Republic of the Philippines​
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES​
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session​
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by REP. BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR BLUE ECONOMY, PROMOTING 
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND 
MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND RESOURCES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “[t]he State shall 
protect the nation’s marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and 
exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino 
citizens.” Pursuant to this constitutional mandate, the State bears both a legal and 
moral obligation to safeguard the country’s marine and coastal resources and to 
ensure that their utilization directly benefits the Filipino people. 
The Philippines, an archipelagic state composed of 7,641 islands, spans from 
the Babuyan Channel in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Celebes and 
Sulu Seas in the south, to the West Philippine Sea in the west, with a total coastline 
of 36,289 kilometers. These vast bodies of water serve as vital lifelines of the 
nation—providing channels for transportation, food security, trade, ecological 
stability, and overall economic development. 
According to the Philippine Ocean Economy Satellite Accounts (POESA) 
published 
by 
the 
Philippine 
Statistics 
Authority 
(PSA), 
the 
ocean 
economy—comprising economic activities conducted in or near the ocean or those 
that depend on ocean resources—grew by 6.7 percent in 2021, with a Gross Value 
Added (GVA) amounting to PhP 707.80 billion. Ocean fishing was the largest 
contributor, accounting for 33.9 percent (PhP 239.74 billion), followed by the 
manufacture of ocean-based products (23.0 percent or PhP 163.12 billion), and 
sea-based transportation and storage (14.8 percent or PhP 104.44 billion). In the 
same year, ocean-based industries provided employment to approximately 1.99 
million Filipinos, representing 4.5 percent of total national employment. 
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Despite their significant contribution to the economy, fisherfolk remain among 
the poorest sectors in the country. Preliminary 2021 data from the PSA indicate a 
poverty incidence of 30.6 percent among fisherfolk—up from 26.2 percent in 2018. 
Moreover, the Philippines’ location within the Coral Triangle—recognized globally as 
the “center of the center” of marine biodiversity—imposes a greater responsibility on 
the State to protect and conserve its rich marine ecosystems. These ecosystems face 
mounting threats from human activities, including overexploitation, pollution, habitat 
degradation, and the worsening impacts of climate change. 
In light of these urgent concerns, this measure seeks to establish a 
comprehensive legal framework for the protection, sustainable development, and 
equitable utilization of the country’s marine resources through the adoption of a 
blue economy approach. The bill also proposes the creation of a National 
Maritime Council, which shall serve as the primary coordinating body for the 
implementation of policies that promote economic advancement while ensuring 
environmental stewardship. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate and favorable passage of this 
measure is earnestly sought. 
    HON. BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
Representative 
1st District, Sorsogon 
2 


Republic of the Philippines​
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES​
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session​
HOUSE BILL NO. ____
Introduced by REP. BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR BLUE ECONOMY, PROMOTING 
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND 
MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND RESOURCES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title.  This Act shall be known as the “Blue Economy Act”. 
Section. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to: 
a. Adopt blue economy as a framework for equitable and sustainable
development and safe use of marine wealth within our maritime zones, as a pillar of 
our national economy and patrimony; 
b. Exercise stewardship of our seas and coasts, and protect and conserve the
health and resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats, through strong 
institutional mechanisms for maritime monitoring and regulatory enforcement, to 
promote the well-being, prosperity and security of present and future generations; 
c. Preserve our maritime heritage, recognize the social, cultural, and historical
value of our seas and coasts, and foster public understanding and respect of the 
value of our seas and coasts to build a strong foundation for social responsibility; 
d. Enrich scientific understanding of marine and coastal ecosystems, the
benefits we gain from these ecosystems like carbon sequestration, their changing 
conditions and the causes thereof, and use the best available scientific knowledge to 
inform decisions affecting our seas and coasts and to enhance our capacity to 
respond and adapt to changing maritime environments; 
e.Foster international cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement, and
exercise rights and jurisdiction in accordance with applicable international laws, 
including on freedom of navigation; 
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f. Ensure a whole-of-nation approach and a comprehensive, integrated 
framework for the stewardship of our seas and coasts to facilitate cohesive action of 
the 
national 
government, 
local 
authorities, 
academe, 
nongovernmental 
organizations, the private sector, and the public; and 
 
g. Promote, support and monitor science, technology and innovation 
programs of public and private academic and research institutions to strengthen 
interdisciplinary research in marine science, and to develop emerging technologies to 
catalyze growth of new maritime sectors. 
 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
 
