The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) is awaiting the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the creation of a special account consisting of fines slapped on poachers.
Bfar Assistant Director Drusila Esther E. Bayate said the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture has formally requested the DBM last month to establish a special account where the fines could be lodged pending the set up of the Fisheries Management Fund (FMF).
“The Bfar is positive that the DBM will approve it because it is in the law. Hopefully, the special account could be established within the year,” Bayate told reporters in a forum in Quezon City on September 19.
Since the amended Fisheries Code was implemented, Bayate said all fines collected by the Bfar from poachers were remitted to the National Treasury due to the absence of the FMF.
“When the Bfar started imposing fines, the money was remitted to the National Treasury. If we did not do this, the Office of Ombudsman can file charges against us,” she said.
Republic Act 10654 provided for the creation of the FMF, which would consist of fines and penalties slapped by the government on poachers, as well as contributions in the form of endowments, grants, donations, which are exempted from donor and other taxes.
Under the amended Fisheries Code, first-time violators found administratively liable shall be punished by a fine of $600,000 to $1 million or its equivalent in Philippine currency.
The collective funds from the fines and penalties shall be allocated by the FMF as follows: 15 percent for the purchase and upgrade of maintenance vessels and other monitoring and surveillance-related equipment.
It will also allocate 5 percent for litigation expenses, 25 percent for operating costs and capacity buildings of the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council and 5 percent for laboratory facilities and equipment upgrades.
The FMF will set aside 5 percent for research and development activities; 10 percent for scholarship grants for children of fishermen; 15 percent for livelihood programs for production enhancement and poverty alleviation; and 15 percent for assistance to fishermen in the form of shared facilities.
Bayate said the set up of a special account would ensure that fishermen would benefit from the fines collected from
poachers.
Data from the Bfar showed that it has collected some P12.8 million in fines from poachers as of August.