THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that will establish settlement areas with adequate access to fishing grounds to enhance the well-being of fisherfolks and fishing communities in the country.
The chamber under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, voting 242 against three, approved on Monday House Bill (HB) No. 6716 which seeks to amend Section 108 of Republic Act No. 8850 or the Philippine Fisheries Code.
Under the bill, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and local governments of cities or municipalities exercising jurisdiction over coastal areas and municipal waters shall identify, establish, and create settlement areas which have adequate access to fishing grounds.
It further provides that fisherfolk shall be granted preference in the award of settlement rights in previously identified or established settlement areas.
The proposed legislation also mandates that the establishment of settlement areas shall be in favor of fisherfolk who are registered as such with their respective city or municipality and who are without real property.
Local government units exercising jurisdiction over coastal areas and municipal waters are mandated to integrate settlement areas for fisherfolk in their respective comprehensive land use plans, according to HB 6716. Reps. Tobias “Toby” M. Tiangco, Danny A. Domingo and House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe authored the bill which was referred to the committee on aquaculture and fisheries resources chaired by Rep. Alfredo D. Marañon III.
