Thursday, September 20, 2007
Bill - Hon. Jay-R Joson Lumbo
Republic of the Philippines
THIRD YOUTH CONGRESS
Baguio City, Philippines
First Regular Session
House Bill No. 1910
Introduced by: Hon. Jay-R Joson Lumbo
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The fisheries are one of the greatest sources of income of our economy, and it is the obligation of the State to actively ensure the maintenance of these fisheries. As of now, our fisheries are starting to suffer from a plague that could decrease our source of food and income. The Janitor Fish (Hypostomus plecostomus) the menace of Metro Manila’s waterways. Before it starts from spreading on the fisheries, we should first try to reduce them in our waterways system.
It is for this reason that the bill seeks to establish a program that would make use of the plague or the menace as a new source if income. Based on the awarded research from the Department of Science and Technology, the oil that is being extracted from the Janitor Fish, could be turned into bio-fuel comparable to the combustibility of kerosene, coco diesel, alcohol and diesel.
Known by its scientific name Hypostomus plecostomus, the Janitor Fish multiplies by the thousands daily, upsetting not only the ecological balance of the Marikina River but also other metropolis waterways. If the Janitor Fish started to multiply over again, it might spread trough other towns and could affect the ponds fisheries connected to the Metro Manila waterways.
This bill would further create a strong campaign on reducing the number of Janitor Fish around town before it spreads around the country. There is a saying that “if we could not beat them, Eat them.” But this time we would not eat them to beat them. We would be extracting them and use their oils to create a new source of energy, a new source of income. What we all need is cooperation and support from our local government councils.
Hon. JAY-R JOSON LUMBO
Republic of the Philippines
THIRD YOUTH CONGRESS
Baguio City, Philippines
First Regular Session
House Bill No. 1910
Introduced by: Hon. Jay-R Joson Lumbo
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE FOR THE REDUCTION OF THE JANITOR FISH ON THE WATERWAYS OF METRO MANILA, AND TO STOP THEM FROM SPREADING ON NEARBY FISHERIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION. 1: Short Title- This Act shall be known as the “JANITOR FISH REDUCTION ACT OF 2007”
SEC. 2: Declaration of Policy- It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure the development, maintenance and protection of the fisheries, as well as the reduction of the increasing population of the Janitor Fish on the waterways of Metro Manila that is starting to spread on the nearby fisheries.
In order to sustain this commitment, a program of reducing the increasing population of the janitor fish is necessary.
SEC. 3: The Creation of the OFFICE of Janitor Fish Reduction- The OFFICE being created shall be a regular division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Science and Technology.
SEC. 4: Mandate- The OFFICE shall be the primary government agency responsible for the reduction of the Janitor Fish and the research institute for the creation of bio-fuel using the oil found in the Janitor Fish extracts.
SEC. 5: Functions and Responsibilities- IN pursuit of its mandate, the OFFICE shall have the following functions and responsibilities:
a. Develop and implement the nationwide reduction of the increasing population of the janitor fish at all water ways.
b. Protect the fisheries together with other aquatic resources from being plagued by the janitor fish.
c. Provide support for the initiation and maintenance of programs for the reduction of the janitor fish on our waterways.
d. Deputize or request the assistance of appropriate government agencies, local government units and non-governmental organizations for the purpose of implementing this Act;
e. Exercise such other function as may be necessary in pursuit of its mandate.
SEC. 6: Organization- The authority and the responsibility for the implementation of the mandate of the OFFICE and the exercise of its function and responsibilities shall be vested in the Executive Director of the Office. He shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The Executive Director shall have the following functions:
a. Exercise overall supervision and control relative to the functions and activities of the OFFICE;
b. Establish policies and standards for the efficient and effective operation of the OFFICE in accordance with the overall program of government;
c. Implement rules, regulations and other issuances necessary in executing policies, plans, projects and programs of the OFFICE;
d. Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or as approximately assigned by the President or the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and of the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.
SEC. 7: Staff of the Authority- To achieve its desired goals and objectives, the OFFICE, though the Executive Director , shall organize its working staff of not less than 15 employees, fix their salaries and remunerations, subject to the provision of the Civil Service Law.
SEC. 8: The Janitor Fish Reduction Organization Advisory Council- There is hereby created a Janitor Fish Reduction Organization Advisory Council composed of representatives from different government agencies and shall serve as Ex-Officio members of the OFFICE. The representative would be from the following agencies:
a. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
b. Department of Science and Technology
c. Department of Energy
The Advisory Council shall be tasked to advice the Executive Director on the design and promulgation of, policies, techniques, programs and projects relative to the reduction of the janitor fish and creating the bio-fuel from the janitor fish oil extracts.
SEC. 9: Transitory Provision- The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources and the Secretary of Science and Technology shall oversee the implementation of this Act within 100 days after its effectivity.
SEC. 5: Appropriations- The Amount necessary for the implementation of this Act should be Thirty Million Pesos (P30,000,000) as additional funding for the Office, to be charged against the unexpended contingency funds of the Office of the President.
SEC. 11: Separability Clause- If for any cause, any part of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the rest of the provisions shall remain in force and in effect.
SEC. 12: Repealing Clause- All acts, laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, policies, programs or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 13: Effectivity- This Act shall take effect twenty (20) days after its publications in (2) news papers and its publication on the Official Gazette.
Approved,Labels: environment
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