In the Philippines, fish provides more than half of the protein requirement of almost all people. But in recent years, the average annual consumption has declined from 37 kilos to just 30 kilos. “Unless we look for other sources of protein, the food intake of Filipinos will be greatly affected,” said an official of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The Philippines is among the largest fish producers in the world, the World Bank report states. The commercial, municipal, and aquaculture fisheries account for 36, 30, and 24 percent of the total fisheries yield, respectively. Its annual total fisheries yield is estimated to be worth around US$70 to UD$110 billion (equivalent to about 2-4 percent of the country’s gross domestic production over the years).
Fish in the Philippines are sourced from both freshwater environments (such as rivers, lakes, streams, and other waterways) and marine environments (including seas and oceans).
The country is home to more than 343 native species of freshwater fish. In marine environments, the Philippines is situated within the Coral Triangle, recognized as the global hub of marine biodiversity, which encompasses the tropical waters of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. This region is home to 76% of the world’s coral species and 37% of coral reef fish species.
The country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and local laws like Republic Act No. 9522 – covers approximately 2,263,816 square kilometers of water, extending 200 nautical miles from the archipelago’s baselines.
According to the Iloilo-based Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), around 1.1 million municipal fishermen participated in capture fishing in 2023, with a total exceeding 2 million fisherfolk.
Aquaculture, defined as the cultivation of edible marine species, has been practiced since at least 500 BCE; however, it has gained commercial significance since the mid-20th century. The industry includes farms for fish, shrimp, and seaweed, situated in artificial ponds, inland waters, and coastal regions.
The fisheries sector in the Philippines is vital for the national economy and the sustenance of many Filipinos. However, it encounters serious challenges such as overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, all of which threaten the sustainability of these essential resources.
It is for this reason that some lawmakers and individuals are urging the government to create a specialized agency for the fisheries sector – the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR).
Right now, issues and concerns on fisheries are tackled by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which started as a small agency in 1901 under the name Bureau of Government Laboratories, Department of Interior of the Philippine Commission.
Today, the BFAR is just one of the many line agencies of the Department of Agriculture (DA), whose main focus is to promote agricultural development and growth in the country. This includes providing a policy framework, directing public investments, and offering support services necessary for domestic and export-oriented business enterprises. It also aims to ensure food security, enhance rural development, and provide access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food for every Filipino.
In order for the fisheries sector to be given the much-attention it deserves, House Bill No. 2065 – also known as the “Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) Act” – was filed by Pwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat (PPP) Party-list Representative Harold James Duterte, which is
The legislation he has proposed aims to replace the BFAR with a specialized department that would serve as the primary policy-making, regulatory, and implementing authority for the management of fisheries and aquatic resources.
The DFAR’s mandate would include the regulation, management, conservation, and development of the extensive fisheries and aquatic resources of the nation, which encompass archipelagic waters, inland waters, territorial seas, and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the country.
The bill is co-authored by two other Dutertes (Paolo Duterte of First District and Omar Duterte of Second District), highlighting a united effort among Davao lawmakers to give the fisheries sector the attention it has long required, given its vital role in national food security and economic growth.
In the Senate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is advocating for the establishment of this department through Senate Bill No. 417, asserting that the existing system is insufficient to manage the country’s extensive marine resources.
Cayetano’s appeal was made in light of a report indicating that the country has been losing an average of 45,472 metric tons of fish each year over the last ten years, which raises alarms regarding food security and the long-term viability of the industry.
A study also reported that BFAR is facing capacity limitations, having experienced a 28 percent decrease in its workforce from 2017 to 2023, despite an increase in its responsibilities.
This situation arises at a crucial moment, as fisherfolk are reported to be among the most impoverished, if not the most impoverished, group in the country, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The newly proposed DFAR is intended to function as the main policy-making and regulatory authority for the sector, distinct from the agriculture department which, as noted by Cayetano, has traditionally concentrated more on agriculture related to land.