​
a. Aquaculture refers to fishery operations involving all forms of raising and 
culturing fish and other fishery species in fresh, brackish, and marine water areas; 
 
​
b. Aquasilviculture refers to a multi-purpose production system that allows 
production of fish and other aquatic species in a mangrove reforestation project; 
 
​
c. Aquatic resources refer to fish and other living resources of the aquatic 
environment that have or will have commercial value when utilized; 
 
​
d. Blue economy refers to the integrated, holistic, cross-sectoral, and 
cross-stakeholder approach for the sustainable, resilient and inclusive use, 
governance, management and conservation of oceans, seas as well as marine and 
coastal resources and ecosystems for economic growth, leveraging green 
infrastructure and technologies, innovative financing mechanisms and proactive 
institutional mechanisms, and improving human well-being and social equity, and 
reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities; 
 
​
 e. Blue carbon refers to organic carbon that is captured by marine and 
coastal ecosystems, such as algae, seagrass, mangroves, and other plants growing 
in salt marshes and coastal wetlands; 
 
​
f. Blue public expenditure refers to public expenditures that address issues 
related to coastal and marine resources, environmental degradation, and 
development aspirations that depend on marine resources and environments; 
 
​
g. By-catch refers to fish or other marine species that a fisher does not intend 
to 
catch, 
including 
juveniles 
of 
commercially-valuable 
species 
and 
biologically-important species caught unintentionally while trying to catch a certain 
type of fish; 
 
​
h. Commercial fishing refers to the taking of fishery species by passive or 
active gear for trade, business and profit beyond subsistence or sports fishing, to be 
further classified as: small scale commercial fishing, or fishing with passive or active 
gear utilizing fishing vessels of three and one-tenth (3.1) gross tons (GT) up to 
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twenty (20) GT; medium scale commercial fishing or fishing utilizing active gears and 
vessels of twenty and one-tenth (20.1) GT up to one hundred fifty (150) GT; and 
large commercial fishing or fishing utilizing active gears and vessels of more than 
one hundred fifty (150) GT; 
 
i. Contiguous zone refers to the contiguous zone of the Philippines to the 
waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent of twenty-four 
(24) nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is 
measured; 
 
​
j. Continental shelf refers to the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas of 
the Philippines that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural 
prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a 
distance of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the baselines from which the 
breadth of the territorial sea is measured, where the outer edge of the continental 
margin does not extend up to that distance; 
 
​
k. Ecosystem services refer to the flow of benefits which humans gain from 
ecosystems, through biological processes and climate, hydrological and biochemical 
cycles, and experiences that contribute to intangible culture; 
 
​
l. Environmental-economic accounting refers to a systematic way to measure 
and report on stocks and flows of natural assets and resources - both biotic and 
abiotic, renewable and non-renewable - and ecosystem services, to determine the 
contribution of the environment to the economy and the impact of the economy on 
the environment; 
 
​
m. Environmental-economic accounts refer to statistical information, in 
physical or monetary terms, about the extraction of natural resources, their use 
within the economy, natural resource stock levels, the changes in those stocks 
during a specific period, and such other economic activities related to the 
environment; 
 
​
n. Exclusive economic zone (EEZ) refers to the waters beyond and adjacent to 
its territorial sea and up to the extent of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the 
baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, as established by 
Presidential Decree No. 1599, otherwise known as the "Philippine Exclusive Economic 
Zone of 1978", and to the extent consistent with the other provisions of this Act and 
with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 
(UNCLOS); 
 
​
o. Fisheries refer to all activities relating to the science and act of business of 
fishing, culturing, preserving, processing, marketing, developing, conserving, and 
managing of aquatic resources, and environment; 
 
