"Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is batting for the approval of a bill that would regulate the trade, sale and transport of aquarium fishes, especially those endemic only to Philippine waters. Together with son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, the former chief executive filed House Bill 2803 to regulate the aquarium aquatic life collecting industry, saying that this would ensure the health of the country’s coral reefs and aquatic life. The two lawmakers sought the imposition of fines against various acts on aquarium fish collection and trade that are considered illegal. “There is an urgent need to regulate the country’s aquarium aquatic life collecting industry to ensure the health of our country’s coral reefs and aquatic life. The industry of harvesting fish and other marine creatures for home and commercial aquariums remains largely unregulated thus raising various environmental concerns,” said the elder Arroyo. To be known as Aquarium Aquatic Life Act of 2013, HB 2803 is in consonance with the declared policy of the State to give highest priority to the protection of the environment, particularly marine life." http://www.mb.com.ph/arroyos-file-bill-to-regulate-aquarium-industry/
