PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 532 August 8, 1974

ANTI-PIRACY AND ANTI-HIGHWAY ROBBERY LAW OF 1974

WHEREAS, reports from law-enforcement agencies reveal that lawless elements are still committing acts of depredations upon the persons and properties of innocent and defenseless inhabitants who travel from one place to another, thereby distributing the peace, order and tranquility of the nation and stunting the economic and social progress of the people;

WHEREAS, such acts of depredations constitute either piracy or highway robbery/brigandage which are among the highest forms of lawlessness condemned by the penal statutes of all countries; and,

WHEREAS, it is imperative that said lawless elements be discouraged from perpetrating such acts of depredations by imposing heavy penalty on the offenders, with the end in view of eliminating all obstacles to the economic, social, educational and community progress of the people;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and pursuant to proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972 and No. 1104, dated January 17, 1973 and General Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, do hereby order and decree as part of the law of the land the following:

Section 1. Title. This Decree shall be known as the Anti-Piracy and Anti-Highway Robbery Law of 1974.

Section 2. Definition of Terms. The following terms shall mean and be understood, as follows:

a. Philippine Waters. It shall refer to all bodies of water, such as but not limited to, seas, gulfs, bays around, between and connecting each of the Islands of the Philippine Archipelago, irrespective of its depth, breadth, length or dimension, and all other waters belonging to the Philippines by historic or legal title, including territorial sea, the sea-bed, the insular shelves, and

other submarine areas over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction.

b. Vessel. Any vessel or watercraft used for transport of passengers and cargo from one place to another through Philippine Waters. It shall include all kinds and types of vessels or boats used in fishing.

c. Philippine Highway. It shall refer to any road, street, passage, highway and bridges or other parts thereof, or railway or railroad within the Philippines used by persons, or vehicles, or locomotives or trains for the movement or circulation of persons or transportation of goods, articles, or property or both.

d. Piracy. Any attack upon or seizure of any vessel, or the taking away of the whole or part thereof or its cargo, equipment, or the personal belongings of its complement or passengers, irrespective of the value thereof, by means of violence against or intimidation of persons or force upon things, committed by any person, including a passenger or member of the complement of said vessel, in Philippine waters, shall be considered as piracy. The offenders shall be considered as pirates and punished as hereinafter provided.

e. Highway Robbery/Brigandage. The seizure of any person for ransom, extortion or other unlawful purposes, or the taking away of the property of another by means of violence against or intimidation of person or force upon things of other unlawful means, committed by any person on any Philippine Highway.

Section 3. Penalties. Any person who commits piracy or highway robbery/brigandage as herein defined, shall, upon conviction by competents court be punished by:

a. Piracy. The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium and maximum periods shall be imposed. If physical injuries or other crimes are committed as a result or on the occasion thereof, the penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be imposed. If rape, murder or homicide is committed as a result or on the occasion of piracy,

or when the offenders abandoned the victims without means of saving themselves, or when the seizure is accomplished by firing upon or boarding a vessel, the mandatory penalty of death shall be imposed.

b. Highway Robbery/Brigandage. The penalty of reclusion temporal in its minimum period shall be imposed. If physical injuries or other crimes are committed during or on the occasion of the commission of robbery or brigandage, the penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium and maximum periods shall be imposed. If kidnapping for ransom or extortion, or murder or homicide, or rape is committed as a result or on the occasion thereof, the penalty of death shall be imposed.

Section 4. Aiding pirates or highway robbers/brigands or abetting piracy or highway robbery/brigandage. Any person who knowingly and in any manner aids or protects pirates or highway robbers/brigands, such as giving them information about the movement of police or other peace officers of the government, or acquires or receives property taken by such pirates or brigands or in any manner derives any benefit therefrom; or any person who directly or indirectly abets the commission of piracy or highway robbery or brigandage, shall be considered as an accomplice of the principal offenders and be punished in accordance with the Rules prescribed by the Revised Penal Code.

It shall be presumed that any person who does any of the acts provided in this Section has performed knowingly, unless the contrary is proven.

Section 5. Repealing Clause. Pertinent portions of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code; and all laws, decrees, or orders or instructions, or parts thereof, insofar as they are inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 6. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect upon approval.

Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

AN ACT PREVENTING AND PENALIZING CARNAPPING

Section 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972."

Section 2. Definition of terms. The terms "carnapping", "motor vehicle", "defacing or tampering with", "repainting", "body-building", "remodeling", "dismantling", and "overhauling", as used in this Act, shall be understood, respectively, to mean

"Carnapping" is the taking, with intent to gain, of a motor vehicle belonging to another without the latter's consent, or by means of violence against or intimidation of persons, or by using force upon things.

"Motor vehicle" is any vehicle propelled by any power other than muscular power using the public highways, but excepting road rollers, trolley cars, street-sweepers, sprinklers, lawn mowers, bulldozers, graders, fork-lifts, amphibian trucks, and cranes if not used on public highways, vehicles, which run only on rails or tracks, and tractors, trailers and traction engines of all kinds used exclusively for agricultural purposes. Trailers having any number of wheels, when propelled or intended to be propelled by attachment to a motor vehicle, shall be classified as separate motor vehicle with no power rating. lawphi1™

"Defacing or tampering with" a serial number is the erasing, scratching, altering or changing of the original factory-inscribed serial number on the motor vehicle engine, engine block or chassis of any motor vehicle. Whenever any motor vehicle is found to have a serial number on its motor engine, engine block or chassis which is different from that which is listed in the records of the Bureau of Customs for motor vehicles imported into the Philippines, that motor vehicle shall be considered to have a defaced or tampered with serial number.

"Repainting" is changing the color of a motor vehicle by means of painting. There is repainting whenever the new color of a

motor vehicle is different from its color as registered in the Land Transportation Commission.

"Body-building" is a job undertaken on a motor vehicle in order to replace its entire body with a new body.

"Remodeling" is the introduction of some changes in the shape or form of the body of the motor vehicle. lawphi1™

"Dismantling" is the tearing apart, piece by piece or part by part, of a motor vehicle.

"Overhauling" is the cleaning or repairing of the whole engine of a motor vehicle by separating the motor engine and its parts from the body of the motor vehicle.

Section 3. Registration of motor vehicle engine, engine block and chassis. Within one year after the approval of this Act, every owner or possessor of unregistered motor vehicle or parts thereof in knock down condition shall register with the Land Transportation Commission the motor vehicle engine, engine block and chassis in his name or in the name of the real owner who shall be readily available to answer any claim over the registered motor vehicle engine, engine block or chassis. Thereafter, all motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis not registered with the Land Transportation Commission shall be considered as untaxed importation or coming from an illegal source or carnapped, and shall be confiscated in favor of the Government.

All owners of motor vehicles in all cities and municipalities are required to register their cars with the local police without paying any charges.

Section 4. Permanent registry of motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis. The Land Transportation Commission shall keep a permanent registry of motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis of all motor vehicles, specifying therein their type, make and serial numbers and stating therein the names and addresses of their present and previous owners. Copies of the registry and of all entries made thereon shall be furnished the Philippine Constabulary and all Land Transportation Commission regional, provincial and city branch

offices:Provided, That all Land Transportation Commission regional, provincial and city branch offices are likewise obliged to furnish copies of all registration of motor vehicles to the main office and to the Philippine Constabulary.

Section 5. Registration of sale, transfer, conveyance, substitution or replacement of a motor vehicle engine, engine block or chassis. Every sale, transfer, conveyance, substitution or replacement of a motor vehicle engine, engine block or chassis of a motor vehicle shall be registered with the Land Transportation Commission. Motor vehicles assembled and rebuilt or repaired by replacement with motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis not registered with the Land Transportation Commission shall not be issued certificates of registration and shall be considered as untaxed imported motor vehicles or motor vehicles carnapped or proceeding from illegal sources.

Section 6. Original Registration of motor vehicles. Any person seeking the original registration of a motor vehicle, whether that motor vehicle is newly assembled or rebuilt or acquired from a registered owner, shall within one week after the completion of the assembly or rebuilding job or the acquisition thereof from the registered owner, apply to the Philippine Constabulary for clearance of the motor vehicle for registration with the Land Transportation Commission. The Philippine Constabulary shall, upon receipt of the application, verify if the motor vehicle or its numbered parts are in the list of carnapped motor vehicles or stolen motor vehicle parts. If the motor vehicle or any of its numbered parts is not in that list, the Philippine Constabulary shall forthwith issue a certificate of clearance. Upon presentation of the certificate of clearance from the Philippine Constabulary and after verification of the registration of the motor vehicle engine, engine block and chassis in the permanent registry of motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis, the Land Transportation Commission shall register the motor vehicle in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations.

Section 7. Duty of Collector of Customs to report arrival of imported motor vehicle, etc. The Collector of Customs of a principal port of entry where an imported motor vehicle, motor vehicle engine, engine block chassis or body is unloaded, shall, within seven days after the arrival of the imported motor vehicle or any of its parts enumerated herein, make

a report of the shipment to the Land Transportation Commission, specifying the make, type and serial numbers, if any, of the motor vehicle engine, engine block and chassis or body, and stating the names and addresses of the owner or consignee thereof. If the motor vehicle engine, engine block, chassis or body does not bear any serial number, the Collector of Customs concerned shall hold the motor vehicle engine, engine block, chassis or body until it is numbered by the Land Transportation Commission.

Section 8. Duty of importers, distributors and sellers of motor vehicles to keep record of stocks. Any person engaged in the importation, distribution, and buying and selling of motor vehicles, motor vehicle engines, engine blocks, chassis or body, shall keep a permanent record of his stocks, stating therein their type, make and serial numbers, and the names and addresses of the persons from whom they were acquired and the names and addresses of the persons to whom they were sold, and shall render an accurate monthly report of his transactions in motor vehicles to the Land Transportation Commission.

Section 9. Duty of manufacturers of engine blocks, chassis or body to cause numbering of engine blocks, chassis or body manufactured. Any person engaged in the manufacture of engine blocks, chassis or body shall cause the numbering of every engine block, chassis or body manufactured in a convenient and conspicuous part thereof which the Land Transportation Commission may direct for the purpose of uniformity and identification of the factory and shall submit to the Land Transportation Commission a monthly report of the manufacture and sale of engine blocks, chassis or body.

Section 10. Clearance and permit required for assembly or rebuilding of motor vehicles. Any person who shall undertake to assemble or rebuild or cause the assembly or rebuilding of a motor vehicle shall first secure a certificate of clearance from the Philippine Constabulary: Provided, That no such permit shall be issued unless the applicant shall present a statement under oath containing the type, make and serial numbers of the engine, chassis and body, if any, and the complete list of the spare parts of the motor vehicle to be assembled or rebuilt together with the names and addresses of the sources thereof.

In the case of motor vehicle engines to be mounted on motor boats, motor bancas and other light water vessels, the applicant shall secure a permit from the Philippine Coast Guard, which office shall in turn furnish the Land Transportation Commission the pertinent data concerning the motor vehicle engines including their type, make and serial numbers.

Section 11. Clearance required for shipment of motor vehicles, motor vehicle engines, engine blocks, chassis or body. Any person who owns or operates inter-island shipping or any water transportation with launches, boats, vessels or ships shall within seven days submit a report to the Philippine Constabulary on all motor vehicle, motor vehicle engines, engine blocks, chassis or bodies transported by it for the motor vehicle, motor vehicle engine, engine block, chassis or body to be loaded on board the launch, boat vessel or ship.

Section 12. Defacing or tampering with serial numbers of motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis. It shall be unlawful for any person to deface or otherwise tamper with the original or registered serial number of motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis.

Section 13. Penal Provisions. Any person who violates any provisions of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment for not less than two years nor more than six years and a fine equal in amount to the acquisition cost of the motor vehicle, motor vehicle engine or any other part involved in the violation: Provided, That if the person violating any provision of this Act is a juridical person, the penalty herein provided shall be imposed on its president or secretary and/or members of the board of directors or any of its officers and employees who may have directly participated in the violation.

Any government official or employee who directly commits the unlawful acts defined in this Act or is guilty of gross negligence of duty or connives with or permits the commission of any of the said unlawful act shall, in addition to the penalty prescribed in the preceding paragraph, be dismissed from the service with prejudice to his reinstatement and with disqualification from voting or being voted for in any election and from appointment to any public office.

Section 14. Penalty for Carnapping. Any person who is found guilty of carnapping, as this term is defined in Section two of this Act, shall, irrespective of the value of motor vehicle taken, be punished by imprisonment for not less than fourteen years and eight months and not more than seventeen years and four months, when the carnapping is committed without violence or intimidation of persons, or force upon things; and by imprisonment for not less than seventeen years and four months and not more than thirty years, when the carnapping is committed by means of violence against or intimidation of any person, or force upon things; and the penalty of life imprisonment to death shall be imposed when the owner, driver or occupant of the carnapped motor vehicle is killed in the commission of the carnapping.

Section 15. Aliens. Aliens convicted under the provisions of this Act shall be deported immediately after service of sentence without further proceedings by the Deportation Board.

Section 16. Reward. Any person who voluntarily gives information leading to the recovery of carnapped vehicles and for the conviction of the persons charged with carnapping shall be given as reward so much reward money as the Philippine Constabulary may fix. The Philippine Constabulary is authorized to include in its annual budget the amount necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. Any information given by informers shall be treated as confidential matter.

Section 17. Separability clause. If any provisions of this Act is declared invalid, the provisions thereof not affected by such declaration shall remain in force and effect.

Section 18. Repealing clause. All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Section 19. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: August 26, 1972

M a n i l a

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 533 August 8, 1974

THE ANTI-CATTLE RUSTLING LAW OF 1974

WHEREAS, large cattle are indispensable to the livelihood and economic growth of our people, particularly the agricultural workers, because such large cattle are the work animals of our farmers and the source of fresh meat and dairy products for our people, and provide raw material for our tanning and canning industries;

WHEREAS, reports from the law-enforcement agencies reveal that there is a resurgence of thievery of large cattle, commonly known as "cattle rustling", especially in the rural areas, thereby directly prejudicing the livelihood of the agricultural workers and adversely affecting our food production program for self-sufficiency in rice, corn and other staple crops, as well as in fresh meat;

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to protect large cattle raising industry and small time large cattle owners and raisers from the nefarious activities of lawless elements in order to encourage our hardworking cattle raisers and farmers to raise more cattle and concentrate in their agricultural works, thus increasing our source of meat and dairy products as well as agricultural production and allied industries which depend on the cattle raising industry;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and pursuant to Proclamations No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972 and No. 1104, dated January 17, 1973 and General Order No. 1 dated September 22, 1972, do hereby order and decree as part of the law of the land, the following:

Section 1. Title. This Decree shall be known as the "Anti-Cattle Rustling Law of 1974."

Section 2. Definition of terms. The following terms shall mean and be understood to be as herein defined:

a. Large cattle as herein used shall include the cow, carabao, horse, mule, ass, or other domesticated member of the bovine family.

b. Owner/raiser shall include the herdsman, caretaker, employee or tenant of any firm or entity engaged in the raising of large cattle or other persons in lawful possession of such large cattle.

c. Cattle rustling is the taking away by any means, method or scheme, without the consent of the owner/raiser, of any of the above-mentioned animals whether or not for profit or gain, or whether committed with or without violence against or intimidation of any person or force upon things. It includes the killing of large cattle, or taking its meat or hide without the consent of the owner/raiser.

