Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There have been several reports on toxic wastes being dumped in the country in the 
past twenty years. This includes the well-publicized containers of mislabeled rubbish, 
actually containing mixed household wastes from Canada in 2013 and the “assorted 
electronic accessories” that were actually electronic wastes from Hong Kong in 2019. 
EcoWaste Coalition and Greenpeace believe that many other cases of illegal entry 
and importation of wastes happen without the knowledge of the authorities. Also, this 
situation of being a dumping site for first world countries is not unique to the 
Philippines. It is estimated that between 400,000 and 1 million people die each year in 
developing countries because of diseases caused by mismanaged waste. 
In accordance with our Constitutional right to a healthful ecology, this proposed 
measure establishes a total ban on the importation of waste, processed waste and its 
by-products.  
This is to prevent future incidents of waste shipments from abroad and send and 
message internationally that the Philippines is not a dumpsite for their wastes. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
May 23, 2023
5:18 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A TOTAL BAN ON THE IMPORTATION OF WASTES, 
PROVIDING MEANS FOR ITS ENFORCEMENT, APPROPRIATIONS AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
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 "Total Ban on the 
Importation of Wastes Act".   
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is State policy to protect and advance the right of 
the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony 
of nature. It is hereby declared a policy of the State to prohibit the entry and importation 
of wastes to the Philippine territory for whatever purpose to ensure environmental 
integrity and sustainability, protect public health and safety, and promote the overall 
wellbeing of the Filipino people. 
Sec. 3. Total Ban on Importation of Wastes, Processed Wastes and Waste By-
Products. – It is hereby declared illegal for any person, group of persons, business, 
corporate entity or government office, to import, for use, treatment, processing, 
recycling, storage, or whatever purpose, any form and whatever amount of waste, 
processed waste materials, waste by-products, whether organic or inorganic, and in 
whatever form whether solid, liquid, liquefied, gaseous, or mixture of substances. 
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Imported cargoes declared as wastes or misdeclared to conceal the true waste cargo 
or smuggled into the country shall not be offloaded from any transport vessel and shall 
be immediately ordered by port authorities to depart from the port and return the illegal 
cargo to its port of origin, with all costs borne by the shipper. 
 
The Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Department of Foreign 
Affairs, the Bureau of Customs, and Maritime Industry Authority, shall take control of 
the seized vessel, hire the services of competent and properly certified officers and 
crew, and return the seized vessel to the port of origin of the contraband waste cargo.  
 
Sec. 4. Environmental Protection Desk at All Ports of Entry. – To enable the proper 
front line enforcement of this Act, the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources, Department of Finance and the Department of Transportation shall jointly 
establish an Environmental Protection Desk at every port of entry in the country to be 
manned twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week by competent and 
adequately trained personnel. 
 
Sec. 5. Penalties. – The relevant penal provisions of environmental and customs law. 
Including but not limited to the following laws shall apply as penalties to violations of 
this Act: 
a)  
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 9003); 
b) 
Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act No. 8749); 
c) 
Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275); 
d) 
Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990 
(Republic Act No. 6969); and 
e) 
Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (Republic Act No. 10863). Transport 
vessels which refuse to comply with the lawful orders of port authorities to 
immediately depart and not to offload the imported contraband waste cargo 
shall be seized and all its officers, crew, contraband shipment consignee shall 
be immediately arrested for violation of this Act and of customs and 
environment protection laws. 
 


 
The shipper of the imported contraband waste cargo shall be immediately and 
permanently banned from shipping or causing the transport of any cargo to the 
Philippines. 
 
The Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act shall include other penalties and 
fines as may be deemed necessary. 
 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Departments of Transportation, 
Environment and Natural Resources, Finance, Justice, and Foreign Affairs shall jointly 
craft, adopt, and execute the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act within 
sixty (60) days from its enactment into law. 
 
Sec. 7. Appropriations. – The annual budget necessary to implements this Act shall 
be included in the regular annual general appropriations. 
 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
 
Sec. 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 provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly. 
 
 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,