Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is pushing for the creation of a Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) under Senate Bill No. 417, citing a steady decline in the country’s fish production.
Data showed the Philippines has been losing an average of 45,472 metric tons of fish yearly over the past decade, raising food security concerns.
A study also flagged capacity issues in Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which saw a 28% workforce drop from 2017 to 2023 despite expanded duties.
Fisherfolk remain among the poorest sectors, based on data from Philippine Statistics Authority and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Cayetano said the current setup under the Department of Agriculture is no longer enough, stressing the need for a focused agency.
“It is time that the government provides for a focused, specialised department responsive to the needs and concerns of the fisheries and aquatic resource industry,” he said.
The proposed DFAR will centralize functions from BFAR, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, and marine programs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, while boosting efforts vs illegal fishing.
“This will be a significant step… to better protect, utilize, maximize, and conserve the nation’s marine resources,” added Cayetano.IMT
