An Act Establishing the National Mariculture Program, Providing Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes

• This bill aims to strengthen the Philippine fisheries sector through the formulation of a National Mariculture Program adopting the ecosystem-based approach. It seeks to expand and strengthen Mariculture Parks and Zones and proposes the creation of the Maritime Zone Advisory Council consisting of representatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA), the Local Government Unit (LGU) Agriculturist, the LGU Planning and Development Coordinator, fisherfolk cooperatives/organizations and business with direct involvement in mariculture.
• The bill sets a P500-Million initial fund for its implementation and mandates the Land Bank of the Philippines to extend financial assistance to fisher-folk at easy terms, low interest rates and low amortizations.
• The BFAR and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center shall extend technical assistance and recommend culture structures and procedures, among others, to ensure effective implementation.
• This bill also provides for the establishment of physical, and socio-economic support infrastructures to ensure the viability of investments and equitable share of fisher-folk and LGUs from sustainable mariculture.

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