Section 3. Duty of owner/raiser to register. The owner/raiser shall, before the large cattle belonging to him shall attain the age of six months, register the same with the office of the city/municipal treasurer where such large cattle are raised. The city/municipality concerned may impose and collect the fees authorized by existing laws for such registration and the issuance of a certificate of ownership to the owner/raiser.

Section 4. Duty of city/municipal treasurers and other concerned public officers and employees. All public officials and employees concerned with the registration of large cattle are required to observe strict adherence with pertinent provisions of Chapter 22, Section 511 to 534, of the Revised Administrative Code, except insofar as they may be inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree.

Section 5. Permit to buy and sell large cattle. No person, partnership, association, corporation or entity shall engage in the business of buy and sell of large cattle without first securing a permit for the said purpose from the Provincial Commander of the province where it shall conduct such business and the city/municipal treasurer of the place of residence of such person, partnership, association, corporation or entity. The permit shall only be valid in such province.

Section 6. Clearance for shipment of large cattle. Any person, partnership, association, corporation or entity desiring to ship or transport large cattle, its hides, or meat, from one province to another shall secure a permit for such purpose from the Provincial Commander of the province where the large cattle is registered. Before issuance of the permit herein prescribed, the Provincial Commander shall require the submission of the certificate of ownership as prescribed in Section 3 hereof, a certification from the Provincial Veterinarian to the effect that such large cattle, hides or meat are free from any disease; and such other documents or records as may be necessary. Shipment of large cattle, its hides or meat from one city/municipality to another within the same province may be done upon securing permit from the city/municipal treasurer of the place of origin.

Section 7. Presumption of cattle rustling. Every person having in his possession, control or custody of large cattle shall, upon demand by competent authorities, exhibit the documents prescribed in the preceding sections. Failure to exhibit the required documents shall be prima facie evidence that the large cattle in his possession, control or custody are the fruits of the crime of cattle rustling.

Section 8. Penal provisions. Any person convicted of cattle rustling as herein defined shall, irrespective of the value of the large cattle involved, be punished by prision mayor in its maximum period to reclusion temporal in its medium period if the offense is committed without violence against or intimidation of persons or force upon things. If the offense is committed with violence against or intimidation of persons or force upon things, the penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period to reclusion perpetua shall be imposed. If a person is seriously injured or killed as a result or on the occasion of the commission of cattle rustling, the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death shall be imposed.

When the offender is a government official or employee, he shall, in addition to the foregoing penalty, be disqualified from voting or being voted upon in any election/referendum and from holding any public office or employment.

When the offender is an alien, he shall be deported immediately upon the completion of the service of his sentence without further proceedings.

Section 9. Rules and Regulations to be promulgated by the Chief of Constabulary. The chief of Constabulary shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Decree.

Section 10. Repealing clause. The provisions of Articles 309 and 310 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, as amended, all laws, decrees, orders, instructions, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect upon approval.

Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

M a n i l a

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 534 August 8, 1974

DEFINING ILLEGAL FISHING AND PRESCRIBING STIFFER PENALTIES THEREFOR

WHEREAS, the productive potentialities of the vast fishing grounds and other fishery resources in the country upon which the people depend as major and cheap source of food are being greatly reduced through the employment of various methods of illegal fishing;

WHEREAS, loss of human lives oftentimes occur and varied diseases and ailments are suffered by those who partake of fish and fishery products which have been illegally caught or gathered;

WHEREAS, in the interest and welfare of the people who depend mostly upon fish and sea or marine products for their daily-food, positive steps must be adopted by the government through interrelated

programs and projects including subsidiary laws and measures towards the implementation thereof.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order to be part of the law of the land, the following:

Section 1. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Decree, the following terms are defined:

a. Philippine Waters. include all bodies of water within Philippine Territory, such as rivers, streams, creeks, brooks, ponds, swamps, lagoons, gulfs, bays and seas and other bodies of water now existing, or which may hereafter exist in the provinces, cities, municipalities, municipal districts, and barrios; and the sea or fresh water around, between and connecting each of the islands of the Philippine Archipelago, irrespective of its depth, breadth, length and dimension, and all other waters belonging to the Philippines by historic or legal title, including the territorial sea, the seabed, the insular shelves and other submarine areas over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction.

b. Fish and Fishery/Aquatic Products. fish includes all fishes and other aquatic animals such as crustaceans (crabs, prawns, shrimps and lobsters), mollusks (clams, mussels, scallops, oysters, snails and other shellfish). Fishery/aquatic products include all products of aquatic resources in any form.

c. Fishing with the use of Explosives. means the use of dynamite, other explosives, or chemical compound that contain combustible elements or ingredients that, upon ignition by friction, concussion, percussion, or detonation of all or parts of the compound, kill, stupefy, disable or render unconscious any fish or fishery/aquatic product. It shall also refer to the use of any other substance and/or device that causes explosion capable of producing the said harmful effects on fish or fishery/aquatic products.

d. Fishing with the use of Obnoxious or Poisonous Substance. means the use of any substance or chemical, whether in raw or processed form, harmful or harmless, which kill, stupefy, disable, or render unconscious fish or fishery/aquatic products.

e. Electro-fishing. means the use of electricity generated by dry cell batteries, electric generators or other source of electric power to kill, stupefy, disable or render unconscious fish or fishery/aquatic products. It shall include the use of rays or beams of whatever nature, form or source of power.

f. Violation of Rules and Regulations. means violations of Fisheries Administrative Orders, rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of National Resources.

g. Persons. include natural and juridical persons, unless the context intends otherwise.

Section 2. Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person to catch, take or gather or caused to be caught, taken or gathered fish or fishery/aquatic products in Philippine waters with the use of explosives, obnoxious or poisonous substances or by the use of electricity: Provided, that the Secretary of Natural Resources may, subject to such safeguards and conditions he deems necessary, allow for research, educational or scientific purposes only the use of explosives, obnoxious or poisonous substances or electricity to catch, take or gather fish or fishery/aquatic products in specified areas.

Section 3. Penalties. Violations of this Decree and the rules and regulations mentioned in paragraph (f) of Section 1 hereof shall be punished as follows:

a. by imprisonment from 10 to 12 years, if explosives are used: Provided, that if the explosion results (1) in physical injury to person, the penalty shall be imprisonment from 12 to 20 years, or (2) in the loss of human life, then the penalty shall be imprisonment from 20 years to life, or death;

0b. by imprisonment from 8 to 10 years, if obnoxious or poisonous substances are used: Provided, that if the use of such substances results (1) in physical injury to any person, the penalty shall be imprisonment from 10 to 12 years, or (2) in the loss of human life, then the penalty shall be imprisonment from 20 years of life, or death;

c. by imprisonment from 6 months to 4 years, or by a fine of from P500 to P5,000 for violation of rules and regulations mentioned in paragraph (f) of Section 1 hereof.

If the violation is committed by a partnership, association or corporation, the managing partner or director or president who ordered or allowed the violation to be committed shall be liable together with other persons who actually committed the prohibited acts.

Section 4. Dealing in illegally caught fish or fishery/aquatic products. Any person who knowingly possesses, deals in, sells, or in any manner disposes of, for profit, any fish, fishery-aquatic products which have been illegally caught, taken or gathered shall, upon conviction by a competent court, be punished by imprisonment from 2 to 6 years.

Section 5. Repealing Clause. Act No. 4003, as amended, Republic Act No. 6451, laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 6. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect upon promulgation.

Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

Republic Act No. 8550             February 25, 1998

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF THE FISHERIES AND AQUATIC

RESOURCES, INTEGRATING ALL LAWS PERTINENT THERETO, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled::

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998."

CHAPTER IDeclaration of Policy and Definitions

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State:

(a) to achieve food security as the overriding consideration in the utilization, management, development, conservation and protection of fishery resources in order to provide the food needs of the population. A flexible policy towards the attainment of food security shall be adopted in response to changes in demographic trends for fish, emerging trends in the trade of fish and other aquatic products in domestic and international markets, and the law of supply and demand; lawphi1™

(b) to limit access to the fishery and aquatic resources of the Philippines for the exclusive use and enjoyment of Filipino citizens;

(c) to ensure the rational and sustainable development, management and conservation of the fishery and aquatic resources in Philippine waters including the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and in the adjacent high seas, consistent with the primordial objective of maintaining a sound ecological balance, protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment;

(d) to protect the rights of fisherfolk, especially of the local communities with priority to municipal fisherfolk, in the preferential use of the municipal waters. Such preferential use, shall be based on, but not limited to, Maximum Sustainable Yield

(MSY) or Total Allowable Catch (TAC) on the basis of resources and ecological conditions, and shall be consistent with our commitments under international treaties and agreements;

(e) to provide support to the fishery sector, primarily to the municipal fisherfolk, including women and youth sectors, through appropriate technology and research, adequate financial, production, construction of post-harvest facilities, marketing assistance, and other services. The protection of municipal fisherfolk against foreign intrusion shall extend to offshore fishing grounds. Fishworkers shall receive a just share for their labor in the utilization of marine and fishery resources;

(f) to manage fishery and aquatic resources, in a manner consistent with the concept of an integrated coastal area management in specific natural fishery management areas, appropriately supported by research, technical services and guidance provided by the State; and

(g) to grant the private sector the privilege to utilize fishery resources under the basic concept that the grantee, licensee or permittee thereof shall not only be a privileged beneficiary of the State but also active participant and partner of the Government in the sustainable development, management, conservation and protection of the fishery and aquatic resources of the country.

The state shall ensure the attainment of the following objectives of the fishery sector:

1. Conservation, protection and sustained management of the country's fishery and aquatic resources;

2. Poverty alleviation and the provision of supplementary livelihood among municipal fisherfolk;

3. Improvement of productivity of aquaculture within ecological limits;

4. Optimal utilization of offshore and deep-sea resources; and

5. Upgrading of post-harvest technology.

Section 3. Application of its Provisions. - The provisions of this Code shall be enforced in:

(a) all Philippine waters including other waters over which the Philippines has sovereignty and jurisdiction, and the country's 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf;

(b) all aquatic and fishery resources whether inland, coastal or offshore fishing areas, including but not limited to fishponds, fishpens/cages; and

(c) all lands devoted to aquaculture, or businesses and activities relating to fishery, whether private or public lands. lawphi1©

Section 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Code, the following terms and phrases shall mean as follows:

1. Ancillary Industries - firms or companies related to the supply, construction and maintenance of fishing vessels, gears, nets and other fishing paraphernalia; fishery machine shops; and other facilities such as hatcheries, nurseries, feed plants, cold storage and refrigeration, processing plants and other pre-harvest and post-harvest facilities.

2. Appropriate Fishing Technology - adaptable technology, both in fishing and ancillary industries, that is ecologically sound, locally source-based and labor intensive.

3. Aquaculture - fishery operations involving all forms of raising and culturing fish and other fishery species in fresh, brackish and marine water areas.

4. Aquatic Pollution - the introduction by human or machine, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy to the aquatic environment which result or is likely to result in such deleterious

effects as to harm living and non-living aquatic resources, pose potential and/or real hazard to human health, hindrance to aquatic activities such as fishing and navigation, including dumping/disposal of waste and other marine litters, discharge of petroleum or residual products of petroleum or carbonaceous materials/substances, and other, radioactive, noxious or harmful liquid, gaseous or solid substances, from any water, land or air transport or other human-made structure. Deforestation, unsound agricultural practices such as the use of banned chemicals and excessive use of chemicals, intensive use of artificial fish feed, and wetland conversion, which cause similar hazards and deleterious effects shall also constitute aquatic pollution.

5. Aquatic Resources - includes fish, all other aquatic flora and fauna and other living resources of the aquatic environment, including, but not limited to, salt and corals.

6. Artificial Reefs - any structure of natural or man-made materials placed on a body of water to serve as shelter and habitat, source of food, breeding areas for fishery species and shoreline protection.

7. Catch Ceilings - refer to the annual catch limits allowed to be taken, gathered or harvested from any fishing area in consideration of the need to prevent overfishing and harmful depletion of breeding stocks of aquatic organisms.

8. Closed Season - the period during which the taking of specified fishery species by a specified fishing gear is prohibited in a specified area or areas in Philippine waters.

9. Coastal Area/Zone - is a band of dry land and adjacent ocean space (water and submerged land. in which terrestrial processes and uses directly affect oceanic processes and uses, and vice versa; its geographic extent may include areas within a landmark limit of one (1. kilometer from the shoreline at high tide to include mangrove swamps, brackish water ponds, nipa swamps, estuarine rivers, sandy beaches and other areas within a

seaward limit of 200 meters isobath to include coral reefs, algal flats, seagrass beds and other soft-bottom areas.

10. Commercial Fishing - the taking of fishery species by passive or active gear for trade, business & profit beyond subsistence or sports fishing, to be further classified as:

(1) Small scale commercial fishing - fishing with passive or active gear utilizing fishing vessels of 3.1 gross tons (GT) up to twenty (20) GT;

(2) Medium scale commercial fishing - fishing utilizing active gears and vessels of 20.1 GT up to one hundred fifty (150) GT; and

(3) Large commercial fishing - fishing utilizing active gears and vessels of more than one hundred fifty (150) GT.

11. Commercial Scale - a scheme of producing a minimum harvest per hectare per year of milkfish or other species including those raised in pens, cages, and tanks to be determined by the Department in consultation with the concerned sectors;

12. Coral - the hard calcareous substance made up of the skeleton of marine coelenterate polyps which include reefs, shelves and atolls or any of the marine coelenterate animals living in colonies where their skeletons form a stony mass. They include: (a. skeletons of anthozoan coelenterates characterized as having a rigid axis of compact calcareous or horny spicules, belonging to the genus corallium as represented by the red, pink, and white corals which are considered precious corals; (b. skeletons of anthozoan coelenterates characterized by thorny, horny axis such as the antipatharians represented by the black corals which are considered semi-precious corals; and (c. ordinary corals which are any kind of corals that are not precious nor semi-precious.

13. Coral Reef - a natural aggregation of coral skeleton, with or without living coral polyps, occurring in intertidal and subtidal marine waters.

14. Demarcated Areas - boundaries defined by markers and assigned exclusively to specific individuals or organizations for certain specified and limited uses such as:

(a) Aquaculture, sea ranching and sea farming;

(b) Fish aggregating devices;

(c) Fixed and passive fishing gears; and

(d) Fry and fingerlings gathering.

15. Department - shall mean the Department of Agriculture.

16. Electrofishing - the use of electricity generated by batteries, electric generators and other source of electric power to kill, stupefy, disable or render unconscious fishery species, whether or not the same are subsequently recovered.

17. Endangered Rare and/or Threatened Species - aquatic plants, animals, including some varieties of corals and sea shells in danger of extinction as provided for in existing fishery laws, rules and regulations or in the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR. and in the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES).

18. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ. - an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea which shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines as defined under existing laws.

19. FARMCs - the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils.

20. Farm-to-Market Roads - shall include roads linking the fisheries production sites, coastal landing points and other post-harvest facilities to major market and arterial roads and highways.

21. Fine Mesh Net - net with mesh size of less than three centimeters (3 cm.. measured between two (2. opposite knots of a full mesh when stretched or as otherwise determined by the appropriate government agency.

