Section 19Sec./Art. 19

Section 108 of the Code is hereby renumbered as Section 141 and a new Section 142 is hereby inserted after to read, as follows:

"SEC. 142. Fisheries Management Fund. A Fisheries Management Fund is hereby established to enhance the budget for: the conservation, preservation, protection, management, development and regulation of the fishery and aquatic resources; research and development and capability building of the various stakeholders including provision for scholarships; supplementary livelihood for poverty alleviation; and improvement of productivity and processes of the various stakeholders. It shall be administered by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquaric Resources as a special account in any government financial institution.

It shall be funded from administrative fines and penalties imposed under this Code, from the proceeds of the sale of forfeited fish, fishing gears, paraphernalia and fishing vessels, and contributions in the form of endowments, grants and donations to the fund, which shall be exempted from donor and other taxes, charges or fees imposed by the government.

The Fund shall be exclusively utilized as follows:

(a) fifteen percent (15%) for the purchase, upgrade and maintenance of vessels, communication and other equipment used for the monitoring, control and surveillance of Philippine waters and distant water fishing;

(b) five percent (5%) for the payment of litigation expenses, cost of conveyance of witnesses and other costs due to cases filed by or against the Republic of the Philippines in international courts arising from the implementation of this Code or where apprehending party or parties become respondents or defendants in any tribunal or court of law;

(c) twenty-five percent (25%) for the operating costs and capacity building of the NFARMC, IFARMCs and C/MFARMCs and payment for the cost of rehabilitation, medical expenses for injury, or indemnity for death of law enforcement officers, including deputized volunteers, distributed as follows: five percent (5%) to the NFARMC, five percent (5%) to all IFARMCs, five percent (5%) to all C/MFARMCs, and ten percent (10%) to C/MFARMCs for the apprehension and successful prosecution of a fisheries offense;

(d) five percent (5%) for the continued upgrading of laboratory facilities and equipment;

(e) five percent (5%) for the research and development activities of the NFRDI;

(f) five percent (5%) for the capability development of BFAR personnel, deputized law enforcement agencies and volunteers, and stakeholders;

(g) ten percent (10%) for scholarship grants for children of fisherfolks and fishworkers in fish catch, aquaculture, fishing and fish processing;

(h) fifteen percent (15%) for livelihood programs for production enhancement and poverty alleviation; and

(i) fifteen percent (15%) for assistance to fishermen in the form of shared facilities."