Party-list solon files bills to boost fisheries industry

MANILA, Philippines - Party-list group Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan (Agham) has filed five bills seeking to provide a blueprint for the modernization of the fisheries sector.

Agham Rep. Angelo Palmones has filed House Bill 4085 or “An Act Creating the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources;” HB 4011 – “An Act Prescribing the Strengthening of the National Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System to Accelerate Agriculture and Fisheries Development;” and HB 3072 –“An Act Establishing the Agri-Kabataan Scholarship for Food Production Program in the Agriculture Curricula of State Universities and Colleges.”

Palmones also submitted HB 3382 – “An Act to Establish Financial Management Reforms for Government Research and Development Operations;” and HB 2861 – “An Act Establishing a National Mangrove Conservation and Rehabilitation Program Covering All Identified Mangrove Areas in the Country.”

Palmones underscored the importance of giving priority attention to the fisheries sector as the Philippines is the 8th largest fish producer in the world.

Citing the 2008 report of the Bureau of Fisheries and Agricultural Research (BFAR), Palmones said the country’s major fishery exports included shrimps/prawn, crabs/crab fats, octopus, lapu-lapu, cuttlefish/squid, ornamental fish, round scad and sea cucumber.

He said the top five country destinations of these fishery products were the United States (25 percent), Japan (13 percent), Germany (9.6 percent), Hong Kong (5.4 percent) and United Kingdom (4.7 percent).  

“Definitely, we are lucky to have this resource to supply the need for food of the country’s increasing population. Fish remains to be the primary source of protein among Filipinos,” Palmones said.

“While we enjoy the bounty of the sea, the greater challenge is more of how we can optimize the resource to create employment and generate income for our people,” he said.

Palmones said he also filed a bill which amended the scope of coverage under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) to include forestry, livestock, and fisheries.

“With insurance support, more investors and entrepreneurs will be encouraged to invest and engaged in business in these sectors, which could translate to more jobs and income for our people,” Palmones said.