22. Fish and Fishery/Aquatic Products - include not only finfish but also mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, marine mammals, and all other species of aquatic flora and fauna and all other products of aquatic living resources in any form.

23. Fish Cage - refers to an enclosure which is either stationary or floating made up of nets or screens sewn or fastened together and installed in the water with opening at the surface or covered and held in a place by wooden/bamboo posts or various types of anchors and floats.

24. Fish Corral or "Baklad" - a stationary weir or trap devised to intercept and capture fish consisting of rows of bamboo stakes, plastic nets and other materials fenced with split blood mattings or wire mattings with one or more enclosures, usually with easy entrance but difficult exit, and with or without leaders to direct the fish to the catching chambers, purse or bags.

25. Fish fingerlings - a stage in the life cycle of the fish measuring to about 6-13 cm. depending on the species.

26. Fish fry - a stage at which a fish has just been hatched usually with sizes from 1-2.5 cm.

27. Fish pen - an artificial enclosure constructed within a body of water for culturing fish and fishery/aquatic resources made up of poles closely arranged in an enclosure with wooden materials, screen or nylon netting to prevent escape of fish.

28. Fisherfolk - people directly or personally and physically engaged in taking and/or culturing and processing fishery and/or aquatic resources. lawphi1™

29. Fisherfolk Cooperative - a duly registered association of fisherfolk with a common bond of interest, who have voluntarily joined together to achieve a lawful common social or economic end, making equitable contribution to the capital requirement and accepting a fair share of the risks and benefits of the undertakings in accordance with universally accepted cooperative principles.

30. Fisherfolk Organization - an organized group, association, federation, alliance or an institution of fisherfolk which has at least fifteen (15. members, a set of officers, a constitution and by-laws, an organizational structure and a program of action.

31. Fisheries - refers to all activities relating to the act or business of fishing, culturing, preserving, processing, marketing, developing, conserving and managing aquatic resources and the fishery areas, including the privilege to fish or take aquatic resource thereof.

32. Fish Pond - a land-based facility enclosed with earthen or stone material to impound water for growing fish.

33. Fishing Boat/Gear License - a permit to operate specific types of fishing boat/gear for specific duration in areas beyond municipal waters for demersal or pelagic fishery resources.

34. Fishery Management Areas - a bay, gulf, lake or any other fishery area which may be delineated for fishery resource management purposes.

35. Fishery Operator - one who owns and provides the means including land, labor, capital, fishing gears and vessels, but does not personally engage in fishery.

36. Fishery Refuge and Sanctuaries - a designated area where fishing or other forms of activities which may damage the ecosystem of the area is prohibited and human access may be restricted.

37. Fishery Reserve - a designated area where activities are regulated and set aside for educational and research purposes.

38. Fishery Species - all aquatic flora and fauna including, but not restricted to, fish, algae, coelenterates, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms and cetaceans.

39. Fishing - the taking of fishery species from their wild state of habitat, with or without the use of fishing vessels.

40. Fishing gear - any instrument or device and its accessories utilized in taking fish and other fishery species.

(a) Active fishing gear - is a fishing device characterized by gear movements, and/or the pursuit of the target species by towing, lifting, and pushing the gears, surrounding, covering, dredging, pumping and scaring the target species to impoundments; such as, but not limited to, trawl, purse seines, Danish seines, bag nets, paaling, drift gill net and tuna longline.

(b) Passive fishing gear - is characterized by the absence of gear movements and/or the pursuit of the target species; such as, but not limited to, hook and line, fishpots, traps and gill nets across the path of the fish.

41. Fishing vessel - any boat, ship or other watercraft equipped to be used for taking of fishery species or aiding or assisting one (1. or more vessels in the performance of any activity relating to fishing, including, but not limited to, preservation, supply, storage, refrigeration, transportation and/or processing.

42. Fishing with Explosives - the use of the dynamite, other explosives or other chemical compounds that contain

combustible elements or ingredients which upon ignition by friction, concussion, percussion or detonation of all or parts of the compound, will kill, stupefy, disable or render unconscious any fishery species. It also refers to the use of any other substance and/or device which causes an explosion that is capable of producing the said harmful effects on any fishery species and aquatic resources and capable of damaging and altering the natural habitat.

43. Fishing with Noxious or Poisonous Substances - the use of any substance, plant extracts or juice thereof, sodium cyanide and/or cyanide compounds or other chemicals either in a raw or processed form, harmful or harmless to human beings, which will kill, stupefy, disable or render unconscious any fishery species and aquatic resources and capable of damaging and altering the natural habitat.

44. Fishworker - a person regularly or not regularly employed in commercial fishing and related industries, whose income is either in wage, profit-sharing or stratified sharing basis, including those working in fish pens, fish cages, fish corrals/traps, fishponds, prawn farms, sea farms, salt beds, fish ports, fishing boat or trawlers, or fish processing and/or packing plants. Excluded from this category are administrators, security guards and overseers.

45. Food Security - refers to any plan, policy or strategy aimed at ensuring adequate supplies of appropriate food at affordable prices. Food security may be achieved through self-sufficiency (i.e. ensuring adequate food supplies from domestic production), through self-reliance (i.e. ensuring adequate food supplies through a combination of domestic production and importation), or through pure importation.

46. Foreshore Land - a string of land margining a body of water; the part of a seashore between the low-water line usually at the seaward margin of a low tide terrace and the upper limit of wave wash at high tide usually marked by a beach scarp or berm.

47. Fully-developed Fishpond Area - a clean leveled area enclosed by dikes, at least one foot higher than the highest floodwater level in the locality and strong enough to resist pressure at the highest flood tide; consists of at least a nursery pond, a transition pond, a rearing pond or a combination of any or all said classes of ponds, and a functional water control system and producing in a commercial scale.

48. Gross Tonnage - includes the underdeck tonnage, permanently enclosed spaces above the tonnage deck, except for certain exemptions. In broad terms, all the vessel's 'closed-in' spaces expressed in volume terms on the bases of one hundred cubic feet (that equals one gross ton).

49. Inland Fishery - the freshwater fishery and brackishwater fishponds.

50. Lake - an inland body of water, an expanded part of a river, a reservoir formed by a dam, or a lake basin intermittently or formerly covered by water.

51. Limited Access - a fishery policy by which a system of equitable resource and allocation is established by law through fishery rights granting and licensing procedure as provided by this Code.

52. Mangroves - a community of intertidal plants including all species of trees, shrubs, vines and herbs found on coasts, swamps, or border of swamps.

53. Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY. - is the largest average quantity of fish that can be harvested from a fish stocks/resource within a period of time (e.g. one year. on a sustainable basis under existing environmental conditions.

54. Migratory species - refers to any fishery species which in the course of their life could travel from freshwater to marine water or vice versa, or any marine species which travel over great

distances in waters of the ocean as part of their behavioral adaptation for survival and speciation:

(a) Anadromous species - marine fishes which migrate to freshwater areas to spawn;

(b) Catadromous species - freshwater fishes which migrate to marine areas to spawn.

55. Monitoring, control and surveillance -

(a) Monitoring - the requirement of continuously observing: (1) fishing effort which can be expressed by the number of days or hours of fishing, number of fishing gears and number of fisherfolk; (2) characteristics of fishery resources; and (3) resource yields (catch);

(b) Control - the regulatory conditions (legal framework) under which the exploitation, utilization and disposition of the resources may be conducted; and

(c) Surveillance - the degree and types of observations required to maintain compliance with regulations. lawphi1™ALF

56. Municipal fisherfolk - persons who are directly or indirectly engaged in municipal fishing and other related fishing activities.

57. Municipal fishing - refers to fishing within municipal waters using fishing vessels of three (3. gross tons or less, or fishing not requiring the use of fishing vessels.

58. Municipal waters - include not only streams, lakes, inland bodies of water and tidal waters within the municipality which are not included within the protected areas as defined under Republic Act No. 7586 (The NIPAS Law), public forest, timber lands, forest reserves or fishery reserves, but also marine waters included between two (2. lines drawn perpendicular to the general coastline from points where the boundary lines of the

municipality touch the sea at low tide and a third line parallel with the general coastline including offshore islands and fifteen (15. kilometers from such coastline. Where two (2. municipalities are so situated on opposite shores that there is less than thirty (30. kilometers of marine waters between them, the third line shall be equally distant from opposite shore of the respective municipalities.

59. Non-governmental organization (NGO. - an agency, institution, a foundation or a group of persons whose purpose is to assist peoples organizations/associations in various ways including, but not limited to, organizing, education, training, research and/or resource accessing.

60. Payao - a fish aggregating device consisting of a loating raft anchored by a weighted line with suspended materials such as palm fronds to attract pelagic and schooling species common in deep waters.

61. Pearl Farm Lease - public waters leased for the purpose of producing cultured pearls.

62. People's Organization - a bona fide association of citizens with demonstrated capacity to promote the public interest and with identifiable leadership, membership and structure. Its members belong to a sector/s who voluntarily band themselves together to work for and by themselves for their own upliftment, development and greater good.

63. Person - natural or juridical entities such as individuals, associations, partnership, cooperatives or corporations.

64. Philippine waters - include all bodies of water within the Philippine territory such as lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, brooks, ponds, swamps, lagoons, gulfs, bays and seas and other bodies of water now existing or which may hereafter exist in the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays and the waters around, between and connecting the islands of the archipelago regardless of their breadth and dimensions, the territorial sea,

the sea beds, the insular shelves, and all other waters over which the Philippines has sovereignty and jurisdiction including the 200-nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf.

65. Post-harvest facilities - these facilities include, but are not limited to, fishport, fishlanding, ice plants and cold storages, fish processing plants.

66. Purse Seine - a form of encircling net having a line at the bottom passing through rings attached to the net, which can be drawn or pursed. In general, the net is set from a boat or pair of boats around the school of fish. The bottom of the net is pulled closed with the purse line. The net is then pulled aboard the fishing boat or boats until the fish are concentrated in the bunt or fish bag.

67. Resource Rent - the difference between the value of the products produced from harvesting a publicly owned resource less the cost of producing it, where cost includes the normal return to capital and normal return to labor.

68. Sea farming - the stocking of natural or hatchery-produced marine plants or animals, under controlled conditions, for purposes of rearing and harvesting, but not limited to commercially-important fishes, mollusks (such as pearl and giant clam culture), including seaweeds and seagrasses.

69. Sea ranching - the release of the young of fishery species reared in hatcheries and nurseries into natural bodies of water for subsequent harvest at maturity or the manipulation of fishery habitat, to encourage the growth of the wild stocks.

70. Secretary - the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

71. Superlight - also called magic light, is a type of light using halogen or metal halide bulb which may be located above the sea surface or submerged in the water. It consists of a ballast, regulator, electric cable and socket. The source of energy comes

from a generator, battery or dynamo coupled with the main engine.

72. Total Allowable Catch (TAC. - the maximum harvest allowed to be taken during a given period of time from any fishery area, or from any fishery species or group of fishery species, or a combination of area and species and normally would not exceed the MSY.

73. Trawl - an active fishing gear consisting of a bag shaped net with or without otter boards to open its opening which is dragged or towed along the bottom or through the water column to take fishery species by straining them from the water, including all variations and modifications of trawls (bottom, mid-water, and baby trawls) and tow nets.

CHAPTER IIUtilization, Management, Development, Conservation and

Allocation System of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Section 5. Use of Philippine Waters. - The use and exploitation of the fishery and aquatic resources in Philippine waters shall be reserved exclusively to Filipinos: Provided, however, That research and survey activities may be allowed under strict regulations, for purely research, scientific, technological and educational purposes that would also benefit Filipino citizens.

Section 6. Fees and Other Fishery Charges. - The rentals for fishpond areas covered by the Fishpond Lease Agreement (FLA) and license fees for Commercial Fishing Boat Licenses (CFBL) shall be set at levels that reflect resource rent accruing from the utilization of resources and shall be determined by the Department: Provided, That the Department shall also prescribe fees and other fishery charges and issue the corresponding license or permit for fishing gear, fishing accessories and other fishery activities beyond the municipal waters: Provided, further, That the license fees of fishery activity in municipal waters shall be determined by the Local Government Units (LGUs) in consultation with the FARMCs. The FARMCs may also recommend the appropriate license fees that will be imposed.

Section 7. Access to Fishery Resources. - The Department shall issue such number of licenses and permits for the conduct of fishery activities subject to the limits of the MSY of the resource as determined by scientific studies or best available evidence. Preference shall be given to resource users in the local communities adjacent or nearest to the municipal waters.

Section 8. Catch Ceiling Limitations. - The Secretary may prescribe limitations or quota on the total quantity of fish captured, for a specified period of time and specified area based on the best available evidence. Such a catch ceiling may be imposed per species of fish whenever necessary and practicable: Provided, however, That in municipal waters and fishery management areas, and waters under the jurisdiction of special agencies, catch ceilings may be established upon the concurrence and approval or recommendation of such special agency and the concerned LGU in consultation with the FARMC for conservation or ecological purposes.

Section 9. Establishment of Closed Season. - The Secretary may declare, through public notice in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in public service announcements, whichever is applicable, at least five (5) days before the declaration, a closed season in any or all Philippine waters outside the boundary of municipal waters and in bays, for conservation and ecological purposes. The Secretary may include waters under the jurisdiction of special agencies, municipal waters and bays, and/or other areas reserved for the use of the municipal fisherfolk in the area to be covered by the closed season: Provided, however, That this shall be done only upon the concurrence and approval or recommendation of such special agency and the concerned LGU and FARMC: Provided, further, That in municipal waters, fishery management areas and other areas reserved for the use of the municipal fisherfolk, closed season may be established by the concerned LGU in consultation with the FARMC for conservation or ecological purposes. The FARMCs may also recommend the establishment of closed seasons in municipal waters, fisheries management and other areas reserved for the use of the municipal fisherfolk.

Section 10. Introduction of Foreign Aquatic Species. - No foreign finfish, mollusk, crustacean or aquatic plants shall be introduced in Philippine waters without a sound ecological, biological and environmental justification based on scientific studies subject to the bio-safety standard as provided for by existing laws: Provided, however, That the Department may approve the introduction of foreign aquatic species for scientific/research purposes.

Section 11. Protection of Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species. - The Department shall declare closed seasons and take conservation and rehabilitation measures for rare, threatened and endangered species, as it may determine, and shall ban the fishing and/or taking of rare, threatened and/or endangered species, including their eggs/offspring as identified by existing laws in concurrence with concerned government agencies.

Section 12. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). - All government agencies as well as private corporations, firms and entities who intend to undertake activities or projects which will affect the quality of the environment shall be required to prepare a detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to undertaking such development activity. The preparation of the EIS shall form an integral part of the entire planning process pursuant to the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1586 as well as its implementing rules and regulations.

Section 13. Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). - All Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) shall be submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for review and evaluation. No person, natural or juridical, shall undertake any development project without first securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Secretary of the DENR.

Section 14. Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of Philippine Waters. - A monitoring, control and surveillance system shall be established by the Department in coordination with LGUs, FARMCs, the private sector and other agencies concerned to ensure that the fisheries and aquatic resources in Philippine waters are judiciously and wisely utilized and managed on a sustainable basis and conserved for the benefit and enjoyment exclusively of Filipino citizens.

