CEBU - President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the Republic Act 11736 establishing a multispecies marine hatchery in the town of Basilisa in Dinagat province.
“President Duterte has once again shown that he is still not finished creating meaningful change for the country, especially the people of Dinagat Islands. This will certainly aid in the recovery of our economy as we build back from the devastation of Typhoon Odette and the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Rep. Alan Ecleo, who authored Republic Act 11736 on November 14, 2019.
“Our vision is to make the marine hatchery and fish
farming an economic centerpiece which would provide consistent income among the
fishermen of Dinagat Islands, helping eradicate poverty in the Province of
Dinagat Islands. We plan to develop the entire fisheries value chain in Dinagat
so we could be a leading producer of high-value, fresh, processed fish in the
Philippines and abroad,” Ecleo said.
The law shall fund the construction of a multispecies marine hatchery and transfer its management from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to the Basilisa government after two years. During such time, the BFAR will implement a training and phasing-in program for the personnel of the local government unit concerned on the management and operation of the multispecies marine hatchery. (Cebu Examiner)
