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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1678
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution recognizes the need to protect and advance a balance and
healthful ecology in the country, especially for a country so rich in natural resources.
However, despite having one of the richest marine sanctuaries in the world, the
country lacks environmental policies that tackle the preservation of this resource.
This is especially alarming as Filipinos heavily rely on seawaters and marine life as
an economic resource.

This bill intends to address this lack of foresight in the protection of our environment
by prohibiting the dumping of sewage and industrial waste into Philippine seawaters.
The protection of our waters from pollution has become imperative.

Through the passage of this bill, the Secretary of Environment and Natural
Resources, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, is mandated to
report to Congress the comprehensive accounting of the discharges into waters of
our territorial sea, the contiguous zone and the ocean. This ensures that there is
check and balances in place in the implementation of this law, if passed

In the hopes that our natural resources are never again abused, this representation
earnestly seeks the approval of this bill

\Y” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Bhilippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1678

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE DUMPING OF SEWAGE SLUDGE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE
INTO SEA WATERS

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 “Anti-Sea Dumping Act of
2018”

SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to promote
the natural balance of the environment for the protection of human health and safety.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall be
construed to mean as follows:

a. Alternative System — means any method for the management of sewage sludge
or industrial waste which does not require a permit under this Act;
b. Excluded Material - means
a. Any dredged material discharged by the Philippine Marine Corps of
Engineers or discharged pursuant to a permit issued by the Secretary of
Environment and Natural Resources;
b. Any waste from any industrial operation located in the Philippines
discharged pursuant to a permit issued by the Secretary of Environment
and Natural Resources.


c. Industrial Waste —- means any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste generated by a
manufacturing or processing plant other than an excluded material;
d. Interim Measure - means any short-term method for the management of
sewage sludge or industrial waste which:
a. Is used before implementation of an alternative system; and
b. Does not require permit under this Act.
e. Sewage Sludge — means any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste generated by a
wastewater treatment plant, other than an excluded material.

SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts. - No person shall dump into sea waters or transport
for the purpose of dumping into sea water sewage sludge or industrial waste unless
said person has obtained a permit issued by the Secretary of Environment and Natural
Resources authorizing the transportation and dumping of said sewage sludge or
industrial waste.

The Secretary of Transportation shall not issue any permit under this Act which
authorizes a person to dump into ocean waters, or to transport for the purpose of
dumping into sea waters, sewage sludge or industrial waste, unless that person was
authorized by @ permit issued by him or by a court order to dump into sea waters or to.

transport for the purpose of dumping into ocean waters sewage sludge or industrial
waste.

SECTION 5. Penalties. ~ Any person who dumps into ocean waters for transports for
the purpose of dumping into ocean waters, sewage sludge or industrial waste shall be
liable in the amount of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00)
or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months or both upon discretion of the court. If
the offence is committed by a corporation, trust, firm, partnership or association, or
other entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the guilty officer or officers of such
corporation, trust, firm, partnership or association or entity.

SECTION 6. Enforcement Monitoring Report. - Not later than six (6) months after
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Transportation,
shall submit a report to Congress. The report under this section shall contain an


accounting of the discharges into waters of the territorial sea, the contiguous zone and
the ocean indicating:

a. The total number of discharges;

b. The location, source, volume, and potential environmental effects of each
discharge;

c. The date of original issuance, review and reissuance of each discharge permit;

d. The date of discharges that have been determined by the Secretary of
Environment and Natural Resources;

e. A schedule for implementing this Act and achieving compliance with the
guidelines promulgated hereunder as expeditiously as practicable, and an
estimate of the resources required to meet such schedule; and

f, Recommendations for any additional legislative authorities needed to achieve
compliance with such guidelines

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared

unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this
Act.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or
other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause, - This Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after
publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,