When the mandatory review did not happen on the fifth year of the Fisheries Code, NFR and its partner organizations decided not to actively call for one as the mandatory review could also threaten the favorable provisions of the Code. Related tenure reform policies. The Fisheries Code of 1998 highlights the principles of decentralized local governance, community-based resource management, and preference for smallholders in granting access and tenure rights to public domain areas on which their livelihoods depend. These are consistent with earlier laws and programs, specifically the Local Government Code of 1991 and Executive Order 263 of 1995 on CBFM. Executive Order 263 establishes community-based forest management as the national strategy in recognition of indispensable role of local communities in forest protection, rehabilitation, development and management. Participating organized communities are granted access to forestland resources under longterm tenurial agreements (25 years, renewable for another 25 years) using environment-friendly and sustainable harvesting methods as stipulated in a site-specific management plan. Mangroves, as part of forest resources, may also be covered by CBFM agreements that can be availed by organized fisherfolk communities. BFAR Fisheries Administrative Order 197-1 of 2000 gives preference to fisherfolk organizations as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the lease of public lands for fishponds and mangrove-friendly aquaculture through the issuance of FLAs and MASCs. Among the notable terms of the leases are annual rentals to be paid by the lessee to the government, and the required production quotas (in kilograms per hectare). Leases may be cancelled on grounds that include: violation of fishery laws, non-adherence to good aquaculture practices, sub-leasing or development of the area for other purposes, as well as abandonment, and non-development or underutilization of the area. Republic Act 10654 of 2014 amended the Fishery Code strengthened measures to prevent and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. It increased the penalties for commercial fishing violators and poachers, and mandated the installation of monitoring, control and surveillance systems on all flagged Philippine fishing vessels. Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC) 93

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