FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 9 9 3  
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 16 provides: 
The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a 
balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of 
nature. 
The beaches and coastal recreation water of our country are valuable public 
Unfortunately, increased population and urbanization of watershed areas have 
contributed to the decline in the environmental quality of coastal water. Unless concrete 
measures are taken, our beaches and coastal recreation water will continue to deteriorate. 
This bill seeks to improve the quality of beaches and coastal recreation water by 
resources that are used for recreation by millions of people annually. 
adopting consistent criteria that would enhance public health and safety. 
MANNYVI LAR 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF BEACHES AND COASTAL RECREATION 
WATER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled. 
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SECTION I. 
Short title- This Act shall be known as the "Beaches Environmental 
Assessment, Closure, and Health Act". 
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and beaches 
SECTION 2. Purposes - The purpose of this Act is to require uniform criteria and 
procedures for testing, monitoring, and notifying users of public coastal recreation water 
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(1) To protect public safety; and 
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(2) To improve environmental quality. 
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SECTION 3. Definitions - In this Act -- 
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(1) COASTAL RECREATION WATER- The term 'coastal recreation water' 
means water adjacent to public beaches and marine coastal water (including bays, 
lagoon mouths, and coastal estuaries within the tidal zone) used by the public for 
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(A) swimming; 
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(B) bathing; 


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(C) surfing; or 
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(D) other similar body contact purposes. 
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(2) FLOATABLE MATERIALS- The term ' floatable materials' means any foreign 
matter that may float or remain suspended in water, including 
(A) plastic; 
(8) aluminum cans; 
(C) wood; 
(D) bottles; 
(E) paper products; and 
(F) fishing gear. 
SECTION 4. Adoption of coastal recreational water quality criteria - 
(a) IN GENERAL- Not later than 3 years and 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources shall adopt water quality criteria for coastal recreation water 
(b) DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA- Water quality criteria described in 
subsection (a) shall be developed and promulgated in accordance with existing 
environmental laws and policies. 
SECTION 5. Water quality criteria revision - 
(a) STUDIES- Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
after consultation with appropriate officials (including local health officials) and other 
interested persons, the secretary shall conduct studies to provide new information for 
use in developing-- 


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(1) A more complete list of potential human health risks from inhalation, 
ingestion, or body contact with coastal recreation water, including effects on the upper 
respiratory system: 
(2) Appropriate and effective indicators for improving direct detection of the 
presence of pathogens found harmful to human health in coastal recreational water; 
(3) Appropriate, accurate, and expeditious methods (including predictive models) 
for detecting the presence of pathogens in coastal recreation water that are harmful to 
human health: and 
(4) Guidance for the application of the criteria issued under subsection (b) to 
account for the diversity of geographic and aquatic conditions throughout the country. 
(b) REVISED CRITERIA- Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, based on the results of the studies conducted under subsection (a), the 
secretary, after consultation with appropriate officials (including local health officials) 
and other interested patties, shall-- 
(I) 
Issue revised water quality criteria for pathogens in coastal recreation water 
that are harmful to human health, including a revised list of indicators and testing 
methods; and 
(2) Not less than once every 5 years thereafter, review and revise the water 
quality criteria. 
SECTION 6. Coastal beach water quality monitoring 
(a) MONITORING: 
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than I year and 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations requiring monitoring by the 
department of public coastal recreation water and beaches for 


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(A) Compliance with applicable water quality criteria; and 
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(B) Maintenance of public safety. 
(2) CONTENTS OF REQUIREMENTS- Monitoring requirements established 
under this section shall specify, at a minimum 
(A) Available monitoring methods to be used; 
(B) The frequency and location of monitoring based on 
(i) The periods of recreational use of coastal recreation water and beaches; 
(ii) The extent and degree of recreational use during the periods described in clause (i); 
(iii) The proximity of coastal recreation water to known or identified point and non-point 
sources of pollution; and 
(iv) The relationship between the use of public recreation water and beaches to storm 
events; 
(C) Methods for 
(i) Detecting levels of pathogens that are harmful to human health; and 
(ii) Identifying short-term increases in pathogens that are harmful to human health in 
coastal recreation water, including the relationship of short-term increases in pathogens 
to storm events; and 
(D) Conditions and procedures under which discrete areas of coastal recreation 
water maybe exempted by the secretary from the monitoring requirements under this 
subsection, if the Secretary determines that an exemption will not-- 
(i) Impair compliance with the applicable water quality criteria for that water; and 
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(ii) Compromise public safety. 


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(b) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS 
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(1) IN GENERAL- Regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall require 
provinces to provide prompt notification of a failure or the likelihood of a failure to meet 
applicable water quality criteria for provincial coastal recreation water, to 
(A) Local governments; 
(B) The public: and 
(C) The secretary: 
(2). INFORMATION INCLUDED IN NOTIFICATION- Notification under this 
subsection shall require, at a minimum- 
(A) The prompt communication of the occurrence, nature, extent, and location of, 
and substances (including pathogens) involved in, a failure or immediate likelihood of a 
failure to meet water quality criteria, to a designated official of a local government 
having jurisdiction over land adjoining the coastal recreation water for which the failure 
or imminent failure to meet water quality criteria is identified; and 
(B) The posting of signs, during the period in which water quality criteria are not 
met continues, that are sufficient to give notice to the public 
(i) Of a failure to meet applicable water quality criteria for the water: and 
(ii) The potential risks associated with water contact activities in the water. 
(c) REVIEW AND REVISION OF REGULATIONS- Periodically, but not less than 
once every 5 years, the secretary shall review and make any necessary revisions to 
regulations promulgated under this section. 
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(d) IMPLEMENTATION 


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(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 3 years and 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, each province shall implement a monitoring and notification program that 
conforms to the regulations promulgated under subsections (a) and (b). 
(2) REVISION OF PROGRAM- Not later than 2 years after the date of publication 
of any revisions by the secretary under subsection (c), each province shall revise the 
program established under paragraph (1) to incorporate the revisions. 
(e) GUIDANCE; DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITY- 
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year and 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this title, the secretary shall issue guidance establishing-- 
(A) Core performance measures for testing, monitoring, and notification 
programs under this section; and 
(B) The delegation of testing, monitoring, and notification programs under this 
section to local government authorities. 
(2) DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITY TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS- If a 
responsibility described in paragraph (I)(B) is delegated by a province to a local 
government authority, or is delegated to a local government authority before the date of 
enactment of this section, resources, including grants made, shall be made available to 
the delegated authority for the purpose of implementing the delegated program in a 
manner that is consistent with the guidance issued by the secretary. 
(9 FLOATABLE MATERIALS MONITORING; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Not 
later than 1 year and 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the secretary 
shall- 
(1) Provide technical assistance for uniform assessment and monitoring 
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procedures for floatable materials in coastal recreation water: and 


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(2) Specify the conditions under which the presence of floatable material shall 
constitute a threat to public health and safety. 
(9) OCCURRENCE DATABASE- The secretary shall establish, maintain, and 
make available to the public by electronic and other means-- 
(1) A national coastal recreation water pollution occurrence database using 
reliable information, including the information reported under subsection (b); and 
(2) A listing of communities conforming to the regulations promulgated under 
subsections (a) and (b). 
SECTION 7. Report to Congress- Not later than 4 years after the date of the 
enactment of this title and periodically thereafter, the secretary shall submit to Congress 
a report that contains- 
(1) Recommendations concerning the need for additional water quality criteria 
and other actions that are necessary to improve the quality of coastal recreation water; 
and 
(2) An evaluation of efforts to implement this Act. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION IO. Effectivity Clause- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.