FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SENATE 
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S. B. NO. 
777 
This bill prop 
waterways as 
Environment and 
Local government 
If pollution is 
just that the manufacturing 
entities which generate 
rather than shift it to 
the LGUs to enforce 
ecology. 
ses the establishment of rivers, river systems, beaches and 
ecological zones, to be administered by the Department of 
Natural Resources, and subsequently to be devolved to the 
urJits. 
part of the cost of industrial development, it is only fair and 
enterprises, shipping and barging concerns and other 
the pollutants be made to bear the cost themselves, 
the public. This bill mandates the DENR and subsequently 
the right of every citizen to a balanced and healthful 
In view of the p g o i n g ,  


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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SENATE 
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S.B.NO. 
777 
Introduced by Senator RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR. 
AN ACT DECLARING AND ESTABLISHING RIVERS, RIVER SYSTEMS, 
BEACHES SHORES AND WATERWAYS AS ECOLOGICAL ZONES, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 "Rivers and 
Waterways Ecological Zones Act of 2007." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to guarantee 
to the people a balanced and healthful environment in full accord with the rhythm 
of nature. Pursuant thereto, all rivers, river systems, beaches, shores and other 
waterways are hereby declared ecological zones subject to the full protection of 
the State. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - 
a. "River" shall refer as follows: 
1) A "major" river has at least 1,400 kilometers of drainage 
area; and 
2) A "principal" river has at least forty (40) square kilometers of 
drainage area. 
b. "River system" is a network of channels naturally or artificially 
designed to drain the whole catchment area into one outlet point, 
and this includes esteros, channels, creeks, springs, brooks, storm 
drains, streams, tributaries and flood control channels. 


c. “Waterways” refer to other water channels not readily recognized 
as river, river system, beach or shores but serve the same function 
as the latter as may be determined by competent authority or by the 
appropriate government agency, i.e. Department of Environment 
and Natural Resources (DENR). 
d. “Environmentally degraded means either of the following: 1) The 
water quality has deteriorated such that the dissolved oxygen 
content (DOC) is zero; biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is more 
than one-hundred milligrams per litter (1 00mg/l); presence of toxic 
substances or heavy metals is above standards: or 2) Heavily silted 
or filled up by sediment; absence of surface water flow; and erosion 
of river or waterway beds and banks. 
e. “Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)” - refers to the 
planning and decision-making process which includes studies of 
the environment with impact of a project including a discussion of 
the direct and indirect consequences upon human welfare and 
ecological and environmental integrity. EIA should also include 
studies on the alternatives to proposed projects. 
f. “Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)” - refers to the document 
reflecting the aims to identify, predict, interpret and communicate 
information regarding changes in environmental quality associated 
with a proposed project, and the range of alternative for the 
objectives of the proposal and their impact on the environment. 
g. “Statement of Environmental Consequence” - refers to a simple 
or small scale version of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
system. 
SEC. 4. Purposes. - The primary purposes of this Act are as follows: 


a. To recognize and protect rivers and waterways as 
environmental resource critical to the ecological dimension of the 
lives' of the people; 
b. To establish multiple-use system of rivers and waterways, 
provided such Is within the bonds of environmental protection and 
ecological balance; 
c. 
To 
legally 
equip 
the 
government 
in 
pursuing 
environmental protection objectives and enforcing corresponding 
laws, rules and regulations; and 
d. To establish the natural resource of rivers and waterways 
within the context of a national land and resource use planning and 
zoning, a long-awaited environmental protection and efficient 
resource utilization measure. 
SEC. 5. Environmental Protection System. - AI current or prospective 
modes of occupancy, utilization or application of portions or surrounding areas of 
rivers, beaches, shores, and waterways shall henceforth be subjected to the 
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Impact Statement 
(€IS) Systems or Statement of Environmental Consequences (SEC) for small 
scale or household endeavors as determined by the Environmental Management 
Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 
SEC. 6. Prohibited Acts. - It is hereby declared unlawful for any person, 
natural or juridical to: 
a. Dump solid, toxic and hazardous waste or untreated 
sewage into the river system or waterway; 
b. Dump or throw domestic garbage into the river system or 
waterway; 
e. Squat or appropriate banks or portions of rivers or 
waterways for private use or gain, except as duly authorized 
or allowed for such reasonable easement of public use in the 
interest of recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing and 
salvage; 


d. Fence off or encroach upon any river system or waterway, 
or portions thereof, by any means whatsoever, and convert 
the same into fishpens or other private or commercial use, 
without the necessary environmental protection clearance, 
i.e. ElAlElS or SEC; 
e. Aid or conspire by way of commission or negligence in the 
perpetration of above-cited prohibited acts. 
SEC. 7. Penal Clause. - Any person who violates any of the acts herein 
prohibited shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and 
one (1) day nor more than eight (8) years, and a fine of not less than Ten 
thousand pesos (Pl0,OOO.OO) nor more than Twenty thousand pesos 
(P20,OOO.OO): Provided, however, That in case of violation of this Act by an 
association, club, partnership, cooperative, or corporation or other juridical entity, 
the incumbent officers thereof who have knowingly participated in the violation 
shall be held liable: Provided, further, That if the offender is a government official 
or employee, he shall be permanently barred from holding any public office, 
appointment or employment: Provided, further, That the title, license, permit or 
lease held by the offender over the occupancy or use of the portion of river 
system or waterway is automatically revoked. 
SEC. 8. Administration and Enforcement: Implementing Guidelines. - 
The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 
shall have the primary responsibility for the administration and enforcement of 
this Act. It shall transmit all cases for prosecution arising from violations .of this. 
Act to the proper authorities for appropriate action. 
The implementing guidelines, rules, regulations, programs, projects and 
activities needed in pursuit of the provisions of this Act shall be promulgated and 
issued by the Secretary of the DENR within the ninety (90) days after the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 9. The Appropriations, - The DENR shall make the necessary 
realignment of its existing budget to accommodate the initial expenditures in 
pursuit of the provisions of this Act. In succeeding years, such financial support 
form government shall come from annual appropriations. 


SEC. I O .  Devolution. - The actual enforcement or implementation of the 
provisions of this Act shall be devolved to the Locaf Government Unit five (5) 
years after the effectivity of this Act. The DENR shall render the necessary 
operating policy, monitoring and evaluation, and technical assistance. 
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any section or provision of this Act 
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not 
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations and other issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
deemed modified, revoked or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
16 publication in two (2) leading newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved,