centers; 
(iii) 
Product Standards Enforcement Division. 
(iv) 
(i) The Bureau of Fishery Economics and Statistics (BFEq - The BFES shall be 
a line bureau responsible for establishing benchmark data on the structure of the fishery 
industry. It shall conduct research and studies on the socio-economics of various fishery 
operations, collect data on fishery production, and establish a network of fishery 
information, documentation and dissemination. It shall have the following divisions: 
Regional fishery Inspection and Quarantine Offices; 
Regional Fish Health Centers; and the 
(i) 
Fishery Statistics Division; 
(ii) 
Socioeconomic Division; and the 
(iii) 
Fishery Information Division. 
SEC. 11. Regional Offices and Functions. - 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 an Assistant Regional 
Director, each regional office shall have support staffs as may be necessary and four line 
divisions which shall have the following duties and responsibilities: 
(a) Provide efficient and effective front-line service to the fishery and aquatic 
industry sector, particularly to the municipal fishermen; 
(b) Implement in its area of jurisdiction, the laws, policies, plans, programs, 
projects, rules and regulations of the Department; 
(c) Coordinate with the Regional Office of the other departments, offices and 
agencies in the region; and 
(d) Perform other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the 
Secretary. 


SEC. 12. Appoinfmenf and Qiralijicafion of Directors. - The Directors of the 
Bureau, Offices and Agencies and the Regional Directors shall be appointed by the 
Secretary, upon recommendation of the Undersecretaries concerned. The Directors must 
have a degree in law or Master of Science degree in marine fisheries, oceanography, 
fisheries biology, marine biology, fisheries technology, microbiology or related sciences, 
or public administration and at least five years of experience either in the public or 
private sector, in marine fisheries research and development, or in the fisheries industry. 
SEC. 13. Abolition, Transfer andMerger. - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources reconstituted by Republic Act No 8550, is hereby abolished and its relevant 
functions, appropriations, records, properties, equipment and personnel are hereby 
transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: Provided, however, 
That no official or employee of the BFAR shall be laid off in the implementation of this 
section. 
The National and Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management 
Councils created by Republic Act No. 8550 shall be transferred to the Office of the 
Secretary of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute created by Republic 
Act No.8550 is transferred to the department and shall serve as its principal research arm. 
The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority created by Presidential Decree 
No. 977 including its relevant functions, appropriations, records, properties, equipment 
and personnel, is hereby transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources as an attached agency under the Office of the Secretary: Provided, however, 
That the Secretary of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources shall be the new 
chairman of the Board: Provided, further, That no official or employee of the PFDA shall 
be laid off in the implementation of this Section. 
The Philippine Technical Advisory Committee of the SEAF'DEC Aquaculture 
Department created under Executive Order No. 834 dated October 4, 1982, including its 
relevant functions, appropriations; records, properties, equipment and personnel, is 
hereby transferred and attached to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: 
Provided, That no official or employee of the Board shall be laid off in the 
implementation of this section. 
The fisheries related functions of the Laguna Lake Development Authority, 
including its relevant appropriations, records, and personnel, are hereby transferred to the 
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources: Provided, however, That no official or 
employee of the LLDA shall be laid off in the implementation of this Section. 
The Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development is 
abolished and all its personnel, records, appropriations, property and equipment are 
transferred to the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute of the 
Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources. 
The Marine Research and Conservation Division and the different Sections 
thereunder and the Coastal Environment Program including its relevant appropriations, 
personnel, records, property and equipment, all marine and coastal related projects and 
programs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and all fisheries 
related functions of the DENR under Executive Orders No. 192 and 292, except the 
functions qf the enforcement of water pollution laws, rules and regulations, are hereby 
transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
The fisheries-related sections of the Bureau of Agricultural Research, the Bureau 
of Agricultural Statistics and the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of 
Agriculture are hereby abolished and all its personnel, records, appropriations, property 
and equipment are transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources. 
SEC. 14. Transitory Provisions. - In accomplishing the acts of organizing the 
department as herein prescribed, the following provisions shall be complied with 


(a) The transfer of a government unit or agency shall include the functions, 
Appropriations, funds, records, equipment, facilities, chooses in action, rights, other 
assets and liabilities, if any, of the. Transferred unit or agency as well as the personnel 
thereof, as may be necessary, who shall, pending reappointment, continue to perform 
their respective duties and responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and 
benefits in a hold-over capacity. 
(b) The transfer of functions which results in the abolition of the government unit 
or agency that has exercised them, shall include the appropriations, funds, records, 
equipment, facilities, chooses in action, rights, other assets and personnel as may be 
necessary to the proper discharge of the transferred functions. Its liabilities, if any, shall 
likewise be treated in accordance with the Government Auditing Code and other pertinent 
laws, rules and regulations. Its personnel shall, pending reappointment, continue to 
perform their duties and responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and 
benefits in a holdover capacity. 
SEC. 15. Organization Committee. - The duly appointed Secretary of Fisheries 
and Aquatic Resources shall immediately create an organization committee which shall 
study and formulate the staffing pattern, qualification standards, and placement of 
personnel in the Department, its services, bureaus, and offices. The Committee shall be 
composed of representatives from the Department of Budget and Management, Civil 
Service Commission, the fishery industry and the academe. 
SEC. 16. Appropriations. F or the effective implementation of this Act, the 
amount of $5 billion pesos is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated funds of the 
National Treasury and the current budgetary appropriations of the Bureau of Fisheries 
and Aquatic Resources, including its regional offices, the appropriations of the Philippine 
Fishing Development Authority, and the budgetary provision of the Philippine Council 
for Aquatic and Marine Research Development. The amount necessary for the 
construction of a national office of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 
equivalent to P500,000,000.00 is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated funds of 
the National Treasury. 
The revenues which the Department will generate from its licensing operations, the fees 
collected & the proprietary services delivered by the Department, and the administrative 
fines imposed by the National Fisheries Regulatory and Adjudication Bond shall 
constitute the Department's revolving fund from which amounts necessary to carry out 
the special research projects, management and conservation programs, staff development 
programs, and the acquisition of equipment, vessels, and airplanes, helicopters of the 
Monitoring and Surveillance Center shall be taken: Provided, however, That the fishpond 
rentals shall accrue to the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute as 
provided under Section 46 (c) of Republic Act No. 8550. The use of such funds shall be 
project to COA rules and regulations. 
SEC. 17. Separabilily CkU" - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional inoperative, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force 
and effect. 
SEC. 18. Repealing CZause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the Act or the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant 
thereto are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 19. EffectivitJ Ckzuse. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,