Article 132p. 132

NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS STATUTES and IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS

SECTION

157.

Charting

of

Navigational

Lanes

and

Delineation of Municipal Waters. — The Department

shall authorize the National Mapping and Resource

Information Authority (NAMRIA) for the designation and

charting

of

navigational lanes in fishery areas and

delineation of municipal waters. The Philippine Coast

Guard shall exercise control and supervision over such

designated navigational lanes.

SECTION

158.

Persons

and

Deputies

Authorized

to

Enforce this Code and Other Fishery Laws, Rules and

Regulations. — The law enforcement officers of the

Department,

the

Philippine

Navy,

Philippine

Coast

Guard, Philippine National Police (PNP), PNP-Maritime

Command, law enforcement officers of the LGUs and

other government enforcement agencies, are hereby

authorized to enforce this Code and other fishery laws,

rules and regulations. Other competent government

officials and employees, punong barangays and officers

and

members

of

fisherfolk

associations

who

have

undergone

training

on

law

enforcement

may

be

designated in writing by the Department as deputy fish

wardens in the enforcement of this Code and other

fishery laws, rules and regulations.

SECTION 159. Strengthening Prosecution and Conviction

of Violators of Fishery Laws. — The Department of

Justice (DOJ) shall embark on a program to strengthen

the prosecution and conviction aspects of fishery law

enforcement

through

augmentation

of

the

current

complement of state prosecutors and through their

continuous training and reorientation on fishery laws,

rules and regulations.

SECTION 160. Foreign Grants and Aids. — All foreign

grants, aids, exchange programs, loans, researches and

the

like

shall

be

evaluated

and

regulated

by

the

Department to ensure that such are consistent with the

Filipinization, democratization and industrialization of

fishing industry and the development of the entire

country.

SECTION 161. Mandatory Review. — The Congress of the

Philippines shall undertake a mandatory review of this

Code at least once every five (5) years and as often as it

may deem necessary, to ensure that fisheries policies

and

guidelines

remain

responsive

to

changing

circumstances.

CHAPTER IX Transitory Provisions

SECTION 162. Moratoria. — The Department shall, upon

the recommendation of the Bureau, have the power to

declare a moratorium on the issuance of licenses for

commercial fishing vessels to operate in specified area

or areas in Philippine waters for a limited period of time

if there are indications of overfishing brought about by a

decrease in the volume and sizes of fish caught therein

or for conservation or ecological purposes.

No new licenses and similar privileges on exploitation of

specific

fishery

areas

in

Philippine

waters

and

aquaculture

production

areas

shall

be

issued

in

accordance with this Code. Such moratoria shall not

exceed five (5) years from the effectivity of this Code.

SECTION 163. Formulation of Implementing Rules and

Regulations. — An Inter-agency Committee is hereby

created to formulate rules and regulations for the full

implementation of this Code within ninety (90) days of

its effectivity: Provided, however, That the formulated

rules and regulations shall be submitted to both Houses

of Congress for information and guidance. Such rules

and regulations shall take effect upon publication in a

newspaper of general circulation.

The Inter-agency Committee shall be composed of the

following:

a.Secretary of Agriculture as Chairman;

b.Secretary of the Interior and Local Government;

c. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources;

d.Secretary of Justice;

e.Secretary of Finance;

f. Secretary of Budget and Management;

g.Secretary of Labor and Employment;

h.Secretary of National Defense;

i.Commissioner of Civil Service Commission;

j. Director of BFAR;

k.Executive Director of PCAMRD;

l.General Manager of PFDA;

m. One (1) representative from each of the following:

a.1. The League of Provinces;

a.2. The League of Cities;

a.3. The League of Municipalities;

a.4. The Liga ng mga Barangay;

N. Representative of the municipal fisherfolk;

O. Representative of the commercial fishers;

P. Representative of the non-government organizations

involved in fishing concerns; and

q.A representative from the academe coming from the

specialized fisheries institution.

CHAPTER X Final Provisions

SECTION 164. Appropriation. — The sum necessary to

effectively carry out the provisions of this Act during the

first year of implementation shall be sourced from the

budget of the DA/BFAR and other agencies performing

fisheries-related functions: Provided, however, That such

amount as may be necessary to carry out the provisions

of Sections 79, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 are hereby appropriated

out of the unappropriated funds of the National Treasury.

The Congress of the Philippines shall provide for the

appropriations of the Department, the NFRDI and the

Fisheries Scholarship Program for the succeeding years

to be included in the annual GAA.

SECTION 165. Repealing Clause. — Presidential Decree

No. 704, as amended by Presidential Decree Nos. 1015

and 1058, Presidential Decree No. 977, as amended,

Executive Order No. 967, Series of 1984, Executive Order

No. 116, Series of 1987, Executive Order No. 292, Series of

1987, Executive Order No. 473, Series of 1991 and other

existing laws except Republic Act No. 7611, decrees,

executive orders, and rules and regulations or parts

thereof,

which are inconsistent with this Code, are

hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 166. Separability Clause. — If any portion or

provision of this Code is declared unconstitutional or

invalid, the other portions or provisions hereof, which are

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