The House of Representatives has passed a bill shortening the period of time before an abandoned fishpond could revert to being categorized as forest land. Hose Bil No. 5845, authored by Bulacan Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, amends the Forestry Code or Presidential Decree 705. Under the measure, fish ponds that had lain idle for three years may be recategorized as forest land, thus allowing for their use for mangrove propagation or ecological tourism purposes. The law amends Section 43 of PD 705 which states that reversion of forest land may be allowed after a fish pond has been abandoned for five years.

Yap, D. (2015, August 23). Measure cuts time for new forest land. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A3.