Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 2679 
Introduced by Honorable ALFONSO V. UMALI JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to declare the Verde Island Passage as 
Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Eco-Tourism Zone. 
The Province of Oriental Mindoro is bestowed with various 
natural aquatic treasures, one of which is known as the “Verde 
Island.” Meanwhile, the “Verde Island Passage,” which is about 
one hundred (100) kilometers in length and about twenty (20) 
kilometers across its narrowest point, accomodates spectacular 
reef formations of more than three (300) species of corals and 
underwater rock canyons and serve as home to more than half of 
the world’s known shore fish species. As such, the Verde Island 
Passage has been described as the “Center of the World’s Marine 
Biodiversity.” 
Cognizant of its potential for eco-tourism development, 
being an economic pump-primer, and, more importantly, the 
indubitable urgency of protecting, conserving and promoting the 
sustainable use of the Verde Island Passage, the undersigned 
strongly recommend the enactment of this bill. 
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ALFONSO V. UMALI, JR. 
Representative  
 Second District, Oriental Mindoro 
July 30, 2025
4:04 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 2679 
Introduced by Honorable ALFONSO V. UMALI JR. 
AN ACT 
DECLARING THE VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE  
AS MARINE PROTECTED AREA AND AN ECO-TOURISM ZONE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1.   Statement of Policy.  – It is hereby declared 
the policy of the State to protect its natural resources and to 
promote sustainable tourism industry. Towards this end, the 
State shall formulate effective strategies to conserve our 
resources and to rationalize all efforts pertaining to environment 
protection while creating an enabling eco-tourism industry 
especially in the countryside. 
SECTION 2.  Declaration. -  The Verde Island Passage is 
hereby declared as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Eco-
tourism Zone. Accordingly, it shall be subject to the rules and 
regulations governing MPAs and Eco-Tourism Zones.  
SECTION 3.   Marine Protected Area and Eco-tourism 
Master Plan. – The Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR), in coordination with the Department of 
Tourism, the concerned Local Government Units, and with other 
concerned offices and agencies of the government, shall 
formulate and prepare the “Marine Protected Area and Eco-
tourism Master Plan” (MPAEMP) for the Verde Island Passage 
within a year from the approval of this Act, and to strengthen the 
existing local structural frameworks for support and cooperation 
to facilitate smooth implementation of the MPAEMP. 


SECTION 4. Appropriation. – The amount necessary to 
carry out the provisions of this Act shall be taken from the 
appropriation of the General Appropriations Act of the year 
following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. – Should any provision 
herein be declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the 
validity of other provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, 
rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with Act are 
hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect 
fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a 
newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved.