NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBUC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1993
gwnfitr
of t’ij? Ij.'taiaip
23 mar 14 A 9 39
RECEIVED B’;
Introduced by: Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR BLUE ECONOMY, PROMOTING 
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND 
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND RESOURCES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In a 2021 study by Meijer et al, the Philippines is the highest ocean plastic 
pollutant in the world, emphasizing the estimated contribution of the Pasig River and 
4,820 other rivers. An infographic demonstrating was generated by designer Louis 
Logas graphically showing how much this contribution is compared to that of other 
countries and it showed a very damning picture. With the second highest coastline of 
32,289 kilometers after Indonesia, an average precipitation rate of 4,604mm, and a 
population of 113.9 million (2021 data), we are challenged to reverse the damage we 
are wreaking on our marine national patrimony. Granting, this study did not take 
into accoimt the gargantuan efforts of some agencies such as the Metro Manila 
Development Authority which installed and maintains trash traps at mouth of the 
rivers in the Metropolis and the mandamus agencies which year after year make plans 
and execute them to clean up Manila Bay.
We are a maritime nation with a seafarer population. This is evidenced not 
only by our percentage contribution of seafarers in the global industry reaching as 
high as 30% but also by the sheer actual numbers. In 2019, there were over half a 
million Filipinos engaged in this trade, dropping during the pandemic but rising again


to a high of about 345 thousand currently. The ocean is in our DNA, with a great 
majority of our population living in our coastal cities and municipalities.
Up to 88% of our territory is marine covering 2.2 million square kilometers. One 
of the world's leading fish-producing countries, the Philippines produced 1.89 million 
tons of marine capture fisheries in 2018 alone. We are 11th in the world in both capture 
fisheries and aquaculture fish production. Add to this, ocean freight and 
transportation, oil, gas and renewable energy, and coastal and marine tourism make 
up a vibrant marine-based economy The Philippines is one of the world's top 
supphers of seafarers. In 2016, marine-based industries contributed over 6%, rising 
from a mere 3.6% in 2018.
Conscientious and strategic management of these resources requires more 
focused governance based on valuation, analysis, threat and opportunity detection 
and a development framework that highlights our maritime heritage and ensures a 
bright future for our oceans.
There is a dire and urgent need to protect these resources and take advantage 
of the economic opportunities presented by a maritime economy. For aU these 
reasons, we urge this Chamber to pass this measure.
REN LEGARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
, !a„'ill 
c**.'V iiil
of tije 0T’f ftari
tarp
23 harm a 9 :39
SENATE
s. no.1993
RliCEIVED 6V;
Introduced by: Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR BLUE ECONOMY, PROMOTING 
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND 
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND RESOURCES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in session 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Blue Economy Act."
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy, - It shall be the policy of the State to:
3 
(a) Adopt blue economy as a framework for sustainable and safe use and
4 
development of marine wealth within our Maritime Zones, as a pillar of our national
5 
economy and patiimony;
6 
(b) 
Exercise stewardship of our seas and coasts, and protect and conserve
7 
the health and resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats to promote
8 
the well-being, prosperity and security of present and future generations;
9 
(c) 
Preserve our maritime heritage, recognize the social, cultural, and
10 
historical value of our seas and coasts, and foster public understanding and respect of
11 
the value of our seas and coasts to build a strong foundation for social responsibility;
12 
(d) 
Enrich scientific understanding of marine and coastal ecosystems, the
13 
benefits we gain from these ecosystems (e.g. carbon sequestration), their changing
14 
conditions and the causes thereof, and use the best available scientific knowledge to
15 
inform decisions affecting our seas and coasts and to enhance our capacity to respond
16 
and adapt to changing maritime environments;


1 
(e) 
Foster international cooperation, and exercise rights and jurisdiction in
2 
accordance with appHcable international laws, including on freedom of navigation;
3 
(f) 
Strategically address the factors that adversely affect the oceans and the
4 
hving and non-Hving resources that comprise our seas, turning threats into
5 
opportunities and preventing further harm to aU water bodies including land-based
6 
pollution;.
7 
(g) Ensure a whole-of-nation approach and a comprehensive, integrated
8 
framework for the stewardship of our seas and coasts to facihtate cohesive action of
9 
the National Government, local authorities, academe, non-governmental
10 
organizations, the private sector, and the pubhc.
11 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
12 
(a) Aquaculture refers to the farming of aquatic organisms including fish,
13 
molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Farming imphes some sort of intervention
14 
in the rearing process to enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding,
15 
protection from predators, etc. Farming also implies individual or corporate
16 
ownership of the stock being cultivated, the planning, development and operation of
17 
aquaculture systems, sites, facilities and practices, and the production and transport;
18 
(b) 
Aquisilviculture refers to a multi-purpose production system that allows
19 
production of fish in a mangrove reforestation project;
20 
(c) 
Blue economy refers to a practical ocean-based economic model using
21 
green infrastructure and technologies, innovative financing mechanisms, and
22 
proactive institutional arrangements for meeting the twin goals of protecting our
23 
oceans and coasts and enhancing its potential contribution to sustainable
24 
development, including improving human well-being, and reducing environmental
25 
risks and ecological scarcities;
26 
(d) 
Commercial fishing refers to the harvesting of fish, either in whole or in
27 
part, for sale, barter or trade;
28 
(e) 
Ecosystem services refer to the flow of benefits which humans gain from
29 
ecosystems, through biological processes and climate, hydrological and biochemical
30 
cycles, and experiences that contribute to intangible culture;
31 
(f) 
Environmental-economic accounting refers to a systematic way to measure
32 
and report on stocks and flows of natural assets and resources - both biotic and biotic.


