FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution under Article XIII, Section 7 explicitly provides that the State shall 
protect the rights of ' subsistence fisherfolk, especially of local communities, to the 
preferential use of the communal marine and fishing resources, both inland and offshore. It 
shall provide support to such fisherfolk through appropriate technology and research, 
adequate financial, production, and marketing assistance, and other services. The right of 
fishworkers to receive a just share from their labor in the utilization of marine and fishing 
resources is likewise expressly affirmed in the same provision. 
This mandate is echoed in Chapter I, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8550 (RA 8550), 
otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, which declares the state policy 
that the rights of fisherfolk shall be protected and that to them shall be extended all the 
support that they need to improve their quality of living. In pursuance of these legal 
provisions, the Department of Agriculture has promulgated rules and regulations and other 
issuances to give life to these noble principles. 
However, the recent devastation wrought by typhoon Frank (International Name: 
Fengshen), in all vividness, showed us how all these efforts to empower our fisherfolk were 
put to naught in the absence of adequate disaster preparedness. In the wake of typhoon 
Frank, twenty-two (22) more fishing vessels, aside from the ill-fated MIV Princess of the 
Stars, were either damaged or destroyed. Some of which remain missing, together with 
their crew. As of 2 July 2008, there were eighty-nine (89) missing and forty-one (41) dead. 
Worse, some of the crew members who were actually found could not even be identified. 
Hence, they could not be sent back to their families who were waiting in agony and who 
wanted nothing else but to give them a proper burial. 
All this could have been avoided had the fishing vessels been seaworthy, and the 
crew properly equipped with sufficient identification, training and paraphernalia. It is for this 
purpose that this legislative measure is introduced. This bill gives paramount importance to 
the sufficient identification of the fishing vessel and its crew and the provision of proper 
training and equipment relating to disaster preparedness. This is another step towards truly 
empowering our fisherfolk, alleviating their quality of life and those of their families, and 
assuring them of the dignity that they deserve, in life and even in de 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTIONS 19,28,30,37,38 AND 65 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
8550, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 
1998 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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Section 1. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 8550 (“RA 8550”), otherwise known as the 
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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“Sec. 19. Registry of Municipal Fisherfolk. -The LGU shall maintain a 
registry of municipal fisherfolk, who are fishing or may desire to fish in 
municipal waters for the purpose of IDENTIFICATION OF THESE 
INDIVIDUALS, OF determining priorities among them, of limiting entry into the 
municipal waters, and of monitoring fishing activities andlor other related 
purposes: Provided, That the FARMC shall submit to the LGU the list of 
priorities for its consideration. 
x x x  
The LGUs shall also maintain a registry of municipal fishing vessels by 
type of gear and other boat particulars with the assistance of the FARMC. 
THIS REGISTRY SHALL LIKEWISE BE POSTED IN BARANGAY HALLS OR 
OTHER STRATEGIC LOCATIONS WHERE IT SHALL BE OPEN TO PUBLIC 
INSPECTION.” 
Sec. 2. Section 28 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Sec. 28. Commercia/ Fishing Vessels Registration. - The registration, 
documentation, inspection and manning of the operation of all types of fishing 
vessels plying Philippine waters shall be in accordance with existing laws, 
rules and regulations, ESPECIALLY THOSE PERTAINING TO THE 
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SEAWORTHINESS OF THE VESSELS, THE SAFETY OF THEIR CREW 
AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLANS." 
Sec. 3. Section 30 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 30. Renewal of Commercial Boat License. - The commercial 
fishing boat license shall be renewed every three (3) years: PROVIDED, 
THAT THE FISHING VESSEL HAS PASSED THE EVALUATION OF THE 
APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS 
SEAWORTHINESS 
AND 
ITS 
COMPLIANCE 
WITH 
DISASTER 
MANAGEMENT MEASURES AS MAY BE PROVIDED BY LAW, RULES AND 
REGULATIONS." 
Sec. 4. Section 37 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 37. Medical Supplies and Life-Saving Devices. - All fishing 
vessels shall be provided with adequate medical supplies and life-saving 
devices to be determined by the Occupational Safety and Health Center: 
Provided, That [a fishing vessel of twenty (20) GT or more shall have as a 
member of' its crew a person qualified as a first aider duly cerified by the 
Philippine National Red Cross] ALL MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF FISHING 
VESSELS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO MANDATORY BASIC 
FIRST-AID AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TRAINING UNDER THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS, FREE OF CHARGE; PROVIDED 
FURTHER, THAT ALL FISHING VESSELS SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH 
STANDARD FIRST-AID KITS AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS." 
Sec. 5. Section 38 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 38. Reportorial Requirements. - Each commercial fishing vessel 
shall keep a daily record of THE COMPLETE NAMES OF THE MEMBERS 
OF THE CREW ONBOARD, fish catch and spoilage, landing points, and 
quantity and value of fish caught, and off-loaded for transshipment, sale 
and/or other disposal. Detailed information shall be duly certified by the 
vessel's captain and transmitted monthly to the officer or representative of the 
Department, at the nearest designated landing point." 
Sec. 6. Section 65 of RA 8550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 65. Functions of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
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-As a line bureau, the BFAR shall have the following functions: 
x x x  
c. issue identification cards AND CORRESPONDING STAINLESS 
STEEL NAME TAGS SIMJLAR TO THOSE USED BY MILITARY 
PERSONNEL, free of charge, to fishworkers engaged in commercial fishing. 
THESE IDENTIFICATION CARDS AND TAGS SHALL CONTAIN THE 
COMPLETE NAME OF THE MEMBER OF THE CREW, HERlHlS RELIGION, 
BLOOD GROUP WITH RH FACTOR, AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. 
THE CREW MEMBER SHALL ATTEST TO THE TRUTH OF THE 
FOREGOING INFORMATION AS STATED IN HENHIS IDENTIFICATION 
CARD AND TAG. SUCH ATTESTATION SHALL BE STATED EXPLICITLY IN 
THE CORRESPONDING IDENTIFICATION CARD: x x x” 
Sec. 7. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other issuances or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed and modified 
accordingly. 
Sec. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the completion of its 
publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
Approved, 
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