JULY 9, 2011

NR # 2460

Solons support creation of fisheries and aquatic resources department

Lawmakers are pushing for the approval of a substitute bill creating the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which shall focus on the conservation, development and utilization of the countrys marine resources. The substitute bill, which consolidated House Bills 065, 824, 3322, 2764, 1541 and 4085, abolishes the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources that was reconstituted by Republic Act 8550. All relevant functions, appropriations, records, properties, equipment and personnel shall be transferred to the proposed fisheries and aquatic resources department, according to Agham Partylist Rep. Angelo Palmones. Palmones headed the Technical Working Group, which consolidated the six measures into the substitute bill. I really would like to commend the House Committee on Fisheries and Aquatic Resources under the chairmanship of Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (4th District, Cebu) for supporting the creation of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Palmones said. The country must have a strong regulatory body to adequately guard, conserve and sustainably manage our aquatic resources, Palmones stressed. Palmones is confident that the 15th Congress will witness the passing of this bill into law and see the transformation, directly and indirectly, of the affected seven million families. The hurdle now is in the Department of Budget Management to support it and let them see the wisdom of the creation of the DFAR, Palmones said. There is a lot of opportunity for more employment and income not only for the fisherfolks but also for the farmers. The government should not be limited to just abolishing non performing agencies as it streamlines the bureaucracy, but must also be prudent enough to create agencies that are timely and needed in the exigency of public service, Palmones said. Under the substitute bill, the States policy shall adopt the precautionary principle to protect and conserve the nations marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and reserve their use and enjoyment exclusively for Filipino citizens. The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands with 22,549 miles of coastlines, making the country, the 5th with the longest coastline in the world. The Department shall have primary jurisdiction over the management, conservation, development protection, utilization and disposition of all aquaculture, fisheries and aquatic resources of the country, including the habitats of fish and all other marine life and other activities which impact on these habitats, except for municipal waters. Municipal waters shall remain under the jurisdiction of local government units in accordance with the national fisheries policies, laws, rules and regulations, Palmones said. The bill shall authorize the department to supervise and regulate the production and capture of fish and fisheries products within its jurisdiction, as well as the processing and marketing of all aquaculture, fisheries and other 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, 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 devolve upon the parent agency for the appropriate sector involved. To accomplish the proposed agencys mandate, the Act includes the creation of six bureaus, such as, Bureau of Fishery Economics and Statistics (BFES), Bureau of Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries (BAIF), Bureau of Fishing Technology and Capture Fisheries (BFTCF), Bureau of Fisheries Extension, Training, and Support Services, Marine Resources Conservation, Management & Enforcement, and Bureau of Postharvest and Fisheries Product Standards (BPFPS). To reach out the remotest farmers and fishermen, the measure shall create 16 regional field offices and six National Technology Centers that among others, will provide technical support and services to the regional fisheries offices, will serve as conduit/network to bridge the technology gap among the research institutions, the academe, and the fisheries industry and verify, package economically-viable and socially acceptable technologies for technology transfer. The National Marine Fisheries Development Center, National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center, National Brackishwater Aquaculture Technology Center, Mindanao Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center, National Seaweeds Technology Development Center and National Inland Fisheries Technology Center are the national technology centers shall be under the supervision and control of the Secretary. The National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMC) and Artisanal Fisherfolk Sectoral Council of the National Anti-Poverty Council (NAPC) shall serve as advisory bodies to the department secretary. The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), the Fisheries Modernization Credit and Financing Agency (FMCFA) and the Philippine Technical Advisory Committee of the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department shall be attached to the Department. The National Fisheries Research and development Institute (NFRDI), also an attached agency, shall serve as DFARs research arm, Palmones said. The proposed department shall have a Department Secretary; three Undersecretaries, for policy and planning, for operations and for administrative support services and external relations; and six Assistant Secretaries for policy and international affairs, for planning, for external relations, for operations, for special concerns and for support services. Under the substitute bill, P10 billion shall be appropriated from the unappropriated funds of the National Treasury, 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. Another P500 million shall also be appropriated from the unappropriated funds of the National Treasury to construct the national office of the DFAR. (30) jsc