Section 15. Auxiliary Invoices. - All fish and fishery products must have an auxiliary invoice to be issued by the LGUs or their duly authorized representatives prior to their transport from their point of origin to their point of destination in the Philippines and/or export purposes upon payment of a fee to be determined by the LGUs to defray administrative costs therefor.

ARTICLE IMUNICIPAL FISHERIES

Section 16. Jurisdiction of Municipal/City Government. - The municipal/city government shall have jurisdiction over municipal waters as defined in this Code. The municipal/city government, in consultation with the FARMC shall be responsible for the management, conservation, development, protection, utilization, and disposition of all fish and fishery/aquatic resources within their respective municipal waters.

The municipal/city government may, in consultation with the FARMC, enact appropriate ordinances for this purpose and in accordance with the National Fisheries Policy. The ordinances enacted by the municipality and component city shall be reviewed pursuant to Republic Act No. 7160 by the sanggunian of the province which has jurisdiction over the same.

The LGUs shall also enforce all fishery laws, rules and regulations as well as valid fishery ordinances enacted by the municipal/city council.

The management of contiguous fishery resources such as bays which straddle several municipalities, cities or provinces, shall be done in an integrated manner, and shall not be based on political subdivisions of municipal waters in order to facilitate their management as single resource systems. The LGUs which share or border such resources may group themselves and coordinate with each other to achieve the objectives of integrated fishery resource management. The Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMCs) established under Section 76 of this Code shall serve as the venues for close collaboration among LGUs in the management of contiguous resources.

Section 17. Grant of Fishing Privileges in Municipal Waters. - The duly registered fisherfolk organizations/cooperatives shall have preference in the grant of fishery rights by the Municipal/City Council pursuant to Section 149 of the Local Government Code: Provided, That in areas where there are special agencies or offices vested with jurisdiction over municipal waters by virtue of special laws creating these agencies such as, but not limited to, the Laguna Lake Development Authority and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, said offices and agencies shall continue to grant permits for proper management and implementation of the aforementioned structures.

Section 18. Users of Municipal Waters. - All fishery related activities in municipal waters, as defined in this Code, shall be utilized by municipal fisherfolk and their cooperatives/organizations who are listed as such in the registry of municipal fisherfolk.

The municipal or city government, however, may, through its local chief executive and acting pursuant to an appropriate ordinance, authorize or permit small and medium commercial fishing vessels to operate within the ten point one (10.1) to fifteen (15) kilometer area from the shoreline in municipal waters as defined herein, provided, that all the following are met:

(a) no commercial fishing in municipal waters with depth less than seven (7) fathoms as certified by the appropriate agency;

(b) fishing activities utilizing methods and gears that are determined to be consistent with national policies set by the Department;

(c) prior consultation, through public hearing, with the M/CFARMC has been conducted; and

(d) the applicant vessel as well as the shipowner, employer, captain and crew have been certified by the appropriate agency as not having violated this Code, environmental laws and related laws.

In no case shall the authorization or permit mentioned above be granted for fishing in bays as determined by the Department to be in an environmentally critical condition and during closed season as provided for in Section 9 of this Code.

Section 19. Registry of Municipal Fisherfolk. - The LGU shall maintain a registry of municipal fisherfolk, who are fishing or may desire to fish in municipal waters for the purpose of determining priorities among them, of limiting entry into the municipal waters, and of monitoring fishing activities an/or other related purposes: Provided, That the FARMC shall submit to the LGU the list of priorities for its consideration.

Such list or registry shall be updated annually or as may be necessary, and shall be posted in barangay halls or other strategic locations where it shall be open to public inspection, for the purpose of validating the correctness and completeness of the list. The LGU, in consultation with the FARMCs, shall formulate the necessary mechanisms for inclusion or exclusion procedures that shall be most beneficial to the resident municipal fisherfolk. The FARMCs may likewise recommend such mechanisms.

The LGUs shall also maintain a registry of municipal fishing vessels by type of gear and other boat particulars with the assistance of the FARMC.

Section 20. Fisherfolk Organizations and/or Cooperatives. - Fisherfolk organizations/cooperatives whose members are listed in the registry of municipal fisherfolk, may be granted use of demarcated fishery areas to engage in fish capture, mariculture and/or fish farming: Provided, however, That an organization/cooperative member whose household is already in possession of a fishery right other than for fish capture cannot enjoy the fishing rights granted to the organization or cooperative.

Section 21. Priority of Resident Municipal Fisherfolk. - Resident municipal fisherfolk of the municipality concerned and their organizations/cooperatives shall have priority to exploit municipal and demarcated fishery areas of the said municipality.

Section 22. Demarcated Fishery Right. - The LGU concerned shall grant demarcated fishery rights to fishery organizations/cooperatives for mariculture operation in specific areas identified by the Department.

Section 23. Limited Entry Into Overfished Areas. - Whenever it is determined by the LGUs and the Department that a municipal water is overfished based on available data or information or in danger of being overfished, and that there is a need to regenerate the fishery resources in that water, the LGU shall prohibit or limit fishery activities in the said waters.

Section 24. Support to Municipal Fisherfolk. - The Department and the LGUs shall provide support to municipal fisherfolk through appropriate technology and research, credit, production and marketing assistance and other services such as, but not limited to training for additional/supplementary livelihood.

Section 25. Rights and Privileges of Fishworkers. - The fishworkers shall be entitled to the privileges accorded to other workers under the Labor Code, Social Security System and other benefits under other laws or social legislation for workers: Provided, That fishworkers on board any fishing vessels engaged in fishing operations are hereby covered by the Philippine Labor Code, as amended.

ARTICLE IICOMMERCIAL FISHERIES

Section 26. Commercial Fishing Vessel License and Other Licenses. - No person shall operate a commercial fishing vessel, pearl fishing vessel or fishing vessel for scientific, research or educational purposes, or engage in any fishery activity, or seek employment as a fishworker or pearl diver without first securing a license from the Department, the period of which shall be prescribed by the Department: Provided, That no such license shall be required of a fishing vessel engaged in scientific, research or educational purposes within Philippine waters pursuant to an international agreement of which the Philippines is a signatory and which agreement defines the status, privileges and obligations of said vessel and its crew and the non-Filipino officials of the international agency under which said vessel operates: Provided,

further, That members of the crew of a fishing vessel used for commercial fishing except the duly licensed and/or authorized patrons, marine engineers, radio operators and cooks shall be considered as fisherfolk: Provided, furthermore, That all skippers/master fishers shall be required to undertake an orientation training on detection of fish caught by illegal means before they can be issued their fishworker licenses: Provided, finally, That the large commercial fishing vessels license herein authorized to be granted shall allow the licensee to operate only in Philippine waters seven (7) or more fathoms deep, the depth to be certified by the NAMRIA, and subject to the conditions that may be stated therein and the rules and regulations that may be promulgated by the Department.

Section 27. Persons Eligible for Commercial Fishing Vessel License. - No commercial fishing vessel license shall be issued except to citizens of the Philippines, partnerships or to associations, cooperatives or corporations duly registered in the Philippines at least sixty percent (60%) of the capital stock of which is owned by Filipino citizens. No person to whom a license has been issued shall sell, transfer or assign, directly or indirectly, his stock or interest therein to any person not qualified to hold a license. Any such transfer, sale or assignment shall be null and void and shall not be registered in the books of the association, cooperative or corporation.

For purposes of commercial fishing, fishing vessels owned by citizens of the Philippines, partnerships, corporations, cooperatives or associations qualified under this section shall secure Certificates of Philippine Registry and such other documents as are necessary for fishing operations from the concerned agencies: Provided, That the commercial fishing vessel license shall be valid for a period to be determined by the Department.

Section 28. Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration. - The registration, documentation, inspection and manning of the operation of all types of fishing vessels plying Philippine waters shall be in accordance with laws, rules and regulations.

Section 29. Registration and Licensing of Fishing Gears Used in Commercial Fishing. - Before a commercial fishing vessel holding a

commercial fishing vessel license may begin fishing operations in Philippine waters, the fishing gear it will utilize in fishing shall be registered and a license granted therefor. The Department shall promulgate guidelines to implement this provision within sixty (60) days from approval of this Code.

Section 30. Renewal of Commercial Boat License. - The commercial fishing boat license shall be renewed every three (3) years.

The owner/operator of a fishing vessel has a period of sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the license within which to renew the same.

Section 31. Report of Transfer of Ownership. - The owner/operator of a registered fishing vessel shall notify the Department in writing of the transfer of the ownership of the vessel with a copy of such document within ten (10) days after its transfer to another person.

Section 32. Fishing by Philippine Commercial Fishing Fleet in International Waters. - Fishing vessels of Philippine registry may operate in international waters or waters of other countries which allow such fishing operations: Provided, That they comply with the safety, manning and other requirements of the Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Industry Authority and other agencies concerned: Provided, however, That they secure an international fishing permit and certificate of clearance from the Department: Provided, further, That the fish caught by such vessels shall be considered as caught in Philippine waters and therefore not subject to all import duties and taxes only when the same is landed in duly designated fish landings and fish ports in the Philippines: Provided, furthermore, That landing ports established by canneries, seafood processors and all fish landing sites established prior to the effectivity of this Code shall be considered authorized landing sites: Provided, finally, That fishworkers on board Philippine registered fishing vessels conducting fishing activities beyond the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone are not considered as overseas Filipino workers.

Section 33. Importation of Fishing Vessels or Construction of New Fishing Boats. - Prior to the importation of fishing vessels and the

construction of new fishing vessels, the approval/clearance of the Department must first be obtained.

Section 34. Incentives for Municipal and Small-Scale Commercial Fisherfolk. - Municipal and small-scale commercial fisherfolk shall be granted incentives which shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) at least ten percent (10%) of the credit and the guarantee funds of government financing institutions shall be made available for post-harvest and marketing projects for the purpose of enhancing our fisherfolk competitiveness by reducing post-harvest losses. Qualified projects shall include, but shall not be limited to, ice plants, cold storage, canning, warehouse, transport and other related infrastructure projects and facilities; and

(b) the Department shall undertake the following programs:

1. a capability-building program for targeted parties shall be developed by the Department to promote greater bankability and credit worthiness of municipal and small-scale commercial fishers. Such program shall include organizing activities, technology transfer, and skills training related to commercial fishing as well as credit management. Groups and cooperatives organized under the program shall have priority access over credit and guarantee funds established under this Code; and

2. an information campaign shall be conducted to promote the capability building and credit programs. The campaign shall ensure greater information dissemination and accessibility to targeted fisherfolk.

Section 35. Incentives for Commercial Fishers to Fish Farther into the Exclusive Economic Zone. - In order to encourage fishing vessel operators to fish farther in the EEZ and beyond, new incentives for improvement of fishing vessels and acquisition of fishing equipment shall be granted in addition to incentives already available from the

Board of Investments (BOI). Such incentives shall be granted subject to exhaustive evaluation of resource and exploitation conditions in the specified areas of fishing operations. The incentive shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) long term loans supported by guarantee facilities to finance the building and acquisition and/or improvement of fishing vessels and equipment;

(b) commercial fishing vessel operators of Philippine registry shall enjoy a limited period of tax and duty exemptions on the importation of fishing vessels not more than five (5) years old, equipment and paraphernalia, the period of exemption and guidelines shall be fixed by the Department within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Code;

(c) commercial fishing operator of Philippine registry engaged in fisheries in the high seas shall be entitled to duty and tax rebates on fuel consumption for commercial fisheries operations. Guidelines shall be promulgated within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Code by the Department; and

(d) all applicable incentives available under the Omnibus Investment Code of 1987: Provided, That the fishing operation project is qualified for registration and is duly registered with the BOI.

Section 36. Complement of Fishing Vessels. - Every commercial fishing vessel of Philippine registry when actually operated, shall be manned in accordance with the requirements of the Philippine Merchant Marine rules and regulations.

Section 37. Medical Supplies and Life-Saving Devices. - All fishing vessels shall be provided with adequate medical supplies and life-saving devices to be determined by the Occupational Safety and Health Center: Provided, That a fishing vessel of twenty (20) GT or more shall have as a member of its crew a person qualified as a first aider duly certified by the Philippine National Red Cross.

Section 38. Reportorial Requirements. - Each commercial fishing vessel shall keep a daily record of fish catch and spoilage, landing points, and quantity and value of fish caught, and off-loaded for transshipment, sale and/or other disposal. Detailed information shall be duly certified by the vessel's captain and transmitted monthly to the officer or representative of the Department, at the nearest designated landing point.

Section 39. Report of Meteorological and Other Data. - All vessels and crafts passing navigational lanes or engaged in fisheries activity shall be required to contribute to meteorological and other data, and shall assist the Department in documentation or reporting of information vital to navigation and the fishing industry.

Section 40. Color Code and Radio Frequency. - For administrative efficiency and enforcement of regulations, registered fishing vessels shall bear a color code as may be determined by the Department and may be assigned a radio frequency specific and distinct to its area of operation.

Section 41. Passage. - Commercial and other passage not in the regular conduct of fisheries activity shall be made at designated navigational lanes.

Section 42. Transshipment. - Foreign fishing vessels wishing to avail of land, air and sea facilities available in the Philippines to transport fishery products which are caught outside Philippine territorial waters to its final destination shall call only at duly designated government-owned or -controlled regional fishport complexes after securing clearance from the Department.

Section 43. Operation of Radio Communication Facilities on Board Fishing Vessels. - The Department shall promulgate guidelines in the operation of radio communication facilities on board fishing vessels and the assignment of radio frequencies specific and distinct to area of operation in coordination with the National Telecommunications Commission.

Section 44. Use of Superlight. - The number and wattage of superlights used in commercial fishing vessels shall be regulated by the Department: Provided, That the use of superlights is banned within municipal waters and bays.

ARTICLE IIIAQUACULTURE

Section 45. Disposition of Public Lands for Fishery Purposes. - Public lands such as tidal swamps, mangroves, marshes, foreshore lands and ponds suitable for fishery operations shall not be disposed or alienated. Upon effectivity of this Code, FLA may be issued for public lands that may be declared available for fishpond development primarily to qualified fisherfolk cooperatives/associations: Provided, however, That upon the expiration of existing FLAs the current lessees shall be given priority and be entitled to an extension of twenty-five (25) years in the utilization of their respective leased areas. Thereafter, such FLAs shall be granted to any Filipino citizen with preference, primarily to qualified fisherfolk cooperatives/associations as well as small and medium enterprises as defined under Republic Act No. 8289: Provided, further, That the Department shall declare as reservation, portions of available public lands certified as suitable for fishpond purposes for fish sanctuary, conservation, and ecological purposes: Provided, finally, That two (2) years after the approval of this Act, no fish pens or fish cages or fish traps shall be allowed in lakes.

