PHILSTAR HOME | THE PHILIPPINE STAR | PILIPINO STAR NGAYON HOME HEADLINES OPINION Or House OKs bill to revert idle oe fishponds to forestlands ‘omero (The Philippine Star) - August 22, 2015 - 10:00am MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to revert fishponds that have been unutilized or abandoned for three years to forestlands House Bill 5845 shortens the process of reverting idle fishponds, which is seen to spur socio-economic development in the countryside. “Environmental laws must be attuned to the demands of climate change as well as the socio-economic needs of the increasing number of people in our communities,’ Bulacan Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, who authored the measure, said Villarica said the bill amends Section 43 of Presidential Decree 705, or the Revised Forestry Reform Code. Under PD 705, mangrove and other swamps released by Bureau of Fisheries. and Aquatic Resources for fishpond purposes that have remained idle for five years should be reverted to forestlands. The fishponds could be utilized for mangrove propagation or promotion of eco- tourism activities to jumpstart the economy in rural communities. The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are mandated to prepare a set of guidelines to determine abandoned, undeveloped or under-utilized fishponds covered by fishpond lease agreements. The measure was endorsed for plenary approval by the House committee on natural resources, chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Matugas.Pe ASIN Sr HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES mae Pca soy gy [ABOUTUS ~ LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION ~ MEDIA ~ DOVINLOADS CENTER Home / press Releases PRESS RELEASES ‘SOURCE: Press and Public Affairs Bureau Bill reverts fishponds unutilized for three years to forestlands Winter: LovelelV. Cast, Media Relations Service-PRIB 228 June 2015 07:42:12 AM ‘The House of Representetves hae approved on eosond reading 2 mensure reverting fahzends that have base unuiians or abendonee for shrce years te forestlands. Rep. Francisco T. Matugas (1st Dist, Surigao Del Nore), chavman ofthe House Commitee on Natural Resources, sid Mouse Bil E45 authored by Rep. Unebelle Ruth. Vilonca (4h Oiswe, Bulacan) shortens the process of reverting the unutlled fshpends ta forestonds, whch could spur soco~ ‘economic development inthe countryside ‘ilarca said the bill amends Section 49 of Presidential Decree No. 705, otherwise known asthe Revsed Forestry Reform Code of the Prlppnes. * BGR &vrormancal ans must be attuned tothe demands of climate change as wells the socie-economic needs of the increasing number Samat BY eter or anger sn ee ind purposes that have been uruulzed and abandoned fora period of five years from the date of such release should ever othe category of forestland ‘The bi seeks ro shorten the period of reverting to forestlands the fishponds, which have been unutiied er abandoned fom ive to three years, Vilarca sad. The fihponds could be ulineé for mangrove propagation or promotion of eco-tourism activities to jumpstart the economy of communities wanting in socio-economic development, scording to Vilica, Viana, chairperson ofthe House Committe on Women and Gender Equality, said under PD 705, srps of mangrove ferest bordering numerous islands, which protect the shoreline, the shoreline roads, and even coastal communities rom the destructive face ofthe ea Curing high winds and typhoons, {hall be maintsined ane shall net be slenate, \ilarca said soch strips must be kept fre from artificial obstruction so that floodwater wil flaw unimpeded tothe sea to avoid flooding or inundation of Culbvated arene in the pata Under the bil al mangrove swamps Set aside for coast-protecon purposes shall not be subject to dear-cuttng aperation, ‘The Department of Agrcuiture (DA) and the Department af Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are mandate to prepare a set of joint guidelines to determine abandoned, undeveloped or under-utilized fishponds covered by Fishpond Lease Agreements (FLAS).