Article 116p. 116

NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS STATUTES and IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS

The Department in consultation with the FARMC shall

promulgate rules and regulations on importation and

exportation of fish and fishery/aquatic resources with

the

Government’s

export/import

simplification

procedures.

SECTION 62. Trade-Related Measures. – Standards for

weights, volume, quality and other measurements for all

fishery

transactions

and

trade shall be set by the

Department.

All fish and fishery products for export, import and

domestic consumption shall meet the quality grades/

standards and labeling and information requirements as

determined by the Department.

The LGU concerned shall, by appropriate ordinance,

penalize fraudulent practices and unlawful possession or

use of instrument of weights and measures.

The Department may prescribe trade-related measures

to reduce or eliminate trade in fish and fishery products

derived from illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU)

fishing.

CHAPTER III Reconstitution of the Bureau of

Fisheries

and

Aquatic

Resources

and

Creation of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Management Councils

ARTICLE I Reconstitution of the Bureau of

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

SECTION 63. Creation of the Position of Undersecretary

for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. — There is hereby

created in the Department of Agriculture the position of

Undersecretary for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources,

solely for the purpose of attending to the needs of the

fishing industry, to be appointed by the President. Such

Undersecretary shall have the following functions:

a.set policies and formulate standards for the effective,

efficient

and

economical

operations

of

the

fishing

industry

in

accordance

with

the

programs

of

the

government;

b.exercise

overall supervision over all functions and

activities of all offices and instrumentalities and other

offices related to fisheries including its officers;

c. establish, with the assistance of the director, such

regional, provincial and other fishery officers as may be

necessary and appropriate and organize the internal

structure of BFAR in such manner as is necessary for the

efficient and effective attainment of its objectives and

purposes; and

d.perform such other functions as may be necessary or

proper to attain the objectives of this Code.

SECTION 64. Reconstitution of the BFAR. — The Bureau

of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is hereby

reconstituted as a line bureau under the Department of

Agriculture.

SECTION 65. Functions of the Bureau of Fisheries and

Aquatic Resources. — As a line bureau, the BFAR shall

have the following functions:

a.

prepare

and

implement

a

Comprehensive

National Fisheries Industry Development Plan;

b.

issue licenses for the operation of commercial

fishing vessels;

c.

issue

identification

cards

free

of

charge

to

fishworkers engaged in commercial fishing;

d.

monitor and review joint fishing agreements

between Filipino citizens and foreigners who

conduct fishing activities in international waters,

and

ensure

that

such

agreements

are

not

contrary

to

Philippine

commitment

under

international treaties and convention on fishing

in the high seas;

e.

formulate

and

implement

a

Comprehensive

Fishery Research and Development Program,

such as, but not limited to, sea farming, sea

ranching, tropical/ornamental fish and seaweed

culture,

aimed

at

increasing

resource

productivity, improving resource use efficiency,

and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the

country’s fishery and aquatic resources;

f.

establish and maintain a Comprehensive Fishery

Information System;

g.

provide extensive development support services

in all aspects of fisheries production, processing

and marketing;

h.

provide

advisory

services

and

technical

assistance on the improvement of quality of fish

from the time it is caught (i.e. on board fishing

vessel, at landing areas, fish markets, to the

processing plants and to the distribution and

marketing chain);

i.

coordinate efforts relating to fishery production

undertaken by the primary fishery producers,

LGUs,

FARMCs,

fishery

and

organizations/cooperatives;

j.

advise

and

coordinate

with

LGUs

on

the

maintenance of proper sanitation and hygienic

practices in fish markets and fish landing areas;

k.

establish a corps of specialists in collaboration

with

the

Department

of

National

Defense,

Department

of

the

Interior

and

Local

Government, Department of Foreign Affairs for

the efficient monitoring, control and surveillance

of fishing activities within Philippine territorial

waters

and

provide

the

necessary

facilities,

equipment and training therefor;

l.

implement an inspection system for import and

export

of

fishery/aquatic

products

and

fish

processing

establishments,

consistent

with

international standards to ensure product quality

and safety;

m. coordinate

with

LGUs

and

other

concerned

agencies for the establishment of productivity

enhancing and market development programs

in fishing communities to enable women to

engage

in

other fisheries/economic activities

and

contribute

significantly

to

development

efforts;

n.

enforce all laws, formulate and enforce all rules

and regulations governing the conservation and

management

of

fishery resources, except in

municipal

waters,

and

to

settle

conflicts

of

resource use and allocation in consultation with

the NFARMC, LGUs and local FARMCs;

o.

develop

value-added

fishery-products

for

domestic consumption and export;

© 2018 Compiled by RGL

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