Section 46. Lease of Fishponds. - Fishpond leased to qualified persons and fisherfolk organizations/cooperatives shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) Areas leased for fishpond purposes shall be no more than 50 hectares for individuals and 250 hectares for corporations or fisherfolk organizations;

(b) The lease shall be for a period of twenty-five (25) years and renewable for another twenty-five (25) years: Provided, That in case of the death of the lessee, his spouse and/or children, as his heirs, shall have preemptive rights to the unexpired term of his Fishpond Lease Agreement subject to the same terms and

conditions provided herein provided that the said heirs are qualified;

(c) Lease rates for fishpond areas shall be determined by the Department: Provided, That all fees collected shall be remitted to the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute and other qualified research institutions to be used for aquaculture research development;

(d) The area leased shall be developed and producing on a commercial scale within three (3) years from the approval of the lease contract: Provided, however, That all areas not fully producing within five (5) years from the date of approval of the lease contract shall automatically revert to the public domain for reforestation;

(e) The fishpond shall not be subleased, in whole or in part, and failure to comply with this provision shall mean cancellation of FLA;

(f) The transfer or assignment of rights to FLA shall be allowed only upon prior written approval of the Department;

(g) The lessee shall undertake reforestation for river banks, bays, streams, and seashore fronting the dike of his fishpond subject to the rules and regulations to be promulgated thereon; and

(h) The lessee shall provide facilities that will minimize environmental pollution, i.e., settling ponds, reservoirs, etc: Provided, That failure to comply with this provision shall mean cancellation of FLA.

Section 47. Code of Practice for Aquaculture. - The Department shall establish a code of practice for aquaculture that will outline general principles and guidelines for environmentally-sound design and operation to promote the sustainable development of the industry. Such Code shall be developed through a consultative process with the DENR, the fishworkers, FLA holders, fishpond owners, fisherfolk

cooperatives, small-scale operators, research institutions and the academe, and other potential stakeholders. The Department may consult with specialized international organizations in the formulation of the code of practice.

Section 48. Incentives and Disincentives for Sustainable Aquaculture Practices. - The Department shall formulate incentives and disincentives, such as, but not limited to, effluent charges, user fees and negotiable permits, to encourage compliance with the environmental standards and to promote sustainable management practices.

Section 49. Reversion of All Abandoned, Undeveloped or Underutilized Fishponds. - The DENR, in coordination with the Department, LGUs, other concerned agencies and FARMCs shall determine which abandoned, underdeveloped or underutilized fishponds covered by FLAs can be reverted to their original mangrove state and after having made such determination shall take all steps necessary to restore such areas in their original mangrove state.

Section 50. Absentee Fishpond Lease Agreement Holders. - Holders of fishpond lease agreements who have acquired citizenship in another country during the existence of the FLA shall have their lease automatically cancelled and the improvements thereon to be forfeited in favor of the government and disposed of in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated thereon.

Section 51. License to Operate Fish Pens, Fish Cages, Fish Traps and Other Structures for the Culture of Fish and Other Fishery Products. - Fish pens, fish cages, fish traps and other structures for the culture of fish and other fishery products shall be constructed and shall operate only within established zones duly designated by LGUs in consultation with the FARMCs concerned consistent with national fisheries policies after the corresponding licenses thereof have been secured. The area to be utilized for this purpose for individual person shall be determined by the LGUs in consultation with the concerned FARMC: Provided, however, That not over ten percent (10%) of the suitable water surface area of all lakes and rivers shall be allotted for aquaculture purposes like fish pens, fish cages and fish traps; and the

stocking density and feeding requirement which shall be controlled and determined by its carrying capacity: Provided, further, That fish pens and fish cages located outside municipal waters shall be constructed and operated only within fish pen and fish cage belts designated by the Department and after corresponding licenses therefor have been secured and the fees thereof paid.

Section 52. Pearl Farm Leases. - The foregoing provisions notwithstanding, existing pearl farm leases shall be respected and allowed to operate under the terms thereof. New leases may be granted to qualified persons who possess the necessary capital and technology, by the LGUs having jurisdiction over the area.

Section 53. Grant of Privileges for Operations of Fish Pens, Cages, Corrals/Traps and Similar Structures. - No new concessions, licenses, permits, leases and similar privileges for the establishment or operation of fish pens, fish cages, fish corrals/traps and other similar structures in municipal areas shall be granted except to municipal fisherfolk and their organizations.

Section 54. Insurance for Fishponds, Fish Cages and Fish Pens. - Inland fishponds, fish cages and fish pens shall be covered under the insurance program of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation for losses caused by force majeure and fortuitous events.

Section 55. Non-Obstruction to Navigation. - Nothing in the foregoing sections shall be construed as permitting the lessee, licensee, or permittee to undertake any construction which will obstruct the free navigation in any stream, river, lakes, or bays flowing through or adjoining the fish pens, fish cages, fish traps and fishponds, or impede the flow of the tide to and from the area. Any construction made in violation hereof shall be removed upon the order of the Department in coordination with the other government agencies concerned at the expense of the lessee, licensee, or occupants thereof, whenever applicable. The Department shall within thirty (30) days after the effectivity of this Code formulate and implement rules and regulations for the immediate dismantling of existing obstruction to navigation.

Section 56. Non-Obstruction to Defined Migration Paths. - Nothing in the foregoing sections shall be construed as permitting the lessee, permittee, or licensee to undertake any construction which will obstruct any defined migration path of migratory fish species such as river mouths and estuaries with a distance determined by the concerned LGUs in consultation with and upon the recommendation of the FARMCs.

Section 57. Registration of Fish Hatcheries and Private Fishponds, etc. - All fish hatcheries, fish breeding facilities and private fishponds must be registered with the LGUs which shall prescribe minimum standards for such facilities in consultation with the Department: Provided, That the Department shall conduct a yearly inventory of all fishponds, fish pens and fish cages whether in public or private lands: Provided, further, That all fishpond, fish pens and fish cage operators shall annually report to the Department the type of species and volume of production in areas devoted to aquaculture.

ARTICLE IVPOST-HARVEST FACILITIES, ACTIVITIES AND TRADES

Section 58. Comprehensive Post-harvest and Ancillary Industries Plan. - The Department shall conduct a regular study of fisheries post-harvest operations and ancillary industries, in the formulation of a comprehensive plan for post-harvest and ancillary industries. It shall take into account among others, the following:

(a) detailed and clear guidelines on the distribution, construction, maintenance and use of post-harvest infrastructure facilities;

(b) extension of credit and incentives for post-harvest operations;

(c) promotion and strengthening of semi-processing, processing and handling;

(d) development of domestic fishmeal industry;

(e) development of fisheries ship-building and repair as a viable industry;

(f) development and strengthening of marketing facilities and activities, including the pricing system, with emphasis on collective marketing and the elimination of middlemen;

(g) increased participation of cooperatives and non-governmental organizations in post-harvest operations and ancillary industries; and

(h) integration of fisheries post-harvest operations into the national fisheries plan.

Section 59. Establishment of Post-Harvest Facilities for Fishing Communities. - The LGUs shall coordinate with the private sector and other concerned agencies and FARMCs in the establishment of post-harvest facilities for fishing communities such as, but not limited to, municipal fish landing sites, fish ports, ice plants and cold storage and other fish processing establishments to serve primarily the needs of municipal fisherfolk: Provided, That such post-harvest facilities shall be consistent with the Comprehensive Post-harvest and Ancillary Industries Plan.

Section 60. Registration and Licensing of all Post-Harvest Facilities. - All post-harvest facilities such as fish processing plants, ice plants, and cold storages, fish ports/landings and other fishery business establishments must register with and be licensed by the LGUs which shall prescribe minimum standards for such facilities in consultation with the Department.

Section 61. Importation and Exportation of Fishery Products. -

(a) Export of fishery products shall be regulated whenever such exportation affects domestic food security and production: Provided, That exportation of live fish shall be prohibited except those which are hatched or propagated in accredited hatcheries and ponds;

(b) To protect and maintain the local biodiversity or ensure the sufficiency of domestic supply, spawners, breeders, eggs and fry of bangus, prawn and other endemic species, as may be

determined by the Department, shall not be exported or caused to be exported by any person;

(c) Fishery products may be imported only when the importation has been certified as necessary by the Department in consultation with the FARMC, and all the requirements of this Code, as well as all existing rules and regulations have been complied with: Provided, That fish imports for canning/processing purposes only may be allowed without the necessary certification, but within the provisions of Section 61(d) of this Code; and

(d) No person, shall import and/or export fishery products of whatever size, stage or form for any purpose without securing a permit from the Department.

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. Instruments of Weights and Measures, and Quality Grades/Standards. - Standards for weights, volume and other measurements for all fishery transactions shall be set by the Department.

All fish and fishery products for export, import and domestic consumption shall meet the quality grades/standards as determined by the Department.

The LGU concerned shall, by appropriate ordinance, penalize fraudulent practices and unlawful possession or use of instruments of weights and measures.

CHAPTER IIIReconstitution of The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

and Creation of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils

ARTICLE IRECONSTITUTION 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; lawphi1™

(p) recommend measures for the protection/enhancement of the fishery industries;

(q) assist the LGUs in developing their technical capability in the development, management, regulation, conservation, and protection of the fishery resources;

(r) formulate rules and regulations for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks; and

(s) perform such other related functions which shall promote the development, conservation, management, protection and utilization of fisheries and aquatic resources.

Section 66. Composition of BFAR. - As a line bureau, the BFAR shall be headed by a Director and assisted by two (2) Assistant Directors who shall supervise the administrative and technical services of the bureau respectively. It shall establish regional, provincial and municipal offices as may be appropriate and necessary to carry out effectively and efficiently the provisions of this Code.

Section 67. Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Service. - For purposes of monitoring and regulating the importation and exportation of fish and fishery/aquatic resources, the Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Service in the BFAR is hereby strengthened and shall have the following functions:

(a) conduct fisheries quarantine and quality inspection of all fish and fishery/aquatic products coming into and going out of the country by air or water transport, to detect the presence of fish pest and diseases and if found to harbor fish pests or diseases shall be confiscated and disposed of in accordance with environmental standards and practices;

(b) implement international agreements/commitments on bio-safety and bio-diversity as well as prevent the movement or trade of endemic fishery and aquatic resources to ensure that the same are not taken out of the country;

(c) quarantine such aquatic animals and other fishery products determined or suspected to be with fishery pests and diseases and prevent the movement or trade from and/or into the country of these products so prohibited or regulated under existing laws, rules and regulations as well as international agreements of which the Philippines is a State Party;

(d) examine all fish and fishery products coming into or going out of the country which may be a source or medium of fish pests or diseases and/or regulated by existing fishery regulations and

ensure that the quality of fish import and export meet international standards; and

(e) document and authorize the movement or trade of fish and fishery products when found free of fish pests or diseases and collect necessary fees prescribed by law and regulations.

ARTICLE IITHE FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

COUNCILS (FARMCs)

Section 68. Development of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Municipal Waters and Bays. - Fisherfolk and their organizations residing within the geographical jurisdiction of the barangays, municipalities or cities with the concerned LGUs shall develop the fishery/aquatic resources in municipal waters and bays.

Section 69. Creation of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMCs). - FARMCs shall be established in the national level and in all municipalities/cities abutting municipal waters as defined by this Code. The FARMCs shall be formed by fisherfolk organizations/cooperatives and NGOs in the locality and be assisted by the LGUs and other government entities. Before organizing FARMCs, the LGUs, NGOs, fisherfolk, and other concerned POs shall undergo consultation and orientation on the formation of FARMCs.

Section 70. Creation and Composition of the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMC). - There is hereby created a National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council hereinafter referred to as NFARMC as an advisory/recommendatory body to the Department. The NFARMC shall be composed of fifteen (15) members consisting of:

(a) the Undersecretary of Agriculture, as Chairman;

(b) the Undersecretary of the Interior and Local Government;

(c) five (5) members representing the fisherfolk and fishworkers;

(d) five (5) members representing commercial fishing and aquaculture operators and the processing sectors;

(e) two (2) members from the academe; and

(f) one (1) representative of NGOs involved in fisheries.

The members of the NFARMC, except for the Undersecretary of Agriculture and the Undersecretary of the Interior and Local Government, shall be appointed by the President upon the nomination of their respective organizations.

Section 71. Terms of Office. - The members of NFARMC, except the Undersecretary of Agriculture and the Undersecretary of the Interior and Local Government, shall serve for a term of three (3) years without reappointment.

Section 72. Functions of the NFARMC. - The NFARMC shall have the following functions:

(a) assist in the formulation of national policies for the protection, sustainable development and management of fishery and aquatic resources for the approval of the Secretary;

(b) assist the Department in the preparation of the National Fisheries and Industry Development Plan; and

(c) perform such other functions as may be provided by law.

Section 73. The Municipal/City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (M/CFARMCs). - The M/CFARMCs shall be created in each of the municipalities and cities abutting municipal waters. However, the LGU may create the Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (BFARMCs) and the Lakewide Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (LFARMCs) whenever necessary. Such BFARMCs and LFARMCs shall serve in an advisory capacity to the LGUs.

Section 74. Functions of the M/CFARMCs. - The M/CFARMCs shall exercise the following functions:

(a) assist in the preparation of the Municipal Fishery Development Plan and submit such plan to the Municipal Development Council;

(b) recommend the enactment of municipal fishery ordinances to the sangguniang bayan/sangguniang panlungsod through its Committee on Fisheries;

(c) assist in the enforcement of fishery laws, rules and regulations in municipal waters;

(d) advise the sangguniang bayan/panlungsod on fishery matters through its Committee on Fisheries, if such has been organized; and

(e) perform such other functions which may be assigned by the sangguniang bayan/panlungsod.

Section 75. Composition of the M/CFARMC . - The regular member of the M/CFARMCs shall be composed of:

(a) Municipal/City Planning Development Officer;

(b) Chairperson, Agriculture/Fishery Committee of the Sangguniang Bayan/Panlungsod;

(c) representative of the Municipal/City Development Council;

(d) representative from the accredited non-government organization;

(e) representative from the private sector;

(f) representative from the Department of Agriculture; and

(g) at least eleven (11) fisherfolk representatives (seven (7) municipal fisherfolk, one (1) fishworker and three (3) commercial fishers) in each municipality/city which include representative from youth and women sector.

The Council shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to govern its proceedings and election.

Section 76. The Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (IFARMCs). - The IFARMCs shall be created in bays, gulfs, lakes and rivers and dams bounded by two (2) or more municipalities/cities.

Section 77. Functions of the IFARMCs. - The IFARMC shall have the following functions:

(a) assist in the preparation of the Integrated Fishery Development Plan and submit such plan to the concerned Municipal Development Councils;

(b) recommend the enactment of integrated fishery ordinances to the concerned sangguniang bayan/panlungsod through its Committee on Fisheries, if such has been organized;

(c) assist in the enforcement of fishery laws, rules and regulations in concerned municipal waters;

(d) advice the concerned sangguniang bayan/panlungsod on fishery matters through its Committee on Fisheries, if such has been organized; and

(e) perform such other functions which may be assigned by the concerned sangguniang bayan/panlungsod.

Section 78. Composition of the IFARMCs. - The regular members of the IFARMCs shall be composed of the following:

(a) the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture/Fisheries of the concerned sangguniang bayan/panlungsod;

(b) the Municipal/City Fisheries Officers of the concerned municipalities/cities;

(c) the Municipal/City Development Officers of the concerned municipalities/cities;

(d) one (1) representative from NGO;

(e) one (1) representative from private sector; and

(f) at least nine (9) representatives from the fisherfolk sector which include representatives from the youth and women sector.

The Council shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to govern its proceedings and election.

Section 79. Source of Funds of the FARMCs. - A separate fund for the NFARMC, IFARMCs and M/CFARMCs shall be established and administered by the Department from the regular annual budgetary appropriations.