​
p. Integrated coastal management (ICM) refers to a holistic and 
integrative management that incorporates the following components: (1) connectivity 
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of various ecosystems - environment and resources; (2) various sectors and 
stakeholders; (3) institutional arrangements that are relevant; and (4) assessment of 
drivers 
of 
coastal 
ecosystem 
degradation, 
management 
planning 
and 
implementation, including research and education, to address coastal degradation 
and biodiversity losses, and to improve the well-being of communities in coastal and 
interconnected areas; 
 
q. Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM) refers to a 
participatory process for decision-making to prevent, control, or mitigate adverse 
impacts from human activities in the marine and coastal environment, and to 
contribute to the restoration of degraded coastal areas; 
 
​
r. Internal waters refer to waters on the landward side of the archipelagic 
baselines not forming part of archipelagic waters under Section 4 of this Act and 
delineated in accordance with Article 50 of the UNCLOS; and waters on the landward 
side of the baselines of the territorial sea of territories outside of the archipelagic 
baselines, drawn in accordance with Article 8 of the UNCLOS; 
 
​
s. Investment promotion agencies (IPAs) refer to government entities created 
by law, executive order, decree or other issuance, in charge of promoting 
investments, granting and administering tax and non-tax incentives, and overseeing 
the operations of the different economic zones and freeports in accordance with 
their respective special laws. These include the Board of Investments (BOI), 
Bangsamoro Board of Investments, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Bases 
Conversion and Development Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Clark 
Development Corporation, John Hay Management Corporation, Poro Point 
Management Corporation, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Zamboanga City 
Special Economic Zone Authority, PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority, Aurora Pacific 
Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, 
Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and all other similar existing 
authorities that may be created by law; 
 
​
t. Mariculture refers to the sea farming of aquatic plants and fishes; 
 
​
u. Marine scientific research refers to any research activity, which is 
conducted for exclusively peaceful purposes, for the purpose of increasing scientific 
knowledge about the marine environment, including all-natural resources, toward 
the benefit of mankind and according to the UNCLOS; 
 
​
v. Maritime domain awareness refers to the effective understanding of any 
activity that could impact upon the security, safety, economy or environment; 
 
​
w. Maritime spatial planning refers to a process by which human activities in 
maritime zones are analyzed and organized, based on best available scientific 
knowledge, to achieve economic, ecological and social objectives; 
 
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​
x. Maritime zones refer to the maritime zones of the Philippines comprising 
the internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ, and 
continental shelf; 
 
​
y. Ocean-based activities refer to activities that are undertaken in the ocean, 
such as fisheries and aquaculture, offshore oil and gas, mining, ocean energy, 
desalination, shipping and marine transportation, marine tourism, and marine 
construction; 
 
z. Ocean-related activities refer to activities that use products from the ocean 
such as seafood processing, marine biotechnology, chemicals, salt, and produce 
products and services for the ocean and ocean-based activities such as shipbuilding 
and repair, ports, tourist resorts, communication, maritime insurance and law, and 
maritime technical services; 
 
(aa) Subsistence fishing refers to fishing for personal consumption or 
traditional/ceremonial purposes; and 
 
(bb) Ocean literacy refers to an understanding of the ocean’s influence on 
humans and human influence on the ocean. 
 
​
SEC. 4. Scope of Application. For purposes of this Act, the Philippines shall 
exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, in accordance with 
commitments under the UNCLOS and other related treaties which the Philippines has 
ratified, in internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, 
exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, herein collectively referred to as 
"maritime zones", including its seabed and subsoil, and any and all maritime features 
within the maritime zones and where appropriate, the relevant airspace above the 
territorial sea, internal waters and archipelagic waters now known or to be known in 
the future. 
 
CHAPTER II 
NATIONAL MARITIME MONITORING SYSTEM 
 
​
SEC. 5. National Maritime Monitoring System. The National Coast Watch 
System, established under Executive Order (EO) No. 57, series of 2011, is hereby 
renamed as the National Maritime Monitoring System. 
 
