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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS STRETOMERST
First Regular Session ; AND INDE i
326
House Bill 8261

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay ~ Villar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The beautiful, bountiful coastal environments of our archipelago are important not only to our
nation, but to the world at large. The Philippines has over 36,000 kilometers of coastline, the
fourth longest in the world', and the ecosystems that have developed along those coasts are
among the most productive and biologically diverse landscapes known to man, supporting
many increasingly endangered plant and animal species. Our coastal environments also
support our people as well, directly or indirectly, whether as a source of food for our
fisherfolk, a source of livelihood for coastal workers (in the fishing or tourism industries), or
by protecting us. There is data that shows that "[cJoastal vegetation habitats, such as
mangrove forests, can serve as buffers to protect the shore line from wind generated storms
while at the same time they absorb silt, nutrients, toxic substances and support fisheries,
provide construction materials, medicines and a huge range of other goods used by
communities."

In order to protect our coastal environments, and to progress in the nation’s goal of
sustainable development, the adoption of a comprehensive program relating to our coasts and
coastal environments is essential. This bill, filed as a counterpart of Senate Bill No. 327 with
the support of its author, Senator Cynthia Villar, creates such a program.

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EMMELINE Y. AGLIPAY ~ VILLAR
Representative, DIWA Party-list

+ http://geography.about.com/od/lists/a/longest-coastlines.htm
? nttpi//www.grida.no/publications/rr/our-precious-coasts/page/'1287.aspx

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 3261

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay ~ Villar

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Coastal Environment Program
(CEP) Act of 2016”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ The State shall promote partnerships among all
sectors of Philippine society to protect, conserve and manage, on a sustainable basis, coastal
environments throughout the territorial jurisdiction of the country.

The integrity of coastal ecosystems and their productivity and bio-diversity shall be
maximized subject to some areas being designated for protection (exclusion of human
exploitation) and others for sustainable use.

Equitability of access to and utilization of resources and substantive involvement of local
communities and stakeholders shall be the basic concerns of the Program.

SECTION 3. Lead Agency, ~The Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) shall be the lead agency in the implementation of this Act. It shall consult and
coordinate with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of
Agriculture, other concemed agencies such as Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry
and Natural Resources, Research and Development (PCARRD), International Center for
Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), and the University of the Philippines
Marine Institute, and the local governments, whenever applicable: Provided, That in the
Province of Palawan, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development shall implement the
provisions of this Act pursuant to Republic Act No. 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan
for Palawan.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
mean:

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(1) Coastal environments - Those areas where, at any given time, socioeconomic interactions
among and between humans, land-based and sea-based natural resources occur, extending not
more than one (1) linear kilometer from the highest tide point landward and to one hundred
(100) fathom isobath or fifteen (15) linear kilometers (whichever is farther) seaward.

(2) Coastal resources - All objects and processes of nature which are of value to humans,
grouped primarily as follows:

(a) Shorelands - Strips of land extending one (1) linear kilometer from the highest tide
point of the nearest body of water, include the mineral, nutrients and life forms
found under, on or above the land;

(b) Coastal forests - Mangroves and other beach vegetation whose structures and forms
are consistent with the definition of forests under Presidential Decree No. 705 and
the Forestry Master Plan of the Philippines;

(c) Fishery and wildlife resources - Vertebrates, invertebrates and floral formations in
aquatic ecosystems, inhabiting or deriving sustenance from coastal environments;

(d) Minerals - Solids and gases (free or dissolved) and other liquids found on or under
the seabed.