CHAPTER IVFishery Reserves, Refuge and Sanctuaries

Section 80. Fishing Areas Reserves for Exclusive Use of Government. - The Department may designate area or areas in Philippine waters beyond fifteen (15) kilometers from shoreline as fishery reservation for the exclusive use of the government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, for propagation, educational, research and scientific purposes: Provided, That in municipalities or cities, the concerned LGUs in consultation with the FARMCs may recommend to the Department that portion of the municipal waters be declared as fishery reserves for special or limited use, for educational, research, and/or special management purposes. The FARMCs may recommend to the Department portions of the

municipal waters which can be declared as fisheries reserves for special or limited use for educational, research and special management purposes.

Section 81. Fish Refuge and Sanctuaries. - The Department may establish fish refuge and sanctuaries to be administered in the manner to be prescribed by the BFAR at least twenty-five percent (25%) but not more than forty percent (40%) of bays, foreshore lands, continental shelf or any fishing ground shall be set aside for the cultivation of mangroves to strengthen the habitat and the spawning grounds of fish. Within these areas no commercial fishing shall be allowed. All marine fishery reserves, fish sanctuaries and mangrove swamp reservations already declared or proclaimed by the President or legislated by the Congress of the Philippines shall be continuously administered and supervised by the concerned agency: Provided, however, That in municipal waters, the concerned LGU in consultation with the FARMCs may establish fishery refuge and sanctuaries. The FARMCs may also recommend fishery refuge and sanctuaries: Provided, further, That at least fifteen percent (15%) where applicable of the total coastal areas in each municipality shall be identified, based on the best available scientific data and in consultation with the Department, and automatically designated as fish sanctuaries by the LGUs in consultation with the concerned FARMCs.

CHAPTER VFisheries Research and Development

Section 82. Creation of a National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI). - In recognition of the important role of fisheries research in the development, management, conservation and protection of the country's fisheries and aquatic resources, there is hereby created a National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI).

The Institute shall form part of the National Research and Development Network of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The Institute, which shall be attached to the Department shall serve as the primary research arm of the BFAR. The overall governance of the

Institute shall be vested in the Governing Board which shall formulate policy guidelines for its operation. The plans, programs and operational budget shall be passed by the Board. The Board may create such committees as it may deem necessary for the proper and effective performance of its functions. The composition of the Governing Board shall be as follows:

(a) Undersecretary for Fisheries - Chairman

(b) BFAR Director - Vice Chairman

(c) NFRDI Executive Director - Member

(d) PCAMRD Executive Director - Member

(e) Representative from the academe - Member

(f) four (4) representatives from the private sector who shall come from the following subsectors: - Members

Municipal Fisherfolk Commercial Fishing Operator Aquaculture Operator Post-Harvest/Processor

The NFRDI shall have a separate budget specific to its manpower requirements and operations to ensure the independent and objective implementation of its research activities.

Section 83. Qualification Standard. - The Institute shall be headed by an Executive Director to be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the governing board. The Executive Director shall hold a Doctorate degree in fisheries and/or other related disciplines. The organizational structure and staffing pattern shall be approved by the Department: Provided, however, That the staffing pattern and remunerations for scientific and technical staff shall be based on the qualification standards for science and technology personnel.

Section 84. Research and Development Objectives. - Researches to be done by the NFRDI are expected to result in the following:

(a) To raise the income of the fisherfolk and to elevate the Philippines among the top five (5) in the world ranking in the fish productions;

(b) to make the country's fishing industry in the high seas competitive;

(c) to conduct social research on fisherfolk families for a better understanding of their conditions and needs; and

(d) to coordinate with the fisheries schools, LGUs and private sectors regarding the maximum utilization of available technology, including the transfer of such technology to the industry particularly the fisherfolk.

Section 85. Functions of the NFRDI . - As a national institute, the NFRDI shall have the following functions:

(a) establish a national infrastructure unit complete with technologically-advanced features and modern scientific equipment, which shall facilitate, monitor, and implement various research needs and activities of the fisheries sector;

(b) provide a venue for intensive training and development of human resources in the field of fisheries, a repository of all fisheries researches and scientific information;

(c) provide intensive training and development of human resources in the field of fisheries for the maximum utilization of available technology;

(d) hasten the realization of the economic potential of the fisheries sector by maximizing developmental research efforts in accordance with the requirements of the national fisheries

conservations and development programs, also possibly through collaborative effort with international institutions; and

(e) formally establish, strengthen and expand the network of fisheries-researching communities through effective communication linkages nationwide.

CHAPTER VIProhibitions and Penalties

Section 86. Unauthorized Fishing or Engaging in Other Unauthorized Fisheries Activities. - No person shall exploit, occupy, produce, breed, culture, capture or gather fish, fry or fingerlings of any fishery species or fishery products, or engage in any fishery activity in Philippine waters without a license, lease or permit.

Discovery of any person in an area where he has no permit or registration papers for a fishing vessel shall constitute a prima facie presumption that the person and/or vessel is engaged in unauthorized fishing: Provided, That fishing for daily food sustenance or for leisure which is not for commercial, occupation or livelihood purposes may be allowed.

It shall be unlawful for any commercial fishing vessel to fish in bays and in such other fishery management areas which may hereinafter be declared as over-exploited.

Any commercial fishing boat captain or the three (3) highest officers of the boat who commit any of the above prohibited acts upon conviction shall be punished by a fine equivalent to the value of catch or Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) whichever is higher, and imprisonment of six (6) months, confiscation of catch and fishing gears, and automatic revocation of license.

It shall be unlawful for any person not listed in the registry of municipal fisherfolk to engage in any commercial fishing activity in municipal waters. Any municipal fisherfolk who commits such violation shall be punished by confiscation of catch and a fine of Five hundred pesos (500.00).

Section 87. Poaching in Philippine Waters. - It shall be unlawful for any foreign person, corporation or entity to fish or operate any fishing vessel in Philippine waters.

The entry of any foreign fishing vessel in Philippine waters shall constitute a prima facie evidence that the vessel is engaged in fishing in Philippine waters.

Violation of the above shall be punished by a fine of One hundred thousand U.S. Dollars (US$100,000.00), in addition to the confiscation of its catch, fishing equipment and fishing vessel: Provided, That the Department is empowered to impose an administrative fine of not less than Fifty thousand U.S. Dollars (US$50,000.00) but not more than Two hundred thousand U.S. Dollars (US$200,000.00) or its equivalent in the Philippine Currency.

Section 88. Fishing Through Explosives, Noxious or Poisonous Substance, and/or Electricity. -

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to catch, take or gather or cause to be caught, taken or gathered, fish or any fishery species in Philippine waters with the use of electricity, explosives, noxious or poisonous substance such as sodium cyanide in the Philippine fishery areas, which will kill, stupefy, disable or render unconscious fish or fishery species: Provided, That the Department, subject to such safeguards and conditions deemed necessary and endorsement from the concerned LGUs, may allow, for research, educational or scientific purposes only, the use of electricity, poisonous or noxious substances to catch, take or gather fish or fishery species: Provided, further, That the use of poisonous or noxious substances to eradicate predators in fishponds in accordance with accepted scientific practices and without causing adverse environmental impact in neighboring waters and grounds shall not be construed as illegal fishing.

It will likewise be unlawful for any person, corporation or entity to possess, deal in, sell or in any manner dispose of, any fish or fishery species which have been illegally caught, taken or gathered.

The discovery of dynamite, other explosives and chemical compounds which contain combustible elements, or noxious or poisonous substances, or equipment or device for electro-fishing in any fishing vessel or in the possession of any fisherfolk, operator, fishing boat official or fishworker shall constitute prima facie evidence, that the same was used for fishing in violation of this Code. The discovery in any fishing vessel of fish caught or killed with the use of explosive, noxious or poisonous substances or by electricity shall constitute prima facie evidence that the fisherfolk, operator, boat official or fishworker is fishing with the use thereof.

(2) Mere possession of explosive, noxious or poisonous substances or electrofishing devices for illegal fishing shall be punishable by imprisonment ranging from six (6) months to two (2) years.

(3) Actual use of explosives, noxious or poisonous substances or electrofishing devices for illegal fishing shall be punishable by imprisonment ranging from five (5) years to ten (10) years without prejudice to the filing of separate criminal cases when the use of the same result to physical injury or loss of human life.

(4) Dealing in, selling, or in any manner disposing of, for profit, illegally caught/gathered fisheries species shall be punished by imprisonment ranging from six (6) months to two (2) years.

(5) In all cases enumerated above, the explosives, noxious or poisonous substances and/or electrical devices, as well as the fishing vessels, fishing equipment and catch shall be forfeited.

Section 89. Use of Fine Mesh Net. - It shall be unlawful to engage in fishing using nets with mesh smaller than that which may be fixed by the Department: Provided, That the prohibition on the use of fine mesh net shall not apply to the gathering of fry, glass eels, elvers, tabios, and alamang and such species which by their nature are small but already mature to be identified in the implementing rules and regulations by the Department.

Violation of the above shall subject the offender to a fine from Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or imprisonment from six (6) months to two (2) years or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court: Provided, That if the offense is committed by a commercial fishing vessel, the boat captain and the master fisherman shall also be subject to the penalties provided herein: Provided, further, That the owner/operator of the commercial fishing vessel who violates this provision shall be subjected to the same penalties provided herein: Provided, finally, That the Department is hereby empowered to impose upon the offender an administrative fine and/or cancel his permit or license or both.

Section 90. Use of Active Gear in the Municipal Waters and Bays and Other Fishery Management Areas. - It shall be unlawful to engage in fishing in municipal waters and in all bays as well as other fishery management areas using active fishing gears as defined in this Code.

Violators of the above prohibitions shall suffer the following penalties:

(1) The boat captain and master fisherman of the vessels who participated in the violation shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment from two (2) years to six (6) years;

(2) The owner/operator of the vessel shall be fined from Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to Twenty thousand pesos (20,000.00) upon the discretion of the court.

If the owner/operator is a corporation, the penalty shall be imposed on the chief executive officer of the Corporation.

If the owner/operator is a partnership the penalty shall be imposed on the managing partner.

(3) The catch shall be confiscated and forfeited.

Section 91. Ban on Coral Exploitation and Exportation. - It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation to gather, possess, sell or export

ordinary precious and semi-precious corals, whether raw or in processed form, except for scientific or research purposes.

Violations of this provision shall be punished by imprisonment from six (6) months to two (2) years and a fine from Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to Twenty thousand pesos (20,000.00), or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court, and forfeiture of the subject corals, including the vessel and its proper disposition.

The confiscated corals shall either be returned to the sea or donated to schools and museums for educational or scientific purposes or disposed through other means.

Section 92. Ban on Muro-Ami Other Methods and Gear Destructive to Coral Reefs and Other Marine Habitat. - It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, to fish with gear method that destroys coral reefs, seagrass beds, and other fishery marine life habitat as may be determined by the Department. "Muro-Ami" and any of its variation, and such similar gear and methods that require diving, other physical or mechanical acts to pound the coral reefs and other habitat to entrap, gather or catch fish and other fishery species are also prohibited.

The operator, boat captain, master fisherman, and recruiter or organizer of fishworkers who violate this provision shall suffer a penalty of two (2) years to ten (10) years imprisonment and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. The catch and gear used shall be confiscated.

It shall likewise be unlawful for any person or corporation to gather, sell or export white sand, silica, pebbles and any other substances which make up any marine habitat.

The person or corporation who violates this provision shall suffer a penalty of two (2) years to ten (10) years imprisonment and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. The substance taken from its marine habitat shall be confiscated.

Section 93. Illegal Use of Superlights. - It shall be unlawful to engage in fishing with the use of superlights in municipal waters or in violation of the rules and regulations which may be promulgated by the Department on the use of superlights outside municipal waters.

Violations of this provision shall be punished by imprisonment from six (6) months to two (2) years or a fine of Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) per superlight, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the courts. The superlight, fishing gears and vessel shall be confiscated.

Section 94. Conversion of Mangroves. - It shall be unlawful for any person to convert mangroves into fishponds or for any other purposes.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years and/or a fine of Eighty thousand pesos (P80,000.00): Provided, That if the area requires rehabilitation or restoration as determined by the court, the offender should also be required to restore or compensate for the restoration of the damage.

Section 95. Fishing in Overfished Area and During Closed Season. - It shall be unlawful to fish in overfished area and during closed season.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of six (6) months and one (1) day to six (6) years and/or fine of Six thousand pesos (P6,000.00) and by forfeiture of the catch and cancellation of fishing permit or license.

Section 96. Fishing in Fishery Reserves, Refuge and Sanctuaries. - It shall be unlawful to fish in fishery areas declared by the Department as fishery reserves, refuge and sanctuaries.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of two (2) years to six (6) years and/or fine of Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) and by forfeiture of the catch and the cancellation of fishing permit or license.

Section 97. Fishing Or Taking of Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species. - It shall be unlawful to fish or take rare, threatened or endangered species as listed in the CITES and as determined by the Department.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of twelve (12) years to twenty (20) years and/or a fine of One hundred and twenty thousand pesos (P120,000.00) and forfeiture of the catch, and the cancellation of fishing permit.

Section 98. Capture of Sabalo and Other Breeders/Spawners. - It shall be unlawful for any person to catch, gather, capture or possess mature milkfish or "sabalo" and such other breeders or spawners of other fishery species as may be determined by the Department: Provided, That catching of "sabalo" and other breeders/spawners for local breeding purposes or scientific or research purposes may be allowed subject to guidelines to be promulgated by the Department.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of six (6) months and one (1) day to eight (8) years and/or a fine of Eighty thousand pesos (P80,000.00) and forfeiture of the catch, and fishing equipment used and revocation of license.

Section 99. Exportation of Breeders, Spawners, Eggs or Fry. - Exportation of breeders, spawners, eggs or fry as prohibited in this Code shall be punished by imprisonment of eight (8) years, confiscation of the same or a fine equivalent to double the value of the same, and revocation of the fishing and/or export license/permit.

Section 100. Importation or Exportation of Fish or Fishery Species. - Any importation or exportation of fish or fisheries species in violation of this Code shall be punished by eight (8) years of imprisonment, a fine of Eighty thousand pesos (P80,000.00) and destruction of live fishery species or forfeiture of non-live fishery species in favor of the department for its proper disposition: Provided, That violator of this provision shall be banned from being members or stock holders of companies currently engaged in fisheries or companies to be created in the future, the guidelines for which shall be promulgated by the Department.

Section 101. Violation of Catch Ceilings. - It shall be unlawful for any person to fish in violation of catch ceilings as determined by the Department. Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of six (6) months and one (1) day to six (6) years and/or a fine of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) and forfeiture of the catch, and fishing equipment used and revocation of license.

Section 102. Aquatic Pollution. - Aquatic pollution, as defined in this Code shall be unlawful.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years and/or a fine of Eighty thousand pesos (P80,000.00) plus an additional fine of Eight thousand pesos (P8,000.00) per day until such violation ceases and the fines paid.

Section 103. Other Violations. - The following fisheries activities shall also be considered as a violation of this Code:

(a) Failure to Comply with Minimum Safety Standards. - The owner and captain of a commercial fishing vessel engaged in fishing who, upon demand by proper authorities, fails to exhibit or show proof of compliance with the safety standards provided in this Code, shall be immediately prevented from continuing with his fishing activity and escorted to the nearest port or landing point. The license to operate the commercial fishing vessel shall be suspended until the safety standard has been complied with.

