President Marcos Jr. approves law creating a fish hatchery in Agusan Sur
AGUSAN DEL SUR -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act 12074 on November 12, 2024 entitled, “Establishing a Freshwater Fish Hatchery in the Municipality of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur and Appropriating funds Therefor” whose aim is to support local aquaculture by providing a facility for breeding and raising freshwater fish.
Congressional Representatives Alfel Bascug of District I and Adolph Eddiebong Plaza of District 2 filed House Bill (HB) No. 760 on July 1, 2022 but later that year was substituted by HB 6338 which was filed on November 24 and read on November 28. After a little over two years, the bill was finally enacted into a law.
The Act states that within two years after the construction of the freshwater fish hatchery, the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA -BFAR), through a memorandum of agreement, shall transfer the management to the municipal government of Talacogon. It shall implement a training and phasing-in program for the local government personnel on the management, operation and monitoring of the hatchery.
R.A. 12074 also states that the Agriculture Secretary shall include in the DA’s programs the conduct of the feasibility study and the consequent establishment of a freshwater fish hatchery and the funding of which shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
The local government unit (LGU) shall on the other hand, set aside funds from any available local revenue in an amount deemed appropriate for the operationalization of the hatchery.
The two Agusan del Sur solons expressed their gratitude to President Marcos Jr., Senator Cynthia Villar, the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food for sponsoring the counterpart bill at the Senate and the different agencies especially BFAR for the assistance in crafting the law.
The fish hatchery was a long dream of the fisherfolk in Talacogon and neighboring areas. The passage of the law was the answer to the prayers and dream of the Agsurnons to make the town the center of fresh aquaculture industry not only in the province of Agusan del Sur but of the entire Caraga region. (David M. Suyao, PAMRE - PPIO/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
