Press Release
September 29, 2021

Villar seeks Senate approval of marine hatcheries

TO guarantee the sustainability of the country's marine products supply, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar yesterday sought the Senate approval of three house bills proposing to establish three Marine Multi - species hatcheries.

In her sponsorship speech, Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, said the hatcheries will be built in Libon, Albay, in the City Environmental Estate, Barangay Santa Lucia, Puerto Princesa City,Palawan and in Batad, Iloilo.

The proposed hatcheries, which should be allocated funding, are provided under the following:

1-Committee Report No. 290 or House Bill No. 7435, entitled "An Act Establishing a Central Multi-Species Marine Hatchery in the Municipality of Libon, Province of Albay.

Within two years after the construction of the Albay hatchery, BFAR shall transfer the management of the Central Multi-Species Hatchery to Libon local government through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOa).

2. Committee Report 29, referred to the Senate as House Bill 7544 entitled An Act Establishing A Central Multi-Species Marine Hatchery in the City Environmental Estate in Barangay Santa Lucia, City of Puerto Princesa, Province of Palawan.

The Palawan hatchery establishes under the supervision of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Department of Agriculture a multi-species marine hatchery by constructing the structure. Through a MOA, it will transfer its management to concerned LGU and to the Western Philippine University (WPU) within 5 years after its construction.

3. Committee Report 292 is for the establishment of a satellite Multi Specie Marine Hatchery in the Municipality of Batad, Province of Iloilo.

This bill proposes that within 3 years after the establishment of the satellite multi-specie hatchery, the management shall be transferred to the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College (NIPSC) through a MOA.

In pushing for the approval of hatcheries, Villar cited the significant contribution of fisheries to the national economy in terms of income and employment.

In 2018, she related that the total fish production was estimated at 4.61 million metric tons, and the fisheries sector contributed 4.9 billion US dollars to the country's economy in 2018. (SEAFDEC, 2018).

"However, compared to our South East Asian neighbors, we are only Number four (4) in Marine Capture after Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar. We are also number five (5) in our inland (municipal waters) fisheries output compared to Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam ; and Number three (3) with regards to Aquaculture production, after Indonesia and Vietnam," said Villar.

In addition, she noted that our estimated requirement for fish fry is about 3.5 billion annually, and "we can only supply from local production 2.5 billion a year."

"In this age where competitiveness is the key for our local industries, we cannot remain dependent from outside sources for our production inputs. Every agricultural industry should have a global perspective," further stated Villar. ###


Villar, hiniling ang Senate approval ng marine hatcheries

UPANG matiyak ang sustainability ng marine products supply ng bansa, hiniling kahapon ni Sen. Cynthia A. Villar ang Senate approval ng tatlong house bills na nagrerekomenda sa pagpapatayom ng tatlong Marine Multi - species hatcheries.

Sa kanyang sponsorship speech, sinabi ni Villar, chairperson ng Senate committee on agriculture and food, na itatayo ang hatcheries sa Libon, Albay, sa City Environmental Estate, Barangay Santa Lucia, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan at sa Batad, Iloilo.

Nakapaloob sa mga sumusunod ang panukalang hatcheries na dapat pondohan:

1-Committee Report No. 290 o House Bill No. 7435 (An Act Establishing a Central Multi-Species Marine Hatchery in the Municipality of Libon, Province of Albay).

Sa loob ng dalawang taon matapos ang construction ng Albay hatchery, ililipat ng

BFAR ang management ng Central Multi-Species Hatchery sa Libon local government sa ilalim ng Memorandum of Agreement (MOa).

2. Committee Report 29 o House Bill 7544 (An Act Establishing A Central Multi-Species Marine Hatchery sa City Environmental Estate sa Barangay Santa Lucia, City of Puerto Princesa, Province of Palawan).

Itatayo ang multi-marine species Palawan hatchery sa pamamahala ng BFAR ng Department of Agriculture.Sa ilalim ng MOA ililipat din ito sa pangangasiwa ng concerned LGU and sa Western Philippine University (WPU) sa loob ng limang taon matapos magawa.

3. Ang Committee Report 292 ay para sa pagtatayo ng satellite Multi Specie Marine Hatchery sa munisipalidad ng Batad, Iloilo.

"This bill proposes that within 3 years after the establishment of the satellite multi-specie hatchery, the management shall be transferred to the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College (NIPSC) through a MOA," ani Villar.

Sa pagsusulong ng approval ng hatcheries, binanggit ni Villar ang mahalagang ambag ng fisheries sa national economy base sa income at employment.

Noong 2018, sinabi ni Villar na umabot ang ating total fish production sa 4.61 million metric tons. Nakapagbigay ang fisheries sector ng 4.9 billion US dollars sa ating ekonomiya noong 2018. (SEAFDEC, 2018).

"However, compared to our South East Asian neighbors, we are only Number four (4) in Marine Capture after Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar. We are also number five (5) in our inland (municipal waters) fisheries output compared to Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam ; and Number three (3) with regards to Aquaculture production, after Indonesia and Vietnam," sabi pa Villar.

Binigyan diin din ni Villar na ang ating estimated requirement sa fish fry ay 3.5 billion kada taon at "we can only supply from local production 2.5 billion a year."

"In this age where competitiveness is the key for our local industries, we cannot remain dependent from outside sources for our production inputs. Every agricultural industry should have a global perspective," dagdag pa niya Villar. ###

News Latest News Feed