(b) Failure to Conduct a Yearly Report on all Fishponds, Fish Pens and Fish Cages. - The FLA of the holder who fails to render a yearly report shall be immediately cancelled: Provided, That if the offender be the owner of the fishpond, fish pen or fish cage, he shall be subjected to the following penalties: (1) first offense, a fine of Five hundred pesos (P500.00) per unreported hectare; (2) subsequent offenses, a fine of One thousand pesos (1,000.00) per unreported hectare.

(c) Gathering and Marketing of Shell Fishes. - It shall be unlawful for any person to take, sell, transfer, or have in possession for any purpose any shell fish which is sexually mature or below the minimum size or above the maximum quantities prescribed for the particular species.

(d) Obstruction to Navigation or Flow and Ebb of Tide in any Stream, River, Lake or Bay. - It shall be unlawful for any person who causes obstruction to navigation or flow or ebb of tide.

(e) Construction and Operation of Fish Corrals/Traps, Fish Pens and Fish Cages. - It shall be unlawful to construct and operate fish corrals/traps, fish pens and fish cages without a license/permit.

Subject to the provision of subparagraph (b) of this section, violation of the above-enumerated prohibited acts shall subject the offender to a fine ranging from Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) or imprisonment from one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, upon the discretion of the court: Provided, That the Secretary is hereby empowered to impose upon the offender an administrative fine of not more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) or to cancel his permit or license, or to impose such fine and to cancel his permit or license, in the discretion of the Secretary: Provided, further, That the Secretary, or his duly authorized representative, and law enforcement agents are hereby empowered to impound with the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard, PNP-Maritime Command: Provided, finally, That any person who unlawfully obstructs or delays the inspection and/or movement of fish and fishery/aquatic products when such inspection and/or movement is authorized under this Code, shall be subject to a fine of not more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) or imprisonment of not more than two (2) years, or both such fine and imprisonment, upon the discretion of the court.

Every penalty imposed for the commission of an offense shall carry with it the forfeiture of the proceeds of such offense and the instruments or tools with which it was committed.

Such proceeds and instruments or tools shall be confiscated and forfeited in favor of the Government, unless they be the property of a third person not liable for the offense, but those articles which are not subject of lawful commerce shall be destroyed.

Section 104. Commercial Fishing Vessel Operators Employing Unlicensed Fisherfolk or Fishworker or Crew. - The owner/operator of a commercial fishing vessel employing unlicensed fisherfolk or fishworker shall be fined Five hundred pesos (P500.00) each for every month that the same has been employed and/or One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) for every month for each unlicensed crew member who has been employed.

Section 105. Obstruction of Defined Migration Paths. - Obstruction of any defined migration paths of anadromous, catadromous and other migratory species, in areas including, but not limited to river mouths and estuaries within a distance determined by the concerned FARMCs shall be punished by imprisonment of seven (7) years to twelve (12) years or a fine from Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00)or both imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court, and cancellation of permit/license, if any, and dismantling of obstruction shall be at his own expense and confiscation of same.

Section 106. Obstruction to Fishery Law Enforcement Officer. - The boat owner, master or operator or any person acting on his behalf of any fishing vessel who evades, obstructs or hinders any fishery law enforcement officer of the Department to perform his duty, shall be fined Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00). In addition, the registration, permit and/or license of the vessel including the license of the master fisherman shall be canceled.

Section 107. Promulgation of Administrative Orders. - For purposes of fishery regulation or other fishery adjustments, the Department in consultation with the LGUs and local FARMCs, shall issue Fishery Administrative Orders or regulations for the conservation, preservation, management and sustainable development of fishery and aquatic resources.

CHAPTER VIIGeneral Provisions

Section 108. Fisherfolk Settlement Areas. - The Department shall establish and create fisherfolk settlement areas in coordination with concerned agencies of the government, where certain areas of the public domain, specifically near the fishing grounds, shall be reserved for the settlement of the municipal fisherfolk. Nothing in this section shall be construed to vest ownership of any resettlement area to a municipal fisherfolk for whom said areas may have been reserved for or had been actually granted to.

Section 109. Municipal Fisheries Grant Fund. - For the development, management and conservation of the municipal resources, there is hereby created a Fishery Grant Fund to finance fishery projects of the LGUs primarily for the upliftment of the municipal fisherfolk. The amount of One hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated out of the Department's allocation in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) to support the Grant Fund.

For this purpose, the Department may seek financial assistance from any source and may receive any donation therefore.

Section 110. Fishery Loan and Guarantee Fund. - Pursuant to Section 7, Article XIII of the Constitution, there is hereby created a Fishery Loan and Guarantee Fund with an initial of One hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00), which shall be administered by the Land Bank of the Philippines. The fund shall be made available for lending to qualified borrowers to finance the development of the fishery industry under a program to be prescribed by the Department.

For the same purpose, the Department may seek financial assistance from any source and may receive any donation therefrom.

Section 111. Fishing Vessels Development Fund. - There is hereby created a Fishing Vessels Development Fund to enhance the building and/or acquisition of fishing vessels. This shall be a long-term loan facility that shall be administered by the Development Bank of the Philippines. The amount of Two hundred and fifty million pesos

(P250,000,000.00) per year for five (5) years is hereby appropriated out of the Department's allocation in the GAA to support this Development Fund.

Section 112. Special Fisheries Science and Approfishtech Fund. - The Department shall provide subsidy for full technical and financial support to the development of appropriate technology, both in fishery and ancillary industries, that are ecologically sound, locally source-based and labor intensive, based on the requirement and needs of the FARMCs. An initial amount of One hundred million pesos (100,000,000.00) shall be authorized for the purpose of a Special Fisheries Science and Approfishtech Fund, and thereafter shall be included in the GAA.

Section 113. Aquaculture Investment Fund. - An Aquaculture Investment Fund in the minimum amount of Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) shall be established for soft loans which shall be extended to municipal fisherfolk and their organization who will engage in aquaculture, and for the development of underdeveloped or underutilized inland fishponds.

Section 114. Other Fisheries Financing Facilities. - In addition to fisheries credit guarantee, grant and other similar facilities granted under this Code, qualified Filipino fisherfolk and fisheries enterprises shall enjoy such other facilities granted them under existing and/or new laws, specially as to rural credit, with preference being given to fisheries cooperatives.

Section 115. Professionalization of Fisheries Graduates. - There is hereby created a Fisheries Board of Examiners in the Professional Regulation Commission to upgrade the Fisheries Profession: Provided, however, That those who have passed the Civil Service Examination for Fisheries shall automatically be granted eligibility by the Fisheries Board of Examiners: Provided, further, That they have served the industry in either public or private capacity for not less than five (5) years: Provided, finally, That the first Board Examination for B.S. Fisheries Graduates shall be conducted within one (1) year from the approval of this Code.

Section 116. Upgrading of State Fisheries Schools/Colleges. - The Department, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), shall upgrade State Fisheries Schools/Colleges which provide both formal and non-formal education: Provided, however, That the CHED shall incorporate Approfishtech in the curricula of fisheries schools/colleges.

The Department and the CHED shall jointly formulate standards to upgrade all fisheries schools/colleges. Fisheries schools/colleges that do not meet minimum standards shall be closed.

Section 117. Inclusion of Fisheries Conservation Subjects in School Curriculum. - Fisheries conservation subjects shall be incorporated in the curricula of elementary and secondary schools both private and public.

Section 118. Educational campaign at all levels. - The Department, the CHED, the DECS and the Philippine Information Agency shall launch and pursue a nationwide educational campaign to:

(a) help realize the policies and implement the provisions of this Code;

(b) promote the development, management, conservation and proper use of the environment;

(c) promote the principle of sustainable development; and

(d) promote the development of truly Filipino-oriented fishing and ancillary industries.

Section 119. Infrastructure Support. - The Department in cooperation with concerned agencies shall:

(a) prepare and implement a nationwide plan for the development of municipal fishing ports and markets;

(b) prioritize the construction of farm-to-market roads linking the fisheries production sites, coastal landing points and other post-harvest facilities to major market and arterial roads/highways;

(c) identity community infrastructure facilities such as fish landing ports, ice plant and cold storage facilities in consultation with fishery cooperatives/associations and prepare plans and designs for their construction that would be consistent with international environmental impact;

(d) establish and maintain quality laboratories in major fish ports and prescribe the highest standards for the operation and maintenance of such post-harvest facilities;

(e) arrange and make representations with appropriate funding institutions to finance such facilities for the use of the fishery cooperatives/associations;

(f) develop and strengthen marketing facilities and promote cooperative marketing systems; and

(g) promote and strengthen local fisheries ship-building and repair industry.

Section 120. Extension Services. - The Department shall develop cost-effective, practical and efficient extension services on a sustained basis, in addition to those provided by state educational institutions, especially to municipal fisherfolk in undeveloped areas, utilizing practicable and indigenous resources and government agencies available, and based upon a system of self-reliance and self-help.

Section 121. Protection of Sensitive Technical Information. - The Department shall take such measures as may be necessary in order to protect trade, industrial and policy information of Filipino fisherfolk, fisheries owners/operators, entrepreneurs, manufacturers and researchers, when disclosure of such information will injure the competitiveness or viability of domestic fisheries.

Section 122. Assistance in Collecting Information. - The Department, in coordination with other government entities concerned, may require Filipino representatives abroad and foreign-based personnel to assist in the collection of fisheries data and information.

Section 123. 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 124. 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 125. 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 126. 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 127. 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 VIIITransitory Provisions

Section 128. 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 129. 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; lawphi1™

(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 IXFinal Provisions

Section 130. 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 131. 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 132. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Code is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions or provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby, shall continue in full force and effect.

Section 133. Effectivity. - This Code shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general publication.

Approved: February 25, 1998 lawphi1™

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 581 November 13, 1974

PRESCRIBING A HEAVIER MINIMUM PENALTY FOR HIGHGRADING OR THEFT OF GOLD FROM A MINING CLAIM OR

MINING CAMP

WHEREAS, "highgrading" or the theft of gold has become rampant in the mining areas where gold is produced because of the high price that this precious metal now commands in the free market;

WHEREAS, gold mining is one of the industries that the Government encourages because of the role that gold plays in our economy not only as an important part of our international reserves, but also as one of our principal sources of foreign exchange;

WHEREAS, the existing laws has proved inadequate in curbing highgrading because of the difficulty in apprehending highgraders and also because of the light penalties usually imposed on the accused due to the relatively low value which the Courts give to stolen gold-bearing ores or rocks;

WHEREAS, "highgrading" causes damage not only to the operator of the mining claims, but also to the Government which losses the foreign exchange and the taxes the stolen gold could have generated and, worse, it promotes black-marketing and smuggling abroad of this precious metal; and

WHEREAS, one of the principal aims of our New Society is to stamp out all forms of lawlessness to promote the social and economic well-being of our people;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree that:

Section 1. Any person who shall take gold-bearing ores or rocks from a mining claim or mining camp or shall remove, collect or gather gold-bearing ores or rocks in place or shall extract or remove the gold from such ores or rocks, or shall prepare and treat such ores or rocks to recover or extract the gold contents thereof, without the consent of the operator of the mining claim, shall be guilty of "highgrading" or theft of gold and shall suffer a penalty of prision-correccional in its minimum period, but if the accused is an employee or laborer of the operator of the mining claim, the penalty shall be prision-correccional in medium period without prejudice to the imposition of the higher penalties

provided in Article 309 of the Revised Penal Code if the value of the goods stolen so warrants. The penalty next lower in degree than that prescribed hereinabove shall be imposed if the offense is frustrated, and the penalty two degrees lower if the offense is attempted.

Section 2. The unauthorized possession by any person within a mining claim or mining camp of gold-bearing ores or rocks or of gold extracted or removed from such ores or rocks, shall be prima facie evidence that they have been stolen from the operator of a mining claim.

Section 3. Any person who knowingly buys or acquires stolen gold-bearing ore or rocks or the gold extracted or removed therefrom shall be guilty of theft as an accessory and penalized with arresto mayor in its maximum period.

Section 4. All laws or regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 5. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 13th day of November, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

M a n i l a

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 401 March 1, 1974

PENALIZING THE UNAUTHORIZED INSTALLATION OF WATER, ELECTRICAL OR TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS, THE USE OF

TAMPERED WATER OR ELECTRICAL METERS, AND OTHER ACTS

WHEREAS, a paramount objective of Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972, is to bring about the formation of a New Society infused with a profound sense of discipline and order;

WHEREAS, the foregoing objective is being thwarted by rampant illegal installation of water, electrical and telephone connection, use of tampered water and electrical meters, jumpers and other devices to

steal water or electricity, at times with the connivance of some employees and/or officers of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, the Manila Electric Company or the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, as the case may be, and the pilferage of water and electric meters as well as water, electric and telephone meters; and

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for putting an end to these illegal activities because they not only run counter to the aforementioned objective of Proclamation No. 1081 but also prejudice the economic well-being of both the companies concerned and the consuming public;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972, and General Order No. 1 dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and decree that any person who installs any water, electrical or telephone connection without previous authority from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, the Manila Electric Company or the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, as the case may be; tampers and/or uses tampered water or electrical meters or jumpers or other devices whereby water or electricity is stolen; steals or pilfers water and/or electric meters or water, electric and/or telephone wires; knowingly possesses stolen or pilfered water and/or electrical meters as well as stolen or pilfered water, electrical and/or telephone wires, shall, upon conviction, be punished by prision correccional in its minimum period or a fine ranging from two thousand to six thousand pesos, or both. If the violation is committed with the connivance or permission of an employee or officer of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, or the Manila Electric Company, or the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, such employee or officer shall, upon conviction, be punished by a penalty one degree lower than prision correccional in its minimum period and forthwith be dismissed and perpetually disqualified from employment in any public or private utility or service company.

Done in the City of Manila, this 1st day of March in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

Republic Act No. 7832             December 8, 1994

AN ACT PENALIZING THE PILFERAGE OF ELECTRICITY AND THEFT OF ELECTRIC POWER TRANSMISSION LINES/MATERIALS, RATIONALIZING SYSTEM LOSSES BY PHASING OUT PILFERAGE

LOSSES AS A COMPONENT THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled::

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be referred to as the "Anti-electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994."

Section 2. Illegal Use of Electricity. - It is hereby declared unlawful for any person, whether natural or juridical, public or private, to:

(a) Tap, make or cause to be made any connection with overhead lines, service drops, or other electric service wires, without previous authority or consent of the private electric utility or rural electric cooperative concerned; 1awphil@alf

(b) Tap, make or cause to be made any connection to the existing electric service facilities of any duly registered consumer without the latter's or the electric utility's consent or authority;

(c) Tamper, install or use a tampered electrical meter, jumper, current reversing transformer, shorting or shunting wire, loop connection or any other device which interferes with the proper or accurate registry or metering of electric current or otherwise results in its diversion in a manner whereby electricity is stolen or wasted;

(d) Damage or destroy an electric meter, equipment, wire or conduit or allow any of them to be so damaged or destroyed as to interfere with the proper or accurate metering of electric current; and

(e) Knowingly use or receive the direct benefit of electric service obtained through any of the acts mentioned in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) above.1awphil@alf

Section 3. Theft of Electric Power Transmission Lines and Materials. - (a) It is hereby declared unlawful for any person to:

(1) Cut, saw, slice, separate, split, severe, smelt, or remove any electric power transmission line/material or meter from a tower, pole, or any other installation or place of installation or any other place or site where it may be rightfully or lawfully stored, deposited, kept, stocked, inventoried, situated or located, without the consent of the owner, whether or not the act is done for profit or gain;

(2) Take, carry away or remove or transfer, with or without the use of a motor vehicle or other means of conveyance, any electric power transmission line/material or meter from a tower, pole, any other installation or place of installation, or any place or site where it may be rightfully or lawfully stored, deposited, kept, stocked, inventoried, situated or located without the consent of the owner, whether or not the act is done for profit or gain;

(3) Store, possess or otherwise keep in his premises, custody or control, any electric power transmission line/material or meter without the consent of the owner, whether or not the act is done for profit or gain; and

(4) Load, carry, ship or move from one place to another, whether by land, air or sea, any electrical power transmission line/material, whether or not the act is done for profit or gain, without first securing a clearance/permit for the said purpose from its owner or the National Power Corporation (NPC) or its regional office concerned, as the case may be.

