FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 991 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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clUL -8 P I :29 
In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development 
(UNCED) met to consider the interlinked problems of environment and development, 
and to propose principles and means by which nations and the international community 
could pursue development paths that were more sustainable. Agenda 21, the action 
plan of UNCED, stressed the importance of developing National Sustainable 
Developmen't Strategies (NSDS) as a mechanism for arriving at concrete poliCies and 
actions that help countries move towards sustainable development, and which help 
them to meet the commitments and principles agreed at UNCED. In 1994 the UN Global 
Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States was 
held in Barbados and set out a program of action for small islands to implement Agenda 
21. 
This legislative measure seeks to embody the principles of sustainable 
development, economic growth, environmental protection, community development and 
involvement, and institutional strengthening into the policy framework of our 
environmental laws in the country. This proposed measure seeks to regulate the 
development and management of small islands in the Philippines and provide for a 
comprehensive program on the use, development, management, and conservation of 
small islands in the country whose area does not exceed 50,000 hectares. 
Moreover, this measure seeks to reduce the vulnerability of small islands to 
natural hazards, preserve socio-cultural and ecological integrity, address conflicts in 
jurisdiction among agencies, and determine the scale of development in relation to 
limitations in resources such as water and coastal resources. As such, a Small Island 
Development and Management Board (SIDMB) will be established to formulate and 
update rules and regulations on the use and development of small islands, consistent 
with other environmental laws. The said board will be tasked with the duty of ensuring 
the protection of small islands covered by RA 7586, known as the National Integrated 
Protected Areas System (Nipas) Act of 1992, as well as other areas outside Nipas 
considered as critical and ecologically fragile. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
~-.... 
Senator 


, 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
991 
S. No. _--..:~ 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
1 0 JUL -[j P 1 :?9 
REGULATING THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF SMALL 
ISLANDS IN .THE PHILIPPINES 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 "Small Islands 
Development and Management Act of 2010". 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. -
It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to ensure the sustainable use, development, management and conservation of 
the country's small islands, including the protection and enhancement of the quality of 
the small islands for the present and future generations, under the principles of viable, 
sound and broad-based economic development, ecological soundness, social equity 
and sustainability. 
SEC. 3. 
, 
Coverage. - In accordance with the aforesaid policy, this Act shall 
regulate the use, development, management and conservation of small islands, as well 
as the activities which impact the said resource. 
This Act shall cover the islands of the Republic of the Philippines that fall under 
the definition of a small island as described in Section 5(e) hereof. 
SEC. 4. 
Framework. - This Act shall embody the principles of sustainable 
development, tourism development, economic growth, environmental protection, 
community development and involvement, and institutional strengthening. 
Its management framework shall include: 
(a) 
inventory and assessment of prevailing conditions and resources of small 
islands; 
(b) 
evaluation of carrying capacity; 
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(c) 
identification of conflicts in resource use; 
(d) 
integration of horizontal and vertical plans; 
(e) 
adaptation to climate change; 
(f) 
disaster preparedness; 
(g) 
review and monitoring of development initiatives/resource development 
and utilization of small islands; and 
(h) 
capacity-building and active stakeholder participation. 
SEC. 5. 
defined: 
Definition of Terms. - Under this Act, the following are hereby 
(a) 
"Alienable and disposable lands (A and OJ" refers to lands of the 
public domain which have been classified and declared as such and 
available for disposition under commonwealth Act No. 141, as amended, 
otherwise known as the "Public Land act". 
(b) 
"Carrying capacity" refers to the number of individuals who can be 
supported in a given area within natural resource limits and without 
degrading the natural, social, cultural and economic environment for 
present and future generations. 
(c) 
"Development activities" refers to activities that involve all forms of 
improvement, construction or enhancement of land and other resources 
within the islands or island groups that would likely impact the 
environment. 
(d) 
"Ecological destination" refers to a site that shows a unique feature of a 
landscape that benefits people because of its aesthetic, recreational and 
scientific value. 
(e) 
"Small islands" refers to pieces of land completely surrounded by water 
in two (2) dimensions, above high tide and isolated from other land 
masses which have an area of not more than fifty thousand (50, 000) 
hectares. 
(f) 
"Sustainable development" refers to the development objective of 
meeting the needs and aspirations of the present generation of Filipinos 
without compromising the capabilities and opportunities of future 
generations to fulfill theirs, consistent with the principles of social equity, 
efficiency and environmental integrity. 
(g) 
"Tourism development areas" refers to specific sites for tourism 
development located in areas identified as priorities in the national and 
, 
. regional tourism master plans as well as those designated through 
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legislative and executive issuances as tourist spots and tourist zones 
which can be developed into tourism estates or integrated resort, leisure 
and recreation complexes, and other tourism-related facilities. 
SEC. 6. 
Creation of the Small Islands Development and Management 
Board (510MB). - Upon the effectivity of this Act, the Small Islands Development and 
Management Board shall be created in provinces that have small islands as part of their 
territorial jurisdiction to exercise their powers and functions as stated in Section 8 
hereof. 
SEC. 7. 
Composition 
of 
the 
Small 
Islands 
Development 
and 
Management Board. - The Board shall be headed by the governor of the province who 
shall serve as the chairman of the Board, with the following representatives who shall 
serve as members: 
(a) 
The city or municipal mayor where shall islands are within the said 
official's territorial jurisdiction; 
(b) 
A representative from the Department of Tourism (DOT) 
(c) 
A representative from the National Economic and Development Authority 
(NEDA) 
(d) 
A representative from the Department of Environmental and Natural 
Resources (DENR); and 
(e) 
Two (2) representatives from the local sectors which are affected by 
regulations and development initiatives in the island. 
SEC. 8. 
Powers and Functions of the Board. -
The SIDMB shall be 
guided by the framework stated in Section 4 hereof and shall have the following powers 
and functions: 
(a) 
Formulate and update the rules and regulations on the utilization and 
development of small islands; 
(b) 
Integrate and harmonize all laws and poliCies relevant to small island use; 
(c) 
Regulate the approval of development activities in order to maintain the 
carrying capacity of a small islands as mentioned in Section 5(b) hereof; 
(d) 
Ensure the protection of a small islands covered by Republic Act No. 
7586, otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas 
System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 and other areas outside NIPAS which 
include protection forests, rehabilitated and/or reforested degraded mining 
areas, critical ecosystems, environmentally-constrained areas, critical 
watershed areas and all agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile; 
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(e) 
Ensure that the regulations will be consistent with other environmental 
laws; and 
(f) 
Approve and oversee the implementation of site specific work plans, 
action plans and programs consistent with the framework. 
SEC. 9. 
Quorum. -
A majority of all the members of the Board shall 
constitute a quorum. The Board shall not transact business without a quorum. 
SEC: 10. 
Separability Clause. -
The provisions of this Act are hereby 
declared separable and, in the event that one (1) or more of such provisions are held 
unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected. 
SEC. 11. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive issuances, rules 
and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 12. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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