Republic Act No. 9459

The Department of Agriculture is hereby authorized to establish an oyster, mussel, crab, prawn and shrimp farm in the Municipality of Calabanga, Province of Camarines Sur, which shall be under the supervision and control of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture or its equivalent office.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources shall take such steps as may be necessary to demonstrate the scientific culture of oyster, mussels, crab, prawn and shrimp and such other marine and aquatic animals and provide the facilities of the said farm, the technology of operating and maintaining an oyster, mussel, crab, prawn and shrimp farm as a technically sound and commercially viable venture and, for this purpose, may issue such rules and regulations to effectively implement the purposes and intents of this Act.

The Department of Agriculture, through the oyster, mussel, crab, prawn and shrimp farm, is hereby authorized to conduct such researches and experiments as may be necessary to improve existing technology on oyster, mussel, crab, prawn and shrimp and such other marine and aquatic animals farming and to enhance and maximize income potentials of said industry.

The Department shall assist the local government to establish, in appropriate locations, their own oyster, mussel, crab, prawn and shrimp farms as pilot demonstration farms or as economic enterprises for local revenue generating purposes.

The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the Department's program the funding requirements for the establishment and operationalization of the oyster, mussel, crab, prawn and shrimp farm in the Municipality of Calabanga, Province of Camarines Sur. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued operation and maintenance shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.