“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you
feed him for a lifetime.”—Chinese Proverb
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In the beginning, there existed the Department of Agriculture and Manufacturing during the presidency of Emilio Aguinaldo. Subsequently, it transformed into the Insular Bureau of Agriculture, which fell under the Department of Interior.
In 1916, it was designated as the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The year 1932 saw the establishment of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. In 1947, it underwent another renaming to the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. By 1959, it was divided into two separate entities: the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources.
From 1978 until 1987, it was referred to as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Ultimately, it was restored to its original title of Department of Agriculture through Executive Order No. 116. This same executive order required the Department of Agriculture to foster agricultural development by establishing a policy framework, facilitating public investment, and providing essential support services for both domestic and export-oriented business ventures.
Currently, the agriculture department primarily focuses on agricultural matters. The fisheries sector is managed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), yet it appears insufficient to tackle all the challenges and issues related to fisheries.
This is the rationale behind the introduction of House Bill No. 2065 by Pwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat (PPP) Party-list Representative Harold James Duterte, which is also known as the “Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) Act.”
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 Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte and Davao City Second District Representative Omar Duterte, 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 nation 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 highlighted that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (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 nation, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In light of these circumstances, the Minority Leader emphasized the necessity for structural reform.
“The Philippines, being an archipelago with very rich marine resources, can be a marine powerhouse. Thus, it is logical to establish a Department that is focused and accountable for the development, management, and conservation of our country’s aquatic resources and fishing industries,” he said in the explanatory note of Senate Bill No. 417.
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.
The initiative also aims to combat illegal fishing by implementing enhanced monitoring systems, stricter regulations, and improved collaboration with enforcement agencies and non-governmental organizations.
The DFAR is designed to unify and optimize functions that are currently dispersed among various agencies, such as BFAR, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, and marine initiatives under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with the goal of minimizing redundancy and enhancing operational efficiency.
Other proposals awaiting consideration in the Senate aim to bolster support systems for fisherfolk and safeguard municipal waters; however, Cayetano emphasized that establishing a centralized and accountable institution is crucial for reversing the decline of the sector.
“This will be a significant step in order to better protect, utilize, maximize, and conserve the nation’s marine resources as well as uphold the best interest of the fisherfolk,” 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.
