Question & AnswerQ&A (OP EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 154)
The main purpose is to adopt a National Plan of Action to prevent, deter, and eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Philippines.
Republic Act No. 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 provides the policy basis.
IUU fishing refers to fishing activities that are illegal, not reported, or not regulated, which undermines sustainable fisheries management, harms marine habitats, depletes fish stocks, and threatens food and livelihood security.
It aims to implement the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU) endorsed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The Executive Order created the Committee composed of representatives from the Office of the President, various government departments, economic zone authorities, and private sector representatives such as fisherfolk groups.
The Secretary of Agriculture or his duly authorized representative serves as the Chairperson.
The Committee is mandated to ensure implementation of the NPOA-IUU, provide policy guidance, develop capacity-building programs, and submit annual reports to the President.
The Secretariat assists the Committee, headed by a Senior Technical Staff of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and provides necessary administrative and technical support.
Yes, the Committee is authorized to accept donations, contributions, grants, bequests, or gifts from foreign or local sources, subject to applicable laws, government accounting, and auditing rules.
Funding is sourced from the annual appropriations of the concerned government departments and agencies.
The other provisions unaffected shall remain valid and subsisting pursuant to the Separability Clause.
It took effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.