“It is time that the government provides for a focused, specialized department responsive to the needs and concerns of the fisheries and aquatic resource industry,” he said.
Prior to Cayetano’s involvement, former Senator Loren Legarda submitted Senate Bill No. 242, titled “An Act Creating the Department of Fisheries, Providing for its Powers and Functions, and for other Purposes.”
In her rationale for introducing the bill, she articulated that the Philippines boasts one of the most diverse ecosystems globally, distinguished by its vast coral reefs, sea-grass beds, and lush mangrove forests.
Dr. William Dar, the former agriculture secretary, asserted in 2019 that the time has come to establish a new fishery department that operates independently from the agriculture department to allow for greater focus and support for the sustainable development of the country’s fisheries and aquatic resources.
Dar pointed out that although the country is recognized for its high biodiversity, malnutrition and poverty persist in various regions, particularly in coastal communities, where small fisherfolk are often classified as the “poorest of the poor.”
This situation arises from the degradation and overfishing of the country’s inland and coastal waters, coupled with a “limited” budget allocated for the advancement of the fishing industry, including the establishment of post-harvest facilities such as cold storage units, he emphasized.
Dar articulated that the vision and mission of the proposed fishery department would be to leverage research and development along with science-based solutions to combat widespread poverty, particularly among small fisherfolk and their communities.
He highlighted the pressing necessity to form the Department of Fisheries to halt the ongoing decline in fish catches for both municipal and commercial fishers, as well as to safeguard and restore the country’s coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, and algae beds, which are vital for the growth of fish populations.
While serving as the agriculture secretary, Emmanuel Piñol expressed his opposition to the establishment of a new department, as it contradicts the then President Rodrigo Duterte’s advocacy for a more streamlined, less bureaucratic, and more efficient government, and would result in increased government spending.
“I believe that the creation of the Department of Fisheries is a knee-jerk reaction to a simple problem of a neglected sector,” Piñol said in 2016.
Instead of creating a new department, he proposed enhancing the BFAR by allocating a budget. “Their programs should have clear objectives. Currently, their efforts are merely band-aids,” he remarked in a recent interview. “They must establish a target.”
“We possess the fifth longest coastline in the world, yet we find ourselves importing fish from other countries,” he said. “It is imperative that we organize ourselves to produce fish for our people.”
Dr. Bruce Tolentino, an economist with extensive experience in the political economy of agriculture, finance, and food security, holds a different view. Speaking from the perspective of the sector, he stated: “The fisheries and aquatic sector is indeed distinct in both its nature and technological requirements, necessitating that those who oversee the sector be specialists and organized accordingly.”
From an alternative viewpoint, Tolentino remarked, “However, from a public administration point of view, does this require a separate department? I am not sure if that is necessary. At the very top of departments, the skills necessary are management skills, not scientific/ technical skills. One can argue that secretaries must be excellent managers, not technical people. Managers can always hire the best technical people.”
In the past, the government has fallen into the trap of dividing departments into technical subdivisions. “Consider what transpired with natural resources in the 1980s, and agrarian reform shortly thereafter?” he inquired. “Both were previously under the Department of Agriculture. There is currently another bill being debated to establish a Department of Livestock.”
A rejoinder, who doesn’t want to be identified, shared this thought: “The fisheries sector should be separated from agriculture, as only a minimal budget is allocated to fisheries from the Department of Agriculture’s budget.
“For instance, in agriculture, farmers receive tractors, whereas fishermen are sometimes provided with only hooks and lines or fish nets. The fisheries sector encompasses a vast area, not limited to the sea but also including lakes, rivers, and other inland bodies of water.
“In contrast, agriculture is solely focused on land-based areas. Furthermore, if fisheries remain under the Department of Agriculture, and if the secretary prioritizes agriculture, the development efforts will be concentrated solely on agriculture, leaving the fisheries sector at a disadvantage. Therefore, I recommend the separation of agriculture and fisheries.”
