|
By Ira Karen Apanay Senior
Reporter
SIX members of the House of
Representatives are sponsoring a bill that will create a department
that will be responsible for developing and securing the country’s
fishery and aquatic resources.
Rogelio Amatorio, a fisherfolk
representative to the National Anti-Poverty Commission, said the six
lawmakers have agreed to push House Bill 3184, or the law creating
the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR).
Amatorio said the fisherfolk
sectoral council of NAPC conducted consultations with fisherfolks
nationwide during the past two years on how to develop the
country’s marine and fisheries sector. This led to the call to
create the DFAR.
“We held nationwide consultations
for the past 24 months before approaching people in Congress,”
Amatorio said.
In filing House Bill 3184,
Camarines Sur First District Representative Diosdado Arroyo;
Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez of the First District, Leyte; Arnulfo
F. Go of the Second District, Sultan Kudarat; Aurelio Gonzales of
the Third District of Pampanga; Roberto V. Puno of the First
District of Antipolo City; and Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga of the First
District of Quezon, believe DFAR’s creation is a significant move
to ensure the protection of Philippine waters and marine resources.
The six Kampi (Kabalikat ng
Malayang Pilipino) lawmakers also stressed DFAR can protect the
rights of local fisherfolks.
Section 13 of the bill stipulates
that DFAR will replace the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources, which is presently under Department of Agriculture.
Likewise, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, created by
Presidential Decree No. 922 as amended, will be an attached agency
of the DFAR.
The bill also stipulates that the
functions, appropriations, records, properties, equipment and personnel
of government agencies like the National and Municipal Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources Management Councils; National Fisheries Research
and Development Institute; the Philippine Technical Advisory
Committee of the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department; and the Laguna Lake
Development Authority will all be transferred to the DFAR.
Likewise, all marine projects and
programs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will
be taken over by the DFAR.
|
