House OKs bill to revert idle fishponds to forestlands

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to revert fishponds that have been unutilized or abandoned for three years to forestlands.

House Bill 5845 shortens the process of reverting idle fishponds, which is seen to spur socio-economic development in the countryside.

“Environmental laws must be attuned to the demands of climate change as well as the socio-economic needs of the increasing number of people in our communities,” Bulacan Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, who authored the measure, said. 

Villarica said the bill amends Section 43 of Presidential Decree 705, or the Revised Forestry Reform Code.

Under PD 705, mangrove and other swamps released by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for fishpond purposes that have remained idle for five years should be reverted to forestlands.

The fishponds could be utilized for mangrove propagation or promotion of eco-tourism activities to jumpstart the economy in rural communities.

The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are mandated to prepare a set of guidelines to determine abandoned, undeveloped or under-utilized fishponds covered by fishpond lease agreements.

The measure was endorsed for plenary approval by the House committee on natural resources, chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Matugas.