1 
renewable and non-renewable -- and ecosystem services, to determine the contribution
2 
of the environment to the economy and the impact of the economy on the
3 
environment;
4 
(g) 
Environmental-economic accounts refer to statistical information, in
5 
physical or monetary terms, about the extraction of natural resources, their use within
6 
the economy, natural resource stock levels, the changes in those stocks during a
7 
specific period, and such other economic activities related to the environment;
8 
(h) 
Integrated marine and coastal area management refers to a participatory
9 
process for decision-making to prevent, control, or mitigate adverse impacts from
10 
human activities in the marine and coastal environment, and to contribute to the
11 
restoration of degraded coastal areas;
12 
(i) 
Investment promotion agencies refer to government entities created by law,
13 
executive order, decree or other issuance, in charge of promoting investments,
14 
granting and administering tax and non-tax incentives, and overseeing the operations
15 
of the different economic zones and freeports in accordance with their respective
16 
special laws. These include the Board of Investments (BOI), Regional Board of
17 
Investments-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-ARMM), Philippine
18 
Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Bases Conversion and Development Authority
19 
(BCDA), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Qark Development Corporation
20 
(CDC), John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC), Poro Point Management
21 
Corporation (PPMC), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), Zamboanga City
22 
Special Economic Zone Authority (ZCSEZA), PHtVIDEC Industrial Authority (PIA),
23 
Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), Authority of the
24 
Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone
25 
Authority (HEZ A), and all other similar existing authorities or that may be created by
26 
law;
27 
0) 
Land-based pollution - Mimidpal, industrial and agricultural wastes and
28 
nm-off including but not limited to sewage and waste water, persistent organic
29 
pollutants (including pesticides), heavy metals, oils, nutrients and sediments -
30 
whether brought by rivers or discharged directly into coastal waters
31


1 
(k) Mariculture refers to the farming of organisms, both plants and animals,
2 
in an aquatic medium or environment which may be completely marine (sea), or sea
3 
water mixed to various degrees with fresh water. This definition would include both
4 
the sea and inland brackishwater areas;
5 
(1) 
Marine scientific research refers to any research activity, which is
6 
conducted for exclusively peaceful purposes, for the purpose of increasing scientific
7 
knowledge about the marine environment, including all natural resources, toward the
8 
benefit of mankind and according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of
9 
the Sea;
10 
(m) Maritime domain awareness refers to the effective imderstanding of any
11 
activity that could impact upon the security, safety, economy or environment;
12 
(n) Maritime spatial planning refers to a process by which human activities in
13 
Maritime Zones are analyzed and organized, based on best available scientific
14 
knowledge, and to achieve economic, ecological and social objectives;
15 
(o) 
Ocean-based activities refer to activities that are xmdertaken in the ocean,
16 
e.g. fisheries and aquaculture, offshore oil and gas, mining, ocean energy,
17 
desalination, shipping and marine transportation, marine tourism, marine
18 
construction;
19 
(p) 
Ocean-related activities refer to activities that use products from the ocean
20 
(e.g., seafood processing, marine biotechnology, chemicals, salt, etc.) and produce
21 
products and services for the ocean and ocean-based activities (e.g., ship building and
22 
repair, ports, tourist resorts, communication, maritime insurance and law, maritime
23 
technical services, etc.);
24 
(q) 
Subsistence fishing - fishing for personal consumption or
25 
traditional/ceremonial purposes;
26 
(r) 
Ocean literacy refers to an understanding of the ocean's influence on
27 
humans and human influence on the ocean.
28 
Sec. 4. Scope of Application, - For purposes of this Act, the Philippines shall
29 
exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, in accordance with
30 
international law, as appropriate, in internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial
31 
sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continent shelf, herein collectively
32 
referred to as "Maritime Zones", including its seabed and subsoil, and any and all
4


