SUBJECT: HOUSE BILL 810

AN ACT CREATING BARANGAY TAGUKON IN THE CITY OF

KABANKALAN, PROVINCE OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

AUTHOR: Rep. Genaro M. Alvarez, Jr.

6th District of Negros Occidental

SPONSORSHIP SPEECH
 I would like to thank the Honorable Chairman Noel Villanueva,
distinguished the Members as well as the Staff of this Committee for
this opportunity to present House Bill 810, entitled “An Act Creating
Barangay Tagukon in the City of Kabankalan, Province of Negros
Occidental.”

 On September 14, 1992, majority of the registered voters of Sitio

Tagukon, then a part of Barangay Camingawan - the largest
barangay in Kabankalan, formally petitioned for the separation of their
sitio, and the creation of a new barangay – Barangay Tagukon;

 The Barangay Council of Barangay Camingawan and the

Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of Kabankalan favorably
recommended the approval, having ascertained that Sitio Tagukon
was qualified under the Local Government Code

 In 1993, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental

enacted an Resolution No. 83 entitled “Resolution Enacting an
 Ordinance Creating Barangay Tagukon Out of Barangay
Camingawan of the Municipality of Kabankalan, Negros Occidental.

 After having been approved by a majority of the votes cast in a

plebiscite, Sitio Tagukon was formally proclaimed as a separate,
distinct and independent barangay on August 14, 1994.

 However, since it was created merely by virtue of a local ordinance,

its financial requirements were governed by Section 285 of the Local
Government Code, which states: “the financial requirements of the
barangay created by local government units.. shall be the
responsibility of the local government units concerned.”

 House Bill 810 seeks to remedy this, by having Barangay Tagukon in

the City of Kabankalan, Negros Occidental declared as a government
entity and entitled to Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shares
pursuant to Section 285 of the Local Government Code.

 It is hoped that this Committee would favorably consider House Bill

810.

 Maitatayang an average Filipino household 1 annually spends about

P10,682 on fish and other seafood2.

 Ayon naman sa datos ng ating Philippine Statistics Authority, ang

ating fisheries sector ay nagko-contribute ng P214.87 billion sa ating
1
Average household size is about 4.4 persons per household. Data taken from https://psa.gov.ph/content/highlights-household-population-number-
households-and-average-household-size-philippines on 25 June 2019.
2
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2017). Family Income and Expenditure Survey. Accessed from https://psa.gov.ph/content/2015-fies-additional-tables on 25
June 2019.
 national economy, “or about 13.28% of the total Gross Value Added
(GVA) of the Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing in 2018 3”, at
nagbigay ng trabaho sa 1.23 million katao nitong 2019 4.”

 Bagamat batid nating lahat ang kahalagahan ng ating fisheries

sector, nakalulungkot isipin na napapabayaan ito. While the fisheries
sector Gross Value Added (GVA) increased by an average of 2.31%
per annum from 2011 to 20185, the volume of fisheries production
actually declined by an average of 2.07% annually 6.

 Dahil sa sitwasyong ito, layunin ng ating House Bill 4350 na

magtatag ng isang ahensya na ibabangon at magpapatibay sa ating
fisheries sector. Kailangan natin ng isang ahensya na babantayan
ang ating food supply, aalagaan ang ating yamang-dagat, at po-
proteksyunan ang ating mga maliliit na mangingisda.

 House Bill 4350 seeks to create a Department of Fisheries and

Aquatic Resources, distinct from the Department of Agriculture, to
address the needs of the Philippine fisheries sector by providing
proper institutional focus, sufficient technical expertise and adequate
government support and funding.

3
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2019). OpenStat. Accessed from http://openstat.psa.gov.ph on 25 June 2019.
4
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2019). Employment Rate in April 2019 is Estimated at 94.9 Percent. Accessed from https://psa.gov.ph/content/employment-
rate-april-2019-estimated-949-percent on 25 June 2019.
5
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2019). OpenStat. Accessed from http://openstat.psa.gov.ph on 25 June 2019.
6
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2019). OpenStat. Accessed from http://openstat.psa.gov.ph on 25 June 2019.
 It is hoped that through this measure we can ensure sustainable
livelihood for Filipino fisherfolk, and maintain an adequate food supply
for the country in the years to come.

 Umaasa po akong susuportahan ninyo ang magandang layunin ng

ating House Bill 4350. Maraming salamat po.
THE BILL

House Bill 4350, entitled “AN ACT CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF

FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES”

SHORT TITLE: “Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act.”