TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 jiJL-7 PI 34
S. No.
SENATE
224
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE PRESERVATION, REFORESTATION, AFFORESTATION, 
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MANGROVE FORESTS IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines faces an alarming rate of mangrove destruction, losing 50% of 
its mangrove cover since 2018. While historical data cited 500,000 hectares, recent 
estimates from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and ongoing monitoring suggest 
that the country's mangroves are now significantly depleted, impacting vital 
ecosystems.1
Globally, mangrove forests are disappearing at a rate of three to five times 
higher than average deforestation rates,2 with Southeast Asia alone losing 628 square 
kilometers annually in recent decades.3
Mangroves are indispensable. They are crucial for food security, supporting 
approximately 75% of commercial fish species during part of their lifecycle,4 providing
1 Rappler, Mangroves are PH's best shield i« climate change, Published on 02 October 2013, Available at 
https;//www.rappler.com/science-nature/40420-ph-mangroves-dimate-change, Accessed on June 30, 2025.
2 UNEP, Mangrove in the Spotlight, Published on 25 July 2017, Available at https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and- 
stories/story/mangroves-spotlight. Accessed on June 30, 2025.
3 Rappler, Ibid.
^ UNEP, Ibid.


essential forest products, and serving as natural buffers against storm surges, 
tsunamis, and coastal erosion.5 Furthermore, these "blue carbon" ecosystems 
sequester vast amounts of carbon estimated at 22.8 million tons annually,6 playing a 
critical role in climate mitigation.
Human-induced threats including unsustainable aquaculture, illegal logging, 
pollution and coastal development, continue to imperil these vital habitats.7 
Interventions from government agencies and non-governmental organizations focus 
on rehabilitation and protection of mangroves but it is crucial to establish a 
consolidated legal framework to fully implement essential interventions.
This legislation aims to strengthen these efforts by promoting the preservation, 
reforestation, afforestation, and sustainable development of the country's mangrove 
forests. It also proposes the establishment of the National and Local Councils for the 
Preservation of Mangrove Forests to lead the implementation of comprehensive 
programs and policies, ensuring the long-term survival of this invaluable natural 
resource.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
FRANC!
^ANGILINAN
SENATOR
5 The Maritime Review, Mangrove forests In the Philippines, Pubiished on 22 November 2017, Avaiiabie at 
https://maribmereview.ph/2017/ll/22/mangrove-forests-in-the-phiiippines/. Accessed on June 30, 2025.
6 UNEP, Ibid.
7 The Maribme Review, Ibid.


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25
SENATE
s. No. 224
-7 PI 34
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE PRESERVATION, REFORESTATION, AFFORESTATION, 
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MANGROVE FORESTS IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "NationalMangrove Forest
2 
Protection and Preservation Act of2025."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
4 
protect and preserve the country's natural resources. Towards this end, the
5 
preservation, reforestation, afforestation, and sustainable development of the
6 
mangrove forests shall be pursued through the establishment of reservation areas
7 
exclusively for mangrove trees.
8 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act;
9 
a) Afforestation refers to the establishment of a mangrove forest in an area
10 
that did not carry such forest within the pasty fifty (50) years or within
11 
living memory;
12 
b) Coastal area refers to the band of dry land and adjacent ocean space (water
13 
and submerged land) in which terrestrial processes and uses directly affect
14 
oceanic processes and uses and vice versa; its geographic extent may
15 
include areas within a landmark limit of one (1) kilometer from the shoreline
16 
at high tide to include mangrove swamps, brackish water ponds, nipa


1 
swamps, estuarine rives, sandy beaches, and other areas within a seaward
2 
limit of two hundred (200) meters isobath to include coral reefs, algae flats,
3 
seagrass beds, and other soft bottom areas;
4 
c) Mangrove forest to a type of forest occurring on a tidal flat along the
5 
sea coast, extending along streams where the water is brackish;
6 
d) Reservation area refers to the portion of coastal areas which have been set
7 
aside exclusively for reforestation, 
afforestation, conservation, and
8 
preservation purposes; and
9 
e) Reforestation refers to the planting of mangrove trees along the denuded
10 
coastal areas.
11 
Sec. 4. Estabiishment of Mangrove Reservation Areas. - There shall be
12 
established and set aside in all coastal areas in each municipality within the Philippine
13 
portions of land solely for the preservation, protection, reforestation, afforestation,
14 
and sustainable management of mangrove forests. All existing mangrove forests shall
15 
automatically form part of the reservation areas.
16 
Sec. 5. Estabiishment of the Nationai Councii for the Preservation of Mangrove
17 
Forest. - There is hereby established a National Council for the Preservation of
18 
Mangrove Forests, hereinafter referred to as the National Council, which shall be an
19 
attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
20 
The National Council shall be composed of twelve (12) members consisting of:
21 
1) The Secretary of the DENR who shall act as Chairman;
22 
2) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) who shall act as Vice-
23 
Chairman;
24 
3) The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
25 
(DILG);
26 
4) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
27 
5) The Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority
28 
(NEDA);
29 
6) The Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR);
30 
7) The Director of the Forest Management Bureau (FMB);
31 
8) The Director of the Ecosystem and Research Development Bureau;