1 
maritime features within the Maritime Zones now known or to be known in the future,
2 
without prejudice to the power, authority and right granted exclusively to the
3 
Bangsamoro Government under Republic Act No. 11054, also known as the ''Organic
4 
Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao/' or the powers of
5 
Protected Area Management Boards over protected seascapes to explore, develop, and
6 
utilize natural resoiurces within its territorial jurisdiction.
7 
CHAPTER II
8 
NATIONAL MARITIME COUNCIL
9 
Sec. 5. National Maritime Council. - The National Coast Watch Council, created
10 
under Executive Order No. 57, Series of 2011, is hereby renamed and reconstituted as
11 
the National Maritime Council, herein referred to as the "Council," and its functions
12 
expanded to include the formulation of an integrated strategy to promote blue
13 
economy and ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine resources.
14 
Sec. 6. Composition, - The Coimcil is composed of the following:
15 
(a) 
Executive Secretary, as Chairperson;
16 
(b) 
Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning;
17 
(c) 
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources;
18 
(d) 
Secretary of National Defense;
19 
(e) 
Secretary of Foreign Affairs;
20 
(f) 
Secretary of Justice;
21 
(g) 
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government;
22 
(h) 
Secretary of Agriculture;
23 
(i) 
Secretary of Tourism;
24 
(j) 
Secretary of Transportation;
25 
(k) 
Secretary of Trade and Industry;
26 
(1) 
Secretary of Energy;
27 
(m) 
Secretary of Science and Technology; and
28 
(n) 
Secretary of Finance.
29 
Department Secretaries may designate an Undersecretary, whose portfolio
30 
covers matters directly or piindpaUy relating to the development or management of
31 
coastal and marine resources and ecosystems, if applicable. They shall sit in a
32 
permanent capacity, and their acts shall be considered the acts of their principals.


1 
Sec. 7. Secretariat - The Coastal Watch Council Secretariat, created under
2 
Section 4 of Executive Order No. 57, Series of 2011, is hereby renamed as the National
3 
Maritime Office and shall continue to provide technical and administrative support
4 
to the Council.
5 
Sec. 8. Support Agencies, - Section 6 of Executive Order No. 57, Series of 2011 is
6 
hereby amended to include the following agencies to provide material or technical
7 
support to the Council, as may be deemed necessaiy:
8 
(a) 
Climate Change Commission
9 
(b) 
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas;
10 
(c) 
Board of Investments;
11 
(d) 
Securities and Exchange Commission;
12 
(e) 
Philippine Statistics Authority;
13 
(f) 
National Mapping and Resources Information Authority;
14 
(g) 
Environmental Management Bureau;
15 
(h) 
Biodiversity Management Bureau-Coastal and Marine Division;
16 
(i) 
Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards;
17 
(j) 
Philippine Fisheries Development Authority;
18 
(k) 
Philippine Coimcil for Agriculture and Fisheries;
19 
(1) 
Maritime Industry Authority;
20 
(m) 
Philippine Ports Authority;
21 
(n) 
Phihppine Reclamation Authority;
22 
(o) 
Philippine Coxmcil for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources
23 
Research and Development;
24 
(p) 
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
25 
Administration (PAGASA);
26 
(q) 
Department of Foreign Aifairs-Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office;
27 
(r) 
National Musemn-Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage
28 
Division;
29 
(s) 
University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute; and
30 
(t) 
Investment promotion agencies.
31 
In order to ensure the efficient and effective discharge of its responsibilities, the
32 
Coimcil may create working groups, and caU upon other departments, bureaus.


1 
offices and instrumentalities of the Government, and academic and research
2 
institutions engaged in marine science and ocean-based or ocean-related activities to
3 
participate in working groups, as it may deem necessary.
4 
CHAPTER III
5 
POLICY FRAMEWORK ON BLUE ECONOMY
6 
SEC. 9. Polici/ Framework on Blue Economy, - The Council shall, within six (6)
7 
months from the effectivity of this Act, formulate a Policy Framework on Blue
8 
Economy, herein referred to as the Policy Framework. The Policy Framework shall
9 
serve as the basis for marine spatial planning, determination of investments to
10 
enhance maritime domain awareness, the preservation of value and sustainability of
11 
ocean resources and their protection from threats such as land-based pollution and
12 
overfishing and enforcement of economic and environmental regulations within our
13 
Maritime Zones. The Policy Framework shall be subject to mandatory review and
14 
modification every five (5) years.
15 
Sec. 10. Components of the Policy Framework on Blue Economy. - The Policy
16 
Framework shall include the following components:
17 
(a) 
Review of all existing policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and
18 
regulations on ocean-based and ocean-related activities;
19 
(b) 
Adherence to international maritime laws;
20 
(c) 
Analysis of ourent and emerging trends and changes in demography,
21 
consiunption, trade, technology, environmental quality and climate that show the
22 
interaction between the economy and the environment, present threats and pressures
23 
on coastal and marine environments and damage estimation;
24 
(d) 
Environmental-economic accounting of coastal and marine assets and
25 
resources, and ecosystem services from coastal and marine environments, including
26 
assessment of losses due to degradation or major pollution events such as oil spiUs;
27 
(e) 
Priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related
28 
economic activities, which may include:
29 
(1) 
Fisheries, including commercial fishing, but with preference to
30 
subsistence fisheries, as mandated by Section 7, Art. XIII, of the Constitution;
31 
(2) 
Aquaculture, mariculture and aquasilvicultiue;
32 
(3) 
Marine and coastal tourism;