SECTION 5. Program Organization. — The CEP shall be organized into the following
components:

qd) Coastal habitats and biodiversity - This component shall deal mainly with the
conservation and management of coastal areas, enhancing the biodiversity of floral and fauna
populations. This component shall include the implementation of Republic Act No. 7586 or
the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992, relative to protected areas in
coastal environments. It shall also include the rehabilitation of mangroves, seagrass and coral
reef’ in designated areas;

(2) Endangered species - This component shall focus on the conservation, protection and
propagation of endangered species and on the protection and management of their habitats.
Existing projects of the DENR on marine turtles, crocodiles, sea snakes, shore birds, whales,
sea cows, porpoises and others shall be included in this component;

(3) Coastal industries and pollution - This component shall focus on the regulation of
industrial activities and water pollution in coastal areas. It shall study the impact of industrial
activities and draw down pollution on coastal environments, to identify and recommend
development and regulatory options to mitigate negative effects;

(4) Resource inventory and assessment - This component shall include activities to
identify and estimate existing and future stocks of ecologically and economically important
coastal species;

(5) Research and special projects - This component shall include activities related to the
development, testing and application of methodologies to understand coastal environments

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and their associated resource systems. Special projects shall include those, which because of
their unique scoping or funding specifications, may not be associated with the other four (4)
components of the CEP.

Future activities of the DENR relating to coastal environments shall be assigned to any of the
five components above.

SECTION 6. CEP Implementation. ~ All activities included in the CEP shall involve three
(3) general phases, as follows:

1) Information, education and communication (IEC) campaign coupled with
community organizing, to achieve higher levels of participation of local
communities in the activities;

2) Introduction of intended interventions of package of developmental activities
for eventual adoption by partner communities and sectors; and

3) Monitoring and evaluation of the activity to seek options and opportunities for
follow-up and institutionalization.

Each phase may overlap, to the extent deemed needed by the implementers, to ensure
success of the activity.

SECTION 7. Local Government and Community Participation. — CEP activities shall, to
all extent possible, involve local communities and sectoral organizations (POs, NGOs and
LGUs) in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the activity. Leadership in the
CEP activities shall be reposed on, or at least shared by the DENR with the local leaders and
community members.

SECTION 8. Trainings. — The DENR shall give priority to the training of Department
personnel and community leaders in the technical aspects of resource inventory and
assessment as well as proper monitoring and evaluation of activities, to develop local
expertise and to establish a reliable and uniform data base.

SECTION 9. Program Management. — Overall direction and management of the CEP shall
be reposed on the DENR Secretary. However, said direction and management affecting the
Province of Palawan shall be exercised by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
pursuant to Republic Act No. 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan. There
is hereby created a committee to be known as the National Coastal Environment Program
Steering Committee (NCEPSC) which shall assist the DENR Secretary in formulating the
policies and implementing guidelines of the CEP. The NCEPSC shall be composed of the
following:

(a) Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources as Chairman;
(b) Secretary of Agriculture as member;

(©) Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as member:
(d) Secretary of Science and Technology as member:

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” (© Secretary of the Interior and Local Government as member;
(D Director of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau as member;

(g) Two (2) representatives from non-government organizations (NGOs) concerned with
coastal environment protection and conservation as members; and

(h) Two (2) representatives of national organizations or federations of fisherfolk
organizations to be appointed by the President for a term of three (3) years as
members;

The Secretary shall designate a National Coastal Environment Program Coordinator
who shall assist in the implementation of the Program nationwide. The NCC shall direct the
administrative and technical staff as may be formed by the Secretary, which shall serve as the
coordinating body for all CEP activities.

Regional Executive Directors may designate any officer or either Regional Technical
Director (RTD), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) or
equivalent level to be the Regional CEP Coordinator (RCC), subject to the approval by the
Secretary.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. ~ The sum necessary to effectively carry out the provisions
of this Act during the first year of implementation shall be sourced from the appropriations
for the coastal environment program of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be
necessary for its continued implementation which should not be less than the amount of prior
years’ appropriations, shall be submitted by the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources to be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources may receive grants, subsidies,
donations or contributions, bequests or gifts, in cash or in kind from corporations, trusts,
foundations, associations and other sources from any private or government office, agency or
corporation in the Philippines or abroad. The cash receipts and sale of donated commodities
shalll be deemed automatically appropriated for purposes specified by the donor.

SECTION L1. Repeating Clause. — All laws and regulations inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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