Foreign reciprocity for fisheries professional

Dear PAO,
I have a foreigner boyfriend who is a fisheries professional. Can he be allowed to practice his profession in the Philippines?
Tanya

Dear Tanya,
The law that addresses your situation is Section 28, Article III of Republic Act 11398, otherwise known as the “Philippine Fisheries Profession Act 2019”:

“Sec 28. Foreign Reciprocity. — No foreign fisheries professional shall be given a certificate of registration and professional identification card, or be entitled to any of the privileges under this Act unless the country of which the foreign fisheries professional is a subject or citizen specifically permits Filipino fisheries professional to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of the foreign country or state.”

It is clear from the cited provision that a fisheries professional from another country may practice his/her profession in the Philippines, provided that the country where he/she is a subject or citizen of specifically permits Filipino fisheries professional to practice. In your boyfriend’s situation, he may practice in the Philippines as long as it can be proven that his country allows reciprocity, where Filipino fisheries professionals can also practice in his country.

We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net