1 
9) The Administrator of the National Mapping and Resources Information
2 
Authority;
3 
10) A representative from the academe to be appointed by the President of the
4 
Philippines;
5 
11) A representative from the research institutions conducting researches on
6 
sustainable mangrove forest management to be appointed by the President
7 
of the Philippines; and
8 
12) A representative from an accredited non-government organization (NGO)
9 
conducting programs on sustainable mangrove forest management to be
10 
appointed by the President of the Philippines.
11 
Sec. 6. Powers and Functions of the National Q}uncH. - The National Council
12 
shall have the following powers and functions:
13 
a) To review existing relevant policies and conducts studies on mangrove
14 
forest and its preservation;
15 
b) To prepare a comprehensive program for the preservation, reforestation;
16 
afforestation, and sustainable development of mangrove forests;
17 
c) To establish the guidelines in identifying the areas to be declared as
18 
mangrove forest reservations;
19 
d) To Identify and delineate the boundaries of coastal areas which shall form
20 
part of the mangrove reservation areas;
21 
e) To exercise control and supervision over all the local councils; and
22 
f) To promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to carry out the
23 
provisions of this Act.
24 
Sec. 7. The Local Council for the Preservation of Mangrove Forests. - A local
25 
council for the preservation of mangrove forests, hereinafter referred to as the Local
26 
Council, shall be established in each of the municipalities where a mangrove
27 
reservation area has been identified. Each Local Council shall be chaired by the
28 
Regional Executive Director of the DENR under whose jurisdiction the reservation area
29 
is located, with the following members: (a) a representative of the municipal
30 
government concerned; (b) a representative each from the barangays under whose
31 
territory the reservation area is located; (c) a representative from an accredited NGO;
32 
and (d) a representative from the private sector.


1 
Sec. 8. The Powers and Functions of the Local Council. - The Local Council shall
2 
have the following powers and functions:
3 
1) To implement and enforce all the programs and policies laid down by the
4 
National Council;
5 
2) To carry out the general administration and day-to-day planning of the
6 
program;
7 
3) To secure the mangrove reservation area from illegal and destructive
8 
activities which would endanger the successful implementation and viability
9 
of the program; and
10 
4) To perform such other powers and functions as may be designated by the
11 
National Council.
12 
In order to secure the mangrove reservation area from illegal and destructive
13 
activities, the Local Council and the local government, under whose jurisdiction the
14 
reservation area is located, shall employ the services of forest guards who shall be
15 
tasked with the responsibility to guard and police the areas. They shall have the
16 
authority to arrest those caught violating the provisions of this Act and the rules and
17 
regulations issued pursuant thereto.
18 
In the event that any of the forest guards are found to be guilty of nonfeasance,
19 
misfeasance or malfeasance, the forest guard or guards concerned and the officials of
20 
the Local Council and the local government, by virtue of the principle of command
21 
responsibility, shall be held liable for such violations and shall be prosecuted in
22 
accordance with the provisions of this Act, without prejudice to any liability provided
23 
for under existing laws of the country.
24 
Sec. 9. Prohibited Acts. - The following acts are hereby prohibited within the
25 
mangrove reservation areas:
26 
a) Cutting, uprooting or destroying any mangrove tree;
27 
b) Dumping of waste;
28 
c) Construction or reclamation activity;
29 
d) Illegal fishing activities that will result in the damage and/or destruction of
30 
the mangrove forest; and
31 
e) Other acts or activities that will result in the damage and/or destruction of
32 
the mangrove forest.


1 
Sec. 10. Penalties. - Any person, natural or juridical, found guilty of violating any
2 
provision of this Act or the rules and regulations issued by the National Council shall,
3 
after due notice and public hearing by the regular courts of competent jurisdiction, be
4 
fined in the amount of not less than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP200,000.00)
5 
but not more than One Million Pesos (PhPl,000,000.00) or imprisonment of not less
6 
than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years, or both, at the discretion of the
7 
court: Provided, That if the area requires rehabilitation or restoration as determined
8 
by the court, the offender shall also be required to restore or compensate for the
9 
restoration of the damage.
10 
If the offender is an association or corporation, the president or manager and
11 
the officer who has direct knowledge over the offense shall be held liable under this
12 
Act.
13 
Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
14 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in
15 
full force and effect.
16 
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, administrative orders,
17 
and rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
18 
accordingly.
19 
Sec. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
20 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
21 
circulation.
Approved,