​
SEC. 6. National Maritime Council. The National Coast Watch Council, 
created under EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby renamed and reconstituted as the 
National Maritime Council, herein referred to as the "Council", and its functions 
expanded to include the formulation of an integrated strategy to promote blue 
economy and ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine resources. 
 
​
In addition to the powers and functions of the Council enumerated in Section 
3 of the same EO, the Council is likewise further mandated to: 
 
5 
 


 
(a) Steer the development, research, and sustainable resource explorations in 
maritime zones, especially in areas with high economic potential such as the 
Philippine Rise and the West Philippine Sea; 
 
(b) Coordinate the maritime regulation or licensing and law enforcement for 
strengthened preparedness and responsiveness to potential security threats or 
concerns in the country's maritime areas and zones; and 
​
 
(c) Build capacities in monitoring, including the use of digital and innovative 
technologies for security and surveillance activities. 
 
The Council is likewise authorized to convene committees or sub-committees 
to oversee the abovementioned functions. In this way, all strategic maritime zones 
will be covered and will reduce the call for the creation of new bodies or authorities 
to manage the same. 
 
SEC. 7. Composition of National Maritime Council. The Council is 
composed of the Executive Secretary as Chairperson and the Secretaries of the 
following national agencies as members: 
 
(a)​
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA);  
(b) ​
Department of Environment and Natural Resources;  
(c)​
Department of National Defense;  
(d)​
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); 
(e)​
Department of Justice;  
(f)​
Department of the Interior and Local Government; 
(g)​
Department of Agriculture;  
(h)​
Department of Tourism;  
(i)​
Department of Transportation;  
(j)​
Department of Trade and Industry;  
(k)​
Department of Energy;  
(l)​
Department of Science and Technology;  
(m)​
Department of Finance;  
(n)​
Department of Education (DepEd);  
(o)​
Department of Information and Communications Technology;  
(p)​
National Security Council; and   
(q)​
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
 
Department Secretaries may designate an alternative representative, whose 
portfolio covers matters directly or principally relating to the development or 
management of coastal and marine resources and ecosystems, if applicable. They 
shall sit in a permanent capacity, and their acts shall be considered the acts of their 
principals. 
 
​
SEC. 8. National Maritime Secretariat. The Coastal Watch Council 
Secretariat, established under Section 4 of EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby renamed 
as the National Maritime Secretariat and shall continue to provide technical and 
administrative support to the Council and perform its functions under the same EO. 
6 
 


 
 
​
 
SEC. 9. National Maritime Coordination Center. The National Coast 
Watch Center, established under Section 5 of EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby 
renamed as the National Maritime Coordination Center and shall continue to be the 
operational support unit of the National Maritime Monitoring System and perform its 
functions under the same EO. 
 
SEC. 10. Support Agencies. In order to ensure the efficient and effective 
discharge of its responsibilities, in addition to the agencies enumerated under 
Section 6 of EO 57, series of 2011, the Council may call upon other departments, 
bureaus, offices and instrumentalities of the government, representatives from 
maritime industries, and academic and research institutions engaged in marine 
science and ocean-based or ocean-related activities to participate in working groups, 
as it may deem necessary. 
 
CHAPTER III 
POLICY FRAMEWORK ON BLUE ECONOMY 
 
SEC. 11. Policy Framework on Blue Economy. - The Council shall, within 
six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, formulate a Policy Framework on Blue 
Economy, herein referred to as the Policy Framework. The Policy Framework shall 
serve as the basis for marine spatial planning, determination of investments to 
develop modern physical infrastructure and build an enabling environment for blue 
economy to prosper, and enhance maritime domain awareness, and enforcement of 
economic and environmental regulations within our maritime zones. The Policy 
Framework shall be subject to mandatory review and modification every five (5) 
years. 
 
