Privacy Notice

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) values your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide when utilizing our website www.bfar.da.gov.ph in accessing services related to the fishery industry as aligned with the Bureau’s mandate under Republic Act No. 10654.

This Privacy Notice is issued in compliance with Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and other related issuances of the National Privacy Commission (NPC). We affirm that all personal information is managed in a fair, lawful, and transparent manner.

Personal Information We Collect

In the performance of our mandates and services, we may collect, process, and store the following personal information from you when you manually or electronically submit to us your inquiries or requests:

• Name
• Home Address
• Contact Number
• Email Address

Purpose of Collection and Processing

Your personal information is collected and processed for the following purposes:

• To promptly address and handle your queries, requests, feedback, suggestions, and complaints;
• To gather, produce, and verify the current information of the beneficiaries of the Bureau’s programs and projects; and
• To comply with reporting obligations and other lawful requirements of government agencies.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not share your personal information with third parties unless:

• Required or permitted by law or regulation;
• Necessary for legitimate public functions or government transactions;
• Authorized by you through written consent.

When sharing is necessary, BFAR ensures that appropriate data sharing agreements and safeguards are in place.

Data Protection and Security Measures

The Bureau applies a range of security measures—organizational, physical, and technical—to safeguard your personal data from loss, misuse, modification, unauthorized or accidental access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. The following measures are implemented:

• Use of secure and properly hardened web and web application servers;
• Network segregation, access control, and policy-based user access;
• End-to-end encryption protection;
• Centralized endpoint protection to adequately secure and monitor all data and information across the Bureaus;
• Layered security for web and web application services.

Data Storage

The Bureau stores files containing personal information in computers and servers. In addition, personal information may also be stored with cloud-based third-party data storage providers.

Data Retention and Disposal

Your personal information shall be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the declared purpose(s) or as required by applicable laws and regulations. Our data retention and disposal policies are in accordance with Republic Act No. 9470 or the National Archives of the Philippines Act of 2007.

Rights of a Data Subject

Under the Data Privacy Act, you have the following rights:

• Right to be informed about how your data and information are collected and used;
• Right to object to certain data processing activities;
• Right to access and correct your data and information;
• Right to rectify or correct erroneous data, if any;
• Right to erase or block unlawfully processed and outdated data;
• Right to secure data portability when applicable;
• Right to be indemnified for damages for any violations;
• Right to file a complaint if personal data has been misused, maliciously disclosed, or improperly disposed.

Changes to the Privacy Notice

This Privacy Notice may be updated to comply with new laws, regulations, or internal policies. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

Feedback on Our Privacy Notice

For any inquiries or concerns regarding this Privacy Notice and processing of your personal information, you may contact: