Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2203 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative ANTONINO B. ROMAN III 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Across the country, floods have become more intense and frequent -- from the 
plains of Cagayan Valley to the low-lying towns of Eastern Visayas, from urban 
esteros in Metro Manila to riverbanks in Butuan, Marikina, and Davao, and from the 
floodplains of Albay, Isabela, Leyte, Capiz, and Agusan del Sur to coastal settlements 
in BARMM. One major reason is that natural water retention systems -- like wetlands, 
mangroves, and river easements -- are disappearing. Illegal settlements, unregulated 
construction, and lack of enforcement have turned natural flood buffers into 
bottlenecks that worsen inundation. 
This bill empowers Local Government Units (LGUs) to enforce existing laws 
requiring easements along waterways and to inventory and rehabilitate degraded 
wetlands. It gives local governments not just the mandate, but the means -- by 
allowing them to use Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) funds, 
access national assistance, and receive priority infrastructure support. By restoring 
natural drainage paths and maintaining legal buffer zones, we reduce the need for 
expensive engineering solutions and protect both lives and property. 
The measure reinforces, rather than duplicates, existing mandates under the 
Water Code (PD 1067), Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 
(RA 10121), and the Climate Change Act (RA 9729). It provides LGUs with tools and 
incentives, not penalties. And it uses current institutional capacities and funding 
channels. 
This measure is part of the Flood Resilience Legislative Package of 2025, a 
three-part reform strategy designed to transform how the Philippines anticipates, 
funds, and prevents flooding. Alongside this bill, the package includes: the National 
Flood Risk Governance and Data Integration Act, which consolidates flood-related 
data and mandates coordinated governance; and the Flood Resilience Incentive and 
Performance Fund Act, which provides targeted and accountable funding support to 
LGUs. Together, these bills aim to modernize flood governance, empower LGUs, and 
restore natural defenses across all regions of the country. 
July 23, 2025
8:37 am


Immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ANTONINO B. ROMAN III 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2203 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative ANTONINO B. ROMAN III 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTION, RESTORATION, AND 
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF URBAN WETLANDS, COASTAL 
FLOOD BUFFERS, AND WATERWAY EASEMENTS TO REDUCE FLOOD 
RISK, PROVIDING MECHANISMS AND FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Title. -- This Act shall be known as the “Urban Wetlands and Easement 
Protection Act of 2025.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. -- It is the policy of the State to protect and restore 
natural water retention systems such as wetlands, riverbanks, mangroves, and urban 
drainage easements as a first line of defense against urban flooding. The State shall 
ensure that these natural and legal buffers are preserved, rehabilitated, and integrated 
into land use and infrastructure planning. 
Section 3. Objectives. -- This Act aims to: 
a.
Prevent encroachment into wetlands, river easements, and urban floodways;
b. Mandate the inventory and mapping of natural flood retention areas within all
urban Local Government Units (LGUs);
c.
Support the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded wetlands and easements;
and
d. Provide LGUs with clear legal authority and tools to enforce easement and
buffer zone regulations.


 
Section 4. Definition of Terms. –  
 
a. “Urban Wetlands” refer to natural or semi-natural areas such as ponds, lakes, 
floodplains, marshes, and mangroves in or adjacent to urban and peri-urban 
areas that temporarily or permanently hold water. 
 
b. “Easement” refers to the mandatory clearance zones along rivers, esteros, 
creeks, and other waterways, as defined in the Water Code of the Philippines 
(PD 1067): 3 meters in urban areas, 20 meters in agricultural areas, and 40 
meters in forested areas. 
 
c. “Encroachment” means the unauthorized occupation, fencing, or construction 
of any structure within the legally required easement or flood buffer zone. 
 
Section 5. Urban Wetlands and Easement Inventory. -- All cities and 
municipalities shall, within one year from the effectivity of this Act: 
 
a. Conduct an inventory and mapping of wetlands, easements, and natural 
floodways within their jurisdictions; 
 
b. Identify areas for protection, rehabilitation, or reforestation; and 
 
c. Submit the inventory to Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the 
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) for 
integration into national planning. 
 
 
In coastal urban areas, the inventory shall also include mangroves and tidal 
wetlands, with corresponding restoration and protection plans, in partnership with 
barangays and coastal communities. 
 
Section 6. Easement Enforcement Mechanism. -- LGUs shall be empowered to: 
 
a. Issue notices of violation to encroachers; 
 
b. Order summary removal of informal or illegal structures, subject to due 
process, including notice, consultation, and compliance with applicable laws, 
such as the Urban Development and Housing Act (RA 7279), where 
applicable; 
 
c. Where informal settlements are affected, coordinate with the DHSUD, 
National Housing Authority (NHA), and other concerned agencies to facilitate 
relocation or on-site upgrading consistent with RA 7279; 
 
d. Use their local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) funds for 
clearing, fencing, or greening of easements; and 
 
e. Partner with national agencies or civil society for rehabilitation projects. 
 


Section 7. Incentives for Compliance. -- LGUs that submit inventories and enforce 
easement protection shall be prioritized in the allocation of national infrastructure and 
resilience funds. They shall also be eligible for technical assistance grants through the 
DENR and DILG. 
 
Section 8. Appropriations. -- The amount of One Billion Pesos (Php 
1,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as initial funding for the implementation of 
this Act, to be administered by the DENR and DILG. 
 
 
The fund shall be allocated equitably across regions based on flood 
vulnerability, degree of easement degradation, and LGU capacity to implement. A 
portion of the fund shall be earmarked for technical assistance to low-capacity LGUs. 
 
Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -- Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the DENR and DILG shall, in coordination with the 
DHSUD and the Climate Change Commission, promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
 
 
The DENR and DILG shall ensure compliance monitoring and assist LGUs in 
enforcement, including technical and legal support. The DHSUD shall incorporate 
wetlands and easement guidelines into housing site planning and subdivision 
approvals. 
 
 
This Act shall be implemented in harmony with existing laws, including the 
Water Code (PD 1067), Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 
(RA 10121), and the Climate Change Act (RA 9729. LGUs shall incorporate wetlands 
and easement protection into their Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs), 
Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs), and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management Plans (LDRRMPs). 
 
Section 10. Reporting Requirements. -- The DENR and DILG shall submit an 
annual joint report to Congress on the implementation of this Act, including 
compliance rates, restoration accomplishments, fund utilization, and challenges 
encountered. Reports shall be made publicly available online. 
 
Section 11. Separability Clause. -- If any part or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall remain 
in full force and effect. 
 
Section 12. Repealing Clause. -- All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and 
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
Section 13. Effectivity. -- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
 
Approved,