SEC. 12. Components of the Policy Framework on Blue Economy. - 
The Policy Framework shall include the following components: 
 
(a) Review of all existing policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and 
regulations on ocean-based and ocean-related activities in our maritime zones, 
including seafood processing and storage, and commercial research and 
development (R&D) activities for biomass resource and fish stock estimation, 
artificial intelligence for forecasting fish stocks and supply; 
 
(b) Compliance to local and international maritime laws; 
 
(c) Analysis of current and emerging trends in demography, consumption, 
trade, technology and climate that show the interaction between the economy and 
the environment, and present threats and pressures on coastal and marine 
environments; 
 
(d) Environmental-economic accounting of coastal and marine assets and 
resources, and ecosystem goods and services from coastal and marine 
environments; 
7 
 


 
(e) Priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related economic 
activities within our maritime zones, which may include the following: 
 
(1)​Fisheries, including commercial fishing, but with preference to 
subsistence fisheries, as mandated by Section 7, Article XIII, of the 
Constitution;  
(2)​Aquaculture, mariculture and aquasilviculture and support industries, 
including seafood processing and storage, and aquaculture feed 
milling;  
(3)​Marine and coastal tourism; 
(4)​Shipping, logistics and maritime transport; 
(5)​Shipbuilding and ship repair; 
(6)​Production of renewable energy from marine sources; 
(7)​Installation of submarine cables and pipelines; 
(8)​Marine biotechnology and bioprospecting; 
(9)​Desalination; 
(10)​
Underwater cultural heritage and maritime archaeology; and 
(11)​
Commercial R&D activities and commercialization of new and 
emerging technologies developed from locally-undertaken R&D; 
 
(f) Principles and indicators to guide environmental impact assessment of 
ocean-based and ocean-related economic activities, taking into account the 
environmental-economic accounting of marine resources and ecosystem services 
that will be affected; 
 
(g)  Adoption of integrated marine and coastal area management; 
 
(h) Strategies to promote blue finance; 
 
(i) Priority research and development agenda, including development of 
innovative technologies, and human capital to support the blue economy; 
 
(j) Promotion of ocean literacy and social responsibility towards the protection 
of coastal and marine environments; 
 
(k) Enhancement of capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and 
civilian agencies to enforce laws, rules and regulations to protect our marine wealth; 
 
(l) Goals, targets and indicators for growth, resilience and sustainability of 
priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related activities, including 
its contribution to Gross Domestic Product and job creation; and 
 
(m) Such other components may be determined by the Council as a result of 
its periodic review, to ensure that the Policy Framework is continually updated and 
adapted to the needs of the times. 
 
 
 
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CHAPTER IV 
COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL MARITIME INSTRUMENTS 
 
SEC. 13. International Maritime Instruments. - The Council shall direct 
the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee, as created under EO No. 159, series of 
2021, to Facilitate the Ratification of/Accession to and Implementation of Maritime 
Conventions (ICCRIMC) to establish mechanisms for the full and effective 
implementation and enforcement of the following international maritime instruments 
and their subsequent amendments, including, but not limited to the following: 
 
(a) 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; 
(b) Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and 
Fauna; 
(c) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 
Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage; 
(d) International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, 
and its Protocol of 1988 (SOLAS 74); 
(e) International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and its 
Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78); 
(f) Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at 
Sea, 1972, as amended (COLREG 72); 
(g) International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 and its Protocol of 1988, as 
amended (LL 66);  
(h) International Convention on the Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 
(TONNAGE 69);  
(i) Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of 
Maritime Navigation, 1988 (SUA) and its Protocol; 
(j) International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and 
Co-operation 1990 (OPRC 1990); 
(k) International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast 
Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM 2004); 
(l) Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by dumping of Wastes 
and Other Matter, 1972, as amended, and its 1996 Protocol (LCP); 
(m) Special Trade Passenger Ships Agreement, 1971 (STP 71); 
(n) Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization, as amended 
(IMSO 1976) and its Operating Agreement (INMARSAT); 
(o) International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and 
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, As Amended (STCW 78);  
(p) International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems 
on Ships, 2001 (AFS 2001); 
(q) Protocol of 1992 to Amend the International Convention on Civil Liability 
for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969; 
9 
 


 
(r) Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on the 
Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 
1971; and 
(s) Other relevant maritime treaties, conventions, or instruments as may be 
agreed upon in the future. 
 
