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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. paeltes

Introduced by HON. HENRY R. VILLARICA
4™ DISTRICT, BULACAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The State must protect and facilitate a balanced and healthful ecoldgy for its people. It
must also be responsive to environmental issues affecting them.

Considering that the Philippines is a party to the “Convention on the Prevention of
Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972” or the 1996 London Protocol,
this proposed bill seeks to articulate its commitment in this treaty at the municipal level.

The London Protocol as adopted in 1996 was built on and modernized the principles
developed under the earlier treaty. It prohibits the dumping of wastes and other matter except for
those on a prescribed list, which may be assessed and giving permits for dumping.

This bill was filed during the 17 Congress but due to time constraints no further action
was taken on it. This is re-filed for the consideration of the 18" Congress.

Support for the enactment of this measure is earnestly requested.

REP. HENR} R. VILDARICA


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4012

Introduced by HON. HENRY R. VILLARICA
4™ DISTRICT, BULACAN a
+
AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DUMPING OF SEWAGE SLUDGE AND INDUSTRIAL
WASTE INTO THE SEAWATERS AND PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES IN VIOLATION
THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Sea Dumping Ban Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It shall be the declared policy of the State to promote the
natural balance of the environment for the protection of human health and safety.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act these terms are defined as follows:

(@) Dredged Materials any waste from any industrial operation located in the Philippines
discharged pursuant to a permit issued by the Secretary of Envitonment and Natural
Resources;

(b) Industrial Waste is any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste generated by a manufacturing or
Processing plant other than an excluded material; and

(©) Sewage Sludge is any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste generated by a wastewater
treatment plant, other than a dredged material.

SEC. 4. Materials considered for Dumping. - The following materials listen in Annex 1 of

the London Protocol may be considered for dumping:

(@) Dredged material
(b) Sewage sludge
(©) Fish wastes or material resulting from industrial fish processing operations


(@) Vessels and platforms or other man-made structures at sea

(©) Inert, inorganic geological material

() Organic material of natural origin

(g) Bulky items primarily comprising iron, steel concrete and similarly dunharmful materials
for which the concern is physical impact, and limited to the circumstances where such
wastes are generated at locations with no land-based alternatives

(h) Carbon dioxide streams from carbon dioxide capture processed for sequestration in sub-
seabed geological formations

SEC. 5. Prohibited Acts. ~ No person shall dump into the seawaters or transport for the
purpose of dumping into the seawaters, sewage sludge or industrial waste, unless such person has
obtained a permit issued by the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources which
authorizes such dumping and transportation.

The Secretary of Transportation and Communication shall not issue any permit under this
Act which authorizes a person to dump into the seawaters, or to transport for the purpose of
dumping into the seawaters, sewage sludge or industrial waste, unless that person was authorized
by a permit issued by him or by a court order to dump into the seawaters or to transport for the
purpose of dumping into ocean waters, sewage sludge or industrial wastes,

SEC. 6. Penalties. — The penalty of imprisonment of not less than six () months or a fine in
the amount of not less than one hundred thousand pesos (Php 100,000:00) or both, at the
discretion of the court, shall be imposed on any person who dumps into the seawaters, or
transports for the purpose of dumping into seawaters, sewage sludge or industrial waste. If the
offense is committed by a corporation, trust, firm, partnership, association or other entity, the
penalty shall be imposed upon the guilty officer or officers of such corporation, trust, firm,
Partnership or association or other entity.

‘SEC. 7. Enforcement Monitoring Report. — The Secretary of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Transportation
and Communications, shall submit a report to Congress. The report shall contain an accounting
of discharges into the seawaters of the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, and the ocean
including:

(@) the total number of discharges;

(b) the location, source, volume, and potential environmental effects of each discharge;

(©) the date of original issuance, review, and reissuance of each discharge permit;

(@) the number of discharges including that which have been determined by the Secretary of

Environment and Natural Resources; .


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(©) a schedule for implementing this Act as expeditiously as practicable, and an estimate of
the resources required to meet such schedule; and

(© recommendations for any additional legislative authorities needed to achieve compliance
with such guidelines.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, such parts or portions not affected thereby shall remain in full force
and effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, issuances,
letters of instruction, administrative order, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. :
‘

Approved, ‘