Press Release
May 6, 2014

Sponsorship Speech of Senator Cynthia Villar
Amendments to the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 (R.A. 8550)

Senate Session Hall May 6, 2014

Mr. President, my fellow senators, I stand here today to sponsor Senate Bill 2207, or 'An Act Amending Some Provisions Of Republic Act No. 8550, Otherwise Known As "The Philippine Fisheries Code Of 1998" And For Other Purposes'.

R.A. 8550 or the Fisheries Code was passed in February 9, 1998. It governs the affairs of the fisheries sector. The main purpose of the law is to address the depleting coastal resources of the country by providing management options of the country's resources and recognizing the important roles of all the direct users.

It also ensures the attainment of the following objectives of the fishery sector:

  • Conservation, protection and sustained management of the country's fishery and aquatic resources;

  • Poverty alleviation and the provision of supplementary livelihood among municipal fisherfolks;

  • Improvement of productivity of aquaculture within ecological limits;

  • Optional utilization of offshore and deep-sea resources; and

  • Upgrading of post-harvest technology.

Any discussion about the fisheries sector is important because the Philippines is an important producer of fish in the world, ranking sixth in fish production. The 4.97 million metric tons production of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants (including seaweeds) accounts for 3.12% of the total world catch of 159.1million metric tons (according to Food and Agriculture Organization or FAO).

The Philippines is also ranked ninth (9th) in aquaculture production of fish, crustaceans and mollusks. We contribute 1.4% to the total global aquaculture production of 52.55 million metric tons. The country's aquaculture production amounts to over 1.58 billion dollars.

We are also among the top three largest producers of aquatic plants (including seaweeds), with production of a total of 1.67 million metric tons or about 10.6% of the total world production of 15.78 million metric tons (based on FAO figures).

Fisheries, lumped with Agriculture, Hunting and Forestry sectors, contribute significantly to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In addition, the fishing industry's share to gross value added(GVA) in Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing Sector, at current and constant prices arePhP199.46 billion and PhP130.988 billion, respectively--the largest share next to agricultural crops.

Agriculture posted a 1.15 percent growth in 2013. The livestock, poultry and fisheries subsectors contributed to the improved performance of the sector in 2013. At current prices, gross output in agriculture was valued at P1.5 trillion. The fisheries subsector contributed 17.96 percent to total agricultural output.

The fisheries sector also provides direct and indirect employment to over one million people, or about 12 percent of the agriculture, fishery and forestry (AFF) sector of the labor force, which is about 11 million. Bottom line is that we cannot overemphasize the fact that our country is teeming in fisheries resources. The Philippines is an archipelago, so that is really no surprise.

In fact, the Philippines is qualified as among the archipelagic states under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS). An archipelagic state is conceived as one whose component islands and other natural features form an intrinsic, geographical, economic and political entity and historically have or may have been regarded as such.

This archipelagic doctrine is also enshrined in Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution that reads: "The national territory comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein, and all the other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its territorial, fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial seas, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves and the other submarine areas. The waters around, between and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines."

As such, we should observe the strict implementation and enforcement of laws and policies to better safeguard areas within our sovereignty and jurisdiction. We have thus extensively reviewed provisions that will support and strengthen that.

There is no question also that we need to maintain a good balance between the requirements for increased production to contribute to food security against the need to conserve and protect our resources for long-term sustainability.

We need to observe international treaty obligations on food safety; to curb illegal, unreported, unauthorized and unregulated fishing, and to comply with conservation and management measures.

There is no question that we need a strong fisheries law including a comprehensive national plan of action to among others, manage fishing capacity as well as the implementation of international code of conduct for responsible fisheries.

We already have in place a national plan of action on illegal, unreported, unregulated, fishing or IUUF, which is in line with the International Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate IUUF.

On December 6, 2013, President Aquino signed Executive Order 154, adopting the Philippine National Plan of Action and creating the Philippine Committee on IUUF to oversee its implementation.

The Philippine National Plan of Action on IUUF has nine sections, describing illegal fishing activities in the country as well as actions to curb IUUF which include measures on coastal state, flag state and port state.

Revision of the Fisheries Code to sanction unreported and unregulated fishing and to modify penalties for a more deterrent effect and ratifying the Fish Stocks Agreement is part of the coastal state measures.

Mr. President and esteemed colleagues, we also need to address important issues related to the fisheries sector that also have an impact socially, politically and environmentally on our citizens and country.

Moreover, we also need to amend provisions to comply with our commitments to international treaties, conventions or agreements.

Allow me now Mr. President and esteemed colleagues to present some of the salient points of Senate Bill2207, entitled 'An Act Amending Some Provisions of Republic Act No. 8550, Otherwise Known As "The Philippine Fisheries Code Of 1998" And for Other Purposes'. These are:

1. Revision of Paragraph C of the Declaration of Policy to reflect the need for the country to pursue and achieve its international commitments;

2. Revision of Paragraph F of the Declaration of Policy to ensure that management of fishery and aquatic resources isalso anchored on ecosystem-based approach;

3. The Chapter on Prohibitions and Penalties was deleted and replaced with a new chapter (Chapter VI) for clarity and more readability, given the numerous amendments to the said chapter. Chapter VI is comprised of three parts that enumerates: (1) prohibitions, (2) administrative fines and penalties that the Department and BFAR can impose on violators, and (3) criminal fines and penalties that a court can impose, we made no amendments on that, we retained it.

The Substitute Bill, Amending Some Provisions of The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, aims to level the fishing legislation at par with other countries, especially with regard to conservation measures regarding threatened aquatic species, straddling and highly migratory species, and other marine resources.

The Philippines has acceded to several treaties and has agreed to comply with its international commitments with joint regional fisheries management organizations.

As part of our commitment, it is imperative upon us to revise/amend our law on fisheries, specifically, Republic Act No. 8550, also known as "The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, and the regulations of the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

At this point, Mr. President and esteemed colleagues, I seek the urgent passage of this bill. Thank you.

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