SEC. 14. Application. – Unless otherwise indicated, the international 
conventions enumerated in the preceding section shall apply to: 
 
(a) All ships, whether seagoing or coastwise, which are registered under the 
Philippine flag; 
(b) All persons, partnerships, corporations, firms and other entities that 
engage in ocean-based or ocean-related enterprise, or those acting on their behalf; 
and 
(c) All foreign ships that are within the waters, ports, harbors and offshore 
terminals of the Philippines regardless of whether or not they are registered in, or 
belong to, State Parties to the conventions sought to be implemented by this Act. 
 
SEC. 15. Reciprocity. - The rights and privileges of foreign vessels and 
aircraft in Philippine archipelagic waters herein provided are recognized under 
conditions of reciprocity and mutual respect. The President of the Philippines is 
hereby authorized to institute countermeasures and other appropriate steps as may 
be recommended by the DFA in response to foreign states that do not abide by, or 
that act inconsistently with the UNCLOS, or which do not ensure that vessels and 
aircraft under their authority comply with their rights and obligations under the 
convention. 
 
CHAPTER V 
ENVIRONMENTAL-ECONOMIC ACCOUNTING 
 
SEC. 16. Environmental-Economic Accounting. - The Philippine Statistics 
Authority 
shall 
include the environmental-economic accounting of marine 
ecosystems, as part of the Philippine ecosystem and natural capital accounting 
system, in the generation of the Philippine ocean economy satellite accounts. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT 
 
SEC. 17. Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management. - The 
IMCAM shall be the framework to address human impacts on marine and coastal 
ecosystem, and for promoting its conservation and sustainable use. The Integrated 
Coastal Management Framework, principles, and mechanisms shall be aligned and 
shall be an integral part of the IMCAM framework to be developed under this Act. 
 
SEC. 18. Elements of the National IMCAM Framework. - The Council 
shall develop and implement the National IMCAM Framework within one (1) year 
from the effectivity of this Act to provide direction, support, and guidance to relevant 
10 
 


 
member and support agencies, local government units and other stakeholders, 
according to the Elaborated Programme of Work on Marine and Coastal Biological 
Diversity contained in the Annex to Decision VII/5 of the Conference of the Parties to 
the United Nations Environmental Programme Convention on Biological Diversity.  
 
Accordingly, the National IMCAM Framework shall consider the following 
elements: 
 
(a) Build capacity of stakeholders, in both national and local levels, to apply 
relevant policy instruments to address legal issues, institutionalize participatory 
processes, and develop strategies to promote multidisciplinary and multisectoral 
ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine environments; 
 
(b) Direct action to protect coastal and marine environments from negative 
impacts, such as: 
(1)​Identification, 
protection, 
prevention 
of 
alteration 
and 
destruction, and restoration of coastal and marine habitats, 
particularly areas important for reproduction, inter alia, coral 
reef systems; 
(2)​Prevention, reduction or control of marine pollution; 
(3)​Protection of coastal and marine environments from land-based 
sources, including proper coastal land use and watershed 
management; 
(4)​Establishment of closed fishing areas, and closed seasons, in 
accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 8550, also known as the 
"Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998" ', as amended by RA 10654; 
and 
(5)​Reduction of by-catch. 
 
(c) Establish mechanisms and guidelines for research, monitoring and 
assessment of coastal and marine ecosystems and resources, including indicators to 
measure natural and human-induced impacts; and 
 
(d) Establish guidelines and mechanisms on green and blue businesses. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF COASTAL AND MARINE 
RESOURCES 
 
SEC. 19. Protection of Endangered Species. - The Council shall 
spearhead the conservation, protection and rehabilitation of rare, threatened and 
endangered aquatic species as it may determine, including their habitats. It shall 
recommend to the President of the Philippines and Congress the designation of 
coastal and marine areas as protected areas under the Expanded National 
Integrated Protected Areas System or under RA 8550, as amended, and in 
compliance with the relevant provisions of international treaties and agreements 
such as, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild 
Flora and Fauna, the UNCLOS, and Convention on Biological Diversity. 
11 
 


 
 
SEC. 20. Policy Coordination. - The Council shall harmonize rules and 
regulations of all relevant agencies responsible for the implementation and 
enforcement of laws to prevent and eliminate illegal fishing such as RA 8550, as 
amended. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING 
 
SEC. 21. Maritime Spatial Planning. - The Council, in consultation with 
relevant agencies, regional bodies and local government units (LGUs), shall 
undertake a nationwide maritime spatial planning, guided by the standards of the 
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, to identify the spatial and temporal 
distribution of priority activities and uses and the interactions thereof in maritime 
zones, in order to reduce conflict among uses, facilitate complementary uses, 
mitigate environmental impacts, and preserve ecosystem services. 
 
