Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3653

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA.
2™ District, locos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines has a total coastline of 36,289 kilometers or 22,548.94 miles.’ It
ranks third among sovereign countries or states with the longest coastline in Asia, next
to Indonesia and Russia, and fifth in the entire world.’ Considering the country’s
archipelagic nature, long coastlines and high plastic usage, the Philippines is one of
the primary sources of marine plastics globaily.

Despite the existence of environmental protection laws such as the Philippine
Clean Water Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the country ranks as
the third worst ocean polluter in the world.’ The lack of public participation in
environment protection is one of the reasons why environmental protection laws are
deemed insufficient.

Civil society engagement is key to achieving sustainable development and
environmental goals.‘ In order to protect and advance the right of the people to a
balanced and healthful ecology, public participation must therefore be encouraged.

International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day is considered the largest one-day
volunteer event to fight ocean trash. Since the Philippines joined this global initiative
in 1998, the country has consistently topped the ICC in terms of volunteer turnout,
and has been recognized the “cleanup capital of the world”.

Our annual participation in the ICC gave us the opportunity to make a difference
in a global movement to free coastal, marine environment and waterways of marine
litter or debris. It provided the people, private organizations and government the right
information to develop policies and solutions to our ocean trash problems.

+ Philatlas citing CIA World Factbook, Retrieved from https:// www philatas.com/philippines.html on September 17, 2020.

* PhilAtlas. Retrieved from https://www.philatlas.com/philippines.html on September 17, 2020.

* Greenpeace Philippines. 22 September 2017. Nestlé, Unilever, P&G among worst offenders for plastic pollution in Philippines
jn beach audit. Retrieved from hitpsi//wwwgreenpeace.org/philippines/press/1110/  nestle-unilever-pg-among- worst
-offenders-fo:plastic- pollution-in-philippines-in-beach-audit/ on September 17, 2020

* Berry, LH. etal. January 2019. Making space: how public participation shapes environmental decision-making, Stockholm
Environment institute Retrieved from https://www.se.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/
‘making-space-how-public-participation-shapes-environmental-decision-making.pdf on September 17, 2020

5 UN. Environment Programme. 16 September 2019. International Coastal Cleanup 2019. Retrieved from
|ntps://mww.unenvironment.org/cep/news/blogpost/international-coastalcleanup-2019 on September 17, 2020.

* Presidential Proclamation No. 470, S, 2003


Accordingly, this representation intends to institutionalize coastal cleanup in the
country so as not to limit cleanup activities into an annual event. It seeks a
whole-of-government and a whole-of-nation approach in establishing a National
Cleanup Program that would not only engage all concerned government agencies, local
government units, and environmental organizations, but most importantly the people
to actively participate in coastal cleanups for the preservation and conservation of our
coastal and marine environment.

It is important to note that, out of the country’s 81 provinces, 66 (or 81.48%) are
coastal.” Among the cities, those along the coast, 88 (or 60.69%) far outnumber the
landlocked ones (57).® Majority of the municipalities, too, are coastal ~ a total of 812
(or 54.53%).? Bearing in mind that great proportions of the provinces, cities, and
municipalities in the country are coastal, cleanup activities will help create a safer
environment for coastal communities. A safer environment boosts local economies.
Above all, we help protect our environment for future generations.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bills is earnestly sought.

ANGE! ‘COS BARBA

” PhilAtlas, Retrieved from https://www-philatlas.com/philippines.html on September 17, 2020.
* iia,
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3693

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2™ District, locos Norte

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING COASTAL CLEANUP IN THE PHILIPPINES,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 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 “National Coastal
Cleanup Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — Itis the policy of the State to protect and
advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with
the rhythm and harmony of nature by encouraging people to actively participate in
coastal cleanups for the preservation and conservation of coastal and marine
environment.

SECTION 3. Definition of terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms
shall mean:

a. Coastal - refers to the land near a shore, relating to or near a coast;

b. Cleanup Report - refers to the final report of any cleanup activity which
contains trash data, cleanup location and its technical description, number of
participants, and such other data that may be required by the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

¢. Marine litter — means any persistent, manufactured or processed solid
material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in coastal and marine
environment;

4. Marine environment — refers to the oceans, seas, bays, estuaries, and other
major water bodies, including their surface interface and interaction, with
the atmosphere and with the land seaward of the mean high-water mark;

e. Trash data — a record of trash or items collected during cleanup activities
based on the classification to be determined by the DENR; and

f. Waste map - provides information on the location of waste for cleanup;


SECTION 4. National Coastal Cleanup Program. ~ The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with the Department
of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Civil Service
Commission (CSC), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG),
Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other
relevant government agencies, shall establish and implement a National Coastal
Cleanup Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program, which shall mobilize all
sectors of society to participate in nationwide cleanup activities to promote
cleanliness in coastal, marine environment, inland waterways, esteros and creeks.

SECTION 5. Components of the National Coastal Cleanup Program. ~ The
National Cleanup Program shall be consistent with existing environmental
protection and enforcement laws and shall include the following:

a. Volunteerism and participation of both public and private sectors;
b. Strategic initiatives to identify marine litter sources;

c. Operationalization of online, real-time Waste Map;

d. Generate data for waste mapping;

e. Prompt submission of Trash Data Report and Cleanup Reports;

f. Proper waste management training and activities;

g. Holding of post-activity summit to report on the number of volunteers, local
government unit participation and volumes of waste collected for proper
disposal and/or recycling;

h. Strengthening cleanup information drive; and

i. Periodic evaluation of the Program to effectively manage, address, and
reduce the threats of degradation of coastal and marine environment for the
benefit of present and future generations.

SECTION 6. Cleanup period. - National cleanup activities shall be held once
every quarter without prejudice to local cleanup activities and the International
Cleanup Day held every third Saturday of September.

SECTION 7. Selection of Cleanup Sites. - The DENR, in coordination with the
DILG and all concerned local government units, shall select the sites for the cleanup
activities.

SECTION 8. Role of the Local Government Units. — Al} local government units
(LGUs) shall monitor the conduct of cleanup activities on coastal areas, marine
environment, inland waterways, esteros and creeks and ensure active participation
of their constituents. The LGUs shall likewise submit to the DILG and DENR Trash
Data and Cleanup Reports.


SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within six (6) months
from the effectivity of this Act, the DENR, in consultation with concerned
government agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules
and regulations of this Act.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective
implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the DENR
under the current General Appropriations Act (GAA). Thereafter, such sums as may
be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the
annual GAA.

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration
shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, administrative
orders, and rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
amended accordingly.

SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen days after

its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,