(b) For purposes of this section, "electrical power transmission line/material" refers to electric power transmission steel towers,

woodpoles, cables, wires, insulators, line hardwares, electrical conductors and other related items with a minimum voltage of sixty-nine kilovolts (69 kv), such as the following:

(1) Steel transmission line towers made of galvanized steel angular members and plates or creosoted and/or lannelized woodpoles/ concrete poles and designed to carry and support the conductors;

(2) Aluminum conductor steel reinforced (ACSR) in excess of one hundred (100) MCM;

(3) Overhead ground wires made of 7 strands of galvanized steel wires, 3.08 millimeters in diameter and designed to protect the electrical conductors from lightning strikes;

(4) Insulators made of porcelain or glass shell and designed to insulate the electrical conductors from steel towers or woodpoles; and

(5) Various transmission line hardwares and materials made of aluminum alloy or malleable steel and designed to interconnect the towers, conductors, ground wires, and insulators mentioned in subparagraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) above for the safe and reliable operation of the transmission lines.1awphil©

Section 4. Prima Facie Evidence. - (a) The presence of any of the following circumstances shall constitute prima facie evidence of illegal use of electricity, as defined in this Act, by the person benefitted thereby, and shall be the basis for: (1) the immediate disconnection by the electric utility to such person after due notice, (2) the holding of a preliminary investigation by the prosecutor and the subsequent filing in court of the pertinent information, and (3) the lifting of any temporary restraining order or injunction which may have been issued against a private electric utility or rural electric cooperative:

(i) The presence of a bored hole on the glass cover of the electric meter, or at the back or any other part of said meter;

(ii) The presence inside the electric meter of salt, sugar and other elements that could result in the inaccurate registration of the meter's internal parts to prevent its accurate registration of consumption of electricity;

(iii) The existence of any wiring connection which affects the normal operation or registration of the electric meter;

(iv) The presence of a tampered, broken, or fake seal on the meter, or mutilated, altered or tampered meter recording chart or graph, or computerized chart, graph, or log;

(v) The presence in any part of the building or its premises which is subject to the control of the consumer or on the electric meter, of a current reversing transformer, jumper, shorting and/or shunting wire, and/or loop connection or any other similar device;

(vi) The mutilation, alteration, reconnection, disconnection, bypassing or tampering of instruments, transformers, and accessories;

(vii) The destruction of, or attempt to destroy, any integral accessory of the metering device box which encases an electric meter, or its metering accessories; and

(viii) The acceptance of money and/or other valuable consideration by any officer of employee of the electric utility concerned or the making of such an offer to any such officer or employee for not reporting the presence of any of the circumstances enumerated in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), or (vii) hereof: Provided, however, That the discovery of any of the foregoing circumstances, in order to constitute prima facie evidence, must be

personally witnessed and attested to by an officer of the law or a duly authorized representative of the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB).

(b) The possession or custody of electric power transmission line/material by any person, natural or juridical, not engaged in the transformation, transmission or distribution of electric power, or in the manufacture of such electric power transmission line/material shall be prima facie evidence that such line/material is the fruit of the offense defined in Section 3 hereof and therefore such line/material may be confiscated from the person in possession, control or custody thereof.

Section 5. Incentives. - An incentive scheme by way of a monetary reward in the minimum amount of Five thousand pesos (P5,000) shall be given to any person who shall report to the NPC or police authorities any act which may constitute a violation of Section 3 hereof. The Department of Energy (DOE), in consultation with the NPC, shall issue the necessary guidelines for the proper implementation of this incentive scheme within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act.

Section 6. Disconnection of Electric Service. - The private electric utility or rural electric cooperative concerned shall have the right and authority to disconnect immediately the electric service after serving a written notice or warning to that effect, without the need of a court or administrative order, and deny restoration of the same, when the owner of the house or establishment concerned or someone acting in his behalf shall have been caught en flagrante delicto doing any of the acts enumerated in Section 4(a) hereof, or when any of the circumstances so enumerated shall have been discovered for the second time: Provided, That in the second case, a written notice or warning shall have been issued upon the first discovery: Provided, further, That the electric service shall not be immediately disconnected or shall be immediately restored upon the deposit of the amount representing the differential billing by the person denied the service, with the private electric utility or rural electric cooperative concerned or with the competent court, as the case may be: Provided, furthermore, That if the court finds that illegal use of electricity has not been committed by the same person, the amount deposited shall be credited against future

billings, with legal interest thereon chargeable against the private utility or rural electric cooperative, and the utility or cooperative shall be made to immediately pay such person double the value of the payment or deposit with legal interest, which amount shall likewise be creditable against immediate future billings, without prejudice to any criminal, civil or administrative action that such person may be entitled to file under existing laws, rules and regulations: Provided, finally, That if the court finds the same person guilty of such illegal use of electricity, he shall, upon final judgment, be made to pay the electric utility or rural electric cooperative concerned double the value of the estimated electricity illegally used which is referred to in this section as differential billing.

For purposes of this Act, "differential billing" shall refer to the amount to be charged to the person concerned for the unbilled electricity illegally consumed by him as determined through the use of methodologies which utilize, among others, as basis for determining the amount of monthly electric consumption in kilowatt-hours to be billed, either: (a) the highest recorded monthly consumption within the five-year billing period preceding the time of the discovery, (b) the estimated monthly consumption as per the report of load inspection conducted during the time of discovery, (c) the higher consumption between the average consumptions before or after the highest drastic drop in consumption within the five-year billing period preceding the discovery, (d) the highest recorded monthly consumption within four (4) months after the time of discovery, or (e) the result of the ERB test during the time of discovery and, as basis for determining the period to be recovered by the differential billing either: (1) the time when the electric service of the person concerned recorded an abrupt or abnormal drop in consumption, or (2) when there was a change in his service connection such as a change of meter, change of seal or reconnection, or in the absence thereof, a maximum of sixty (60) billing months up to the time of discovery: Provided, however, That such period shall, in no case, be less than one (1) year preceding the date of discovery of the illegal use of electricity.

Section 7. Penalties. - (a) Violation of Section 2. - The penalty of prision mayor or a fine ranging from Ten thousand pesos (P10,000) to Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) or both, at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed on any person found guilty of violating Section 2 hereof.

(b) Violation of Section 3. - The penalty of reclusion temporal or a fine ranging from Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) to One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) or both at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed on any person found guilty of violating Section 3 hereof.

(c) Provision common to violations of Section 2 and Section 3 hereof. - If the offense is committed by, or in connivance with, an officer or employee of the power company, private electric utility or rural electric cooperative concerned, such officer or employee shall, upon conviction, be punished with a penalty one (1) degree higher than the penalty provided herein, and forthwith be dismissed and perpetually disqualified from employment in any public or private utility or service company and from holding any public office.

If, in committing any of the acts enumerated in Section 4 hereof, any of the other acts as enumerated is also committed, then the penalty next higher in degree as provided herein shall be imposed.

If the offense is committed by, or in connivance with an officer or employee of the electric utility concerned, such officer or employee shall, upon conviction, be punished with a penalty one (1) degree higher than the penalty provided herein, and forthwith be dismissed and perpetually disqualified from employment in any public or private utility or service company. Likewise, the electric utility concerned which shall have knowingly permitted or having knowledge of its commission shall have failed to prevent the same, or was otherwise guilty of negligence in connection with the commission thereof, shall be made to pay a fine not exceeding triple the amount of the 'differential billing' subject to the discretion of the courts.

If the violation is committed by a partnership, firm, corporation, association or any other legal entity, including a government-owned or -controlled corporation, the penalty shall be imposed on the president, manager and each of the officers thereof who shall have knowingly permitted, failed to prevent or was otherwise responsible for the commission of the offense.

Section 8. Authority to Impose Violation of Contract Surcharges. - A private electric utility or rural electric cooperative may impose surcharges, in addition to the value of the electricity pilfered, on the bills of any consumer apprehended for tampering with his electric meter/metering facility installed on his premises, as well as other violations of contract like direct connection, use of jumper, and other means of illicit usage of electricity found installed in the premises of the consumer. The surcharge for the violation of contract shall be collected from and paid by the consumer concerned as follows:

(a) First apprehension. - Twenty five percent (25%) of the current bill as surcharge;

(b) Second apprehension. - Fifty percent (50%) of the current bill as surcharge; and

(c) Third and subsequent apprehensions. - One hundred percent (100%) of the current bill as surcharge.

The private electric utility or rural electric cooperative is authorized to discontinue the electric service in case the consumer is in arrears in the payment of the above imposed surcharges.

The term 'apprehension' as used herein shall be understood to mean the discovery of the presence of any of the circumstances enumerated in Section 4 hereof in the establishment or outfit of the consumer concerned.

Section 9. Restriction on the Issuance of Restraining Orders or Writs of Injunction. - No writ of injunction or restraining order shall be used by any court against any private electric utility or rural electric cooperative exercising the right and authority to disconnect electric service as provided in this Act, unless there is prima facie evidence that the disconnection was made with evident bad faith or grave abuse of authority.

If, notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a court issues an injunction or restraining order, such injunction or restraining order shall be effective only upon the filing of a bond with the court, which shall be

in the form of cash or cashier's check equivalent to the "differential billing," penalties and other charges, or to the total value of the subject matter of the action: Provided, however, That such injunction or restraining order shall automatically be refused or, if granted, shall be dissolved upon filing by the public utility of a counterbond similar in form and amount as that above required: Provided, finally, That whenever such injunction is granted, the court issuing it shall, within ten (10) days from its issuance, submit a report to the Supreme Court setting forth in detail the grounds or reason for its order.

Section 10. Rationalization of System Losses by Phasing out Pilferage Losses as a Component Thereof . - There is hereby established a cap on the recoverable rate of system losses as follows:

(a) For private electric utilities:

(i) Fourteen and a half percent (14 1/2%) at the end of the first year following the effectivity of this Act;

(ii) Thirteen and one-fourth percent (13 1/4%) at the end of the second year following the effectivity of this Act;

(iii) Eleven and three-fourths (11 3/4%) at the end of the third year following the effectivity of this Act; and

(iv) Nine and a half-percent (9 1/2%) at the end of the fourth year following the effectivity of this Act.

Provided, That the ERB is hereby authorized to determine at the end of the fourth year following the effectivity of this Act, and as often as necessary taking into account the viability of private electric utilities and the interest of the consumers, whether the caps herein or theretofore established shall be reduced further which shall, in no case, be lower than nine percent (9%) and accordingly fix the date of the effectivity of the new caps: Provided, further, That in the calculation of the system loss, power sold by the NPC or any other entity that supplies power directly to a consumer and not through the distribution system of

the private electric utility shall not be counted even if the billing for the said power used is through the private electric utility.

The term "power sold by NPC or any other entity that supplies power directly to a consumer" as used in the preceding paragraph shall for purposes of this section be deemed to be a sale directly to the consumer if: (1) the point of metering by the NPC or any other utility is less than one thousand (1,000) meters from the consumer, or (2) the consumer's electric consumption is three percent (3%) or more of the total load consumption of all the customers of the utility, or (3) there is no other consumer connected to the distribution line of the utility which connects to the NPC or any other utility point of metering to the consumer meter.

(b) For rural electric cooperatives:

(i) Twenty-two percent (22%) at the end of the first year following the effectivity of this Act;

(ii) Twenty percent (20%) at the end of the second year following the effectivity of this Act;

(iii) Eighteen percent (18%) at the end of the third year following the effectivity of this Act;

(iv) Sixteen percent (16%) at the end at the fourth year following the effectivity of this Act; and

(v) Fourteen percent (14%) at the end of the fifth year following the effectivity of this Act.

Provided, That the ERB is hereby authorized to determine at the end of the fifth year following the effectivity of this Act, and as often as is necessary, taking into account the viability of rural electric cooperatives and the interest of the consumers, whether the caps herein or theretofore established shall be reduced further which shall, in no case, be lower than nine percent (9%) and accordingly fix the date of the effectivity of the new caps.

Provided, finally, That in any case nothing in this Act shall impair the authority of the ERB to reduce or phase out technical or design losses as a component of system losses.

Section 11. Area of Coverage. - The caps provided in Section 10 of this Act shall apply only to the area of coverage of private electric utilities and rural electric cooperatives as of the date of the effectivity of this Act.

The permissible levels of recovery for system losses in areas of coverage that may be added on by either a private electric utility or a rural electric cooperative shall be determined by the ERB.

Section 12. Recovery of Pilferage Losses. - Any private electric utility or rural electric cooperative which recovers any amount of pilferage losses shall, within thirty (30) days from said recovery, report in writing and under oath to the ERB: (a) the fact of recovery, (b) the date thereof; (c) the name of the consumer concerned, (d) the amount recovered, (e) the amount of pilferage loss claimed, (f) the explanation for the failure to recover the whole amount claimed, and (g) such other particulars as may be required by the ERB. If there is a case pending in court for the recovery of a pilferage loss, no private electric utility or rural electric cooperative shall accept payment from the consumer unless so provided in a compromise agreement duly executed by the parties and approved by the court.

Section 13. Information Dissemination. - The private electric utilities, the rural electric cooperatives, the NPC, and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) shall, in cooperation with each other, undertake a vigorous campaign to inform their consumers of the provisions of this Act especially Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 hereof, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act and at least once a year thereafter, and to incorporate a faithful condensation of said provisions in the contracts with new consumers.

Section 14. Rules and Regulations. - The ERB shall, within thirty (30) working days after the conduct of due hearings which must commence within thirty (30) working days upon the effectivity of this Act, issue the rules and regulations as may be necessary to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the provisions of this Act, to include but not

limited to, the development of methodologies for computing the amount of electricity illegally used and the amount of payment or deposit contemplated in Section 7 hereof, as a result of the presence of the prima facie evidence discovered.

The ERB shall, within the same period, also issue rules and regulations on the submission of the reports required under Section 12 hereof and the procedure for the distribution to or crediting of consumers for recovered pilferage losses.

Section 15. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provision of this Act which may be declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof.

Section 16. Repealing Clauses. - The provisions in Presidential Decree No. 401, as amended by Batas Pambansa Blg. 876, penalizing the unauthorized installation of electrical connections, tampering and/or knowing use of tampered electrical meters or other devices, and the theft of electricity are hereby expressly repealed. All other laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: December 8, 1994 lawphi1Ÿ