SEC. 22. Industry Development Plans. - The Council, through working 
groups created for the purpose, shall prepare five-year and ten-year development 
plans for priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related industry, in 
accordance with the Policy Framework and in consideration of the existing 
development plans and strategies formulated by agencies involved in coastal and 
marine protection and development. The Council shall also ensure the integration of 
the framework in existing industry plans. 
 
SEC. 23. Integration with Area and National Development Plans. - 
The NEDA shall integrate the maritime spatial plan and industry development plans 
into the Philippine Development Plan, the National Priority Plan, the National Physical 
Framework Plan, and Area Spatial Development Framework. 
 
SEC. 24. Inclusion in Strategic Investment Priority Plan. - The Council 
shall recommend to the BOI the inclusion of identified priority strategic ocean-based 
and ocean-related activities in the Strategic Investment Priority Plan. 
 
SEC. 25. Blue Economic Zones. - Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) 
shall encourage the establishment of blue economic zones and the transformation of 
existing special economic zones into the same: Provided, That Registered Business 
Enterprises (RBEs) engaged in ocean-based or ocean-related activities in these blue 
economic zones, duly registered by an IPA, may be entitled to the incentives under 
Title XIII (Tax Incentives) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as 
amended. 
 
In addition, the incentives provided under this Act shall be without prejudice 
to the following laws: 
(a)​RA 9003, otherwise known as the "Ecological Solid Waste Management 
Act of 2000"; 
(b)​RA 9275, otherwise known as the "Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004"; 
12 
 


 
(c)​RA 9513, otherwise known as the "Renewable Energy Act of 2008"; 
and 
(d)​RA 10771, otherwise known as the "Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016". 
 
The RBEs operating within blue economic zones may also qualify for financing 
provided under RA 11293, otherwise known as the "Philippine Innovation Act", as 
applicable. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
BLUE FINANCE 
 
SEC. 26. Role of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). - In the 
exercise of its regulatory powers over financial institutions, the BSP shall mandate 
banks and quasi-banks to adopt the United Nations Environment Programme 
Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles as a foundation of corporate 
governance and risk management. 
 
SEC. 27. Role of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). - The 
SEC shall encourage the issuance of blue bonds where proceeds will be exclusively 
applied to finance or refinance, in part or in full, eligible Blue Economy activities, in 
accordance with SEC Guidelines, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 
Green Bonds Standards and Green Bonds Principles, as developed and may be 
revised from time to time by the SEC, ASEAN Capital Markets Forum, and the 
International Capital Market Association, respectively. All designated Blue Projects or 
Activities must provide clear benefits to ocean health and the blue economy or must 
contribute substantially to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) 
6 or 14, which shall be assessed and, where feasible, quantified by the Issuer. 
 
SEC. 28. Role of Government Financial Institutions. - The Land Bank of 
the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines shall provide credit to 
strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related enterprises. 
 
SEC. 29. Blue Public Expenditures. - The Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM) shall allocate funds to implement blue economy programs, 
activities and projects (PAPs), in consonance with Section 15 of Republic Act No. 
9729, as amended. The DBM shall include blue public expenditures as part of its 
efforts to increase convergence in programming and implementation of climate 
change and disaster risk reduction PAPs through the Risk Resiliency Program. 
 
CHAPTER X 
MARINE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION (STI) AND OCEAN 
LITERACY 
 
SEC. 30. Marine Scientific Research. - The State recognizes marine 
science as a foundation of maritime governance, insofar as rules governing the use 
of coastal and marine resources must be based on the sound scientific 
understanding of the marine environment. In accordance with UNCLOS, the 
Philippines has the exclusive rights to regulate, authorize and conduct marine 
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scientific research in our internal waters, archipelagic waters and territorial sea; 
whereas, the Philippines has rights to regulate, authorize and conduct maritime 
research in our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf: Provided, That the 
marine scientific research activities shall not unjustifiably interfere with other 
legitimate uses of the sea and shall not constitute the legal basis for any claim to 
any part of the marine environment or its resources. 
 
Marine scientific research by foreign states and competent international 
organizations may only be conducted with the express consent of and the conditions 
set forth by the Council, in accordance with the UNCLOS. 
 
SEC. 31. Marine Technology and Innovation. - The State recognizes that 
science, technology, and innovation have a critical role in harnessing ocean 
resources for the blue economy while ensuring sustainability. Marine technology and 
innovations are needed to address technical and logistical constraints that impede 
the development of Philippine blue industries. Among these technologies are 
advanced materials, subsea engineering and technology, sensors and imaging, big 
data analytics, autonomous systems, biotechnology, nanotechnology, marine spatial 
planning, and circular blue economy. The government shall also support the 
development and adoption of locally-developed marine-related technologies. 
 
SEC. 32. Ocean Literacy Framework. - The DepEd, Commission on Higher 
Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and other 
government agencies implementing sector-specific literacy programs, in consultation 
with relevant members of the Council or support agencies, shall integrate into the 
curricula of K-12, the Alternative Learning System, general education programs of 
higher education institutions, technical and vocational education and training, and 
other community-based training programs, the essential principles and fundamental 
concepts of ocean sciences to develop the following competencies: 
 
(a)​Understanding the economic, socio-cultural, spiritual, scientific, and political 
importance/significance of the ocean to humankind in general and the 
Filipinos in particular; 
(b)​Communicating about the ocean in a meaningful way; and 
(c)​Making informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its 
resources. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION 
 
SEC. 33. Archipelagic Sea Lanes. - The President of the Philippines shall 
designate sea lanes and air routes thereabove, suitable for the continuous and 
expeditious passage of foreign ships and aircrafts through or over the archipelagic 
waters and the adjacent territorial sea, and shall, where necessary as regards the 
safety of navigation, require foreign ships exercising the right of innocent passage to 
use such lanes and traffic separation schemes in accordance with the UNCLOS. 
 
 
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CHAPTER XII 
Role of Local Governments 
 
SEC. 34. Role of Local Government Units. - Cities and municipalities shall 
continue to exercise jurisdiction over municipal waters, pursuant to RA 7160, 
otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991", as amended, and RA 
8550, as amended subject to the jurisdiction and authority of national government 
agencies as stated in the provisions of special laws as the case may be. Consistent 
with this mandate, LGUs shall act as the frontline agencies in the formulation, 
planning, and implementation and enforcement of the law of IMCAM in their 
respective jurisdictions. The LGUs shall integrate the National Maritime Spatial Plan 
in their Comprehensive Development and Annual Investment Plans. 
 
SEC. 35. Inter-LGU Cooperation. - Consistent with the provisions of RA 
7160, as amended, LGUs may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their 
efforts, services, and resources for the accomplishment of the objectives of this Act. 
 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
SEC. 
36. 
Joint 
Congressional 
Oversight. 
- 
For 
the 
effective 
implementation of this Act, a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee is created, to 
be known as the Blue Economy Oversight Committee, which shall be composed of 
five (5) Senators and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the Senate 
President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The 
Minority shall be entitled to pro rata representation. The Blue Economy Oversight 
Committee shall be jointly chaired by the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on 
Economic Affairs and the Chairperson of the House Committee on Economic Affairs. 
 
SEC. 37. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations 
of the Office of the President. Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 38. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Council shall issue 
the necessary rules and regulations to efficiently carry out the provisions of this Act 
within sixty (60) days from its effectivity. 
 
SEC. 39. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected shall remain in full force and 
effect. 
 
SEC. 40. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders, and 
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
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SEC. 41. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,  
 
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