1 
(4) 
Environmentally and hydrologicaUy appropriate reclamation;
2 
(5) 
Shipping, logistics and maritime transport;
3 
(6) 
Ship-budding and ship repair;
4 
(7) 
Exploration, exploitation and extraction of oil and natural gas;
5 
(8) 
Production of renewable energy from marine sources;
6 
(9) 
Submarine mining or extraction of minerals and aggregates;
7 
(10) 
Installation of submarine cables and pipelines;
8 
(11) 
Bioremediation, Marine biotechnology and bioprospecting;
9 
(12) 
Desalination; and
10 
(13) 
Underwater cultural heritage and maritime archaeology.
11 
(f) 
Guiding framework for integrated marine and coastal area
12 
management;
13 
(g) 
Guiding framework for blue finance;
14 
(h) 
Priority research and development agenda, maximizing opportunities
15 
created for pollution control, remediation, used water economics and other industries
16 
that address threats;
17 
(i) 
Promotion of ocean literacy and social responsibility towards the
18 
protection of coastal and marine environments;
19 
(j) 
Enhancement of capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and
20 
civilian agencies to enforce laws, rules and regulations to protect our marine wealth;
21 
(k) 
Goals, targets and indicators for growth, resihence and sustainability of
22 
priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related activities, including
23 
its contribution to Gross Domestic Product and job creation;
24 
CHAPTER IV
25 
ADHERENCE TO INTERNATIONAL MARITIME INSTRUMENTS
26 
Sec. 11. International Maritime Instruments Implementation and Reporting. - The
27 
Council shall establish mechanisms for the fuU and effective implementation and
28 
enforcement of the following international maritime instruments and their
29 
subsequent amendments and the reporting of compliance and adherence to the
30 
President and Congress:


1 
(a) 
Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora
2 
and Fauna;
3 
(b) 
UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural
4 
Heritage;
5 
(c) 
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended,
6 
and its Protocol of 1988 (SOLAS 74);
7 
(d) 
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and
8 
its Protocol of 1978 (MAPROL 73/78);
9 
(e) 
Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions
10 
at Sea, 1972, as amended (COLREG 72);
11 
(f) 
International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 and its Protocol of 1988,
12 
as amended (LL 66);
13 
(g) 
International Convention on the Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969
14 
(TONNAGE 69);
15 
(h) 
Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of
16 
Maritime Navigation, 1988 (SUA) and its Protocol;
17 
(i) 
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and
18 
Co-operation 1990 (OPRC1990);
19 
0 
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships'
20 
Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM 2004);
21 
(k) 
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by dumping of
22 
Wastes and Other Matter, 1972, as amended, and its 1996 Protocol (LCP);
23 
(1) 
Special Trade Passenger Ships Agreement, 1971 (STP 71);
24 
(m) 
Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization, as
25 
amended (IMSO1976) and its Operating Agreement (INMARSAT);
26 
(n) 
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
27 
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, As Amended (STCW 78);
28 
(o) 
International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling
29 
Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS 2001);
30 
(p) 
Protocol of 1992 to Amend the International Convention on Civil
31 
Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969;


1 
(q) Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on the
2 
Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage,
3 
1971;
4 
Sec. 12. Application. - Unless otherwise indicated, the intemational conventions
5 
enumerated in the preceding section shall apply to:
6 
(a) All ships, whether seagoing or coastwise, which are registered under the
7 
Philippine flag;
8 
(b) All persons, partnerships, corporations, firms and other entities duly
9 
registered or Hcensed in the Philippines to engage in ocean-based or ocean-related
10 
enterprise, or those acting on their behalf;
11 
(c) All foreign ships that are within the waters, ports, harbors and offshore
12 
terminals of the PhiUppines regardless of whether or not they are registered in, or
13 
belong to. State Parties to the conventions sought to be implemented by this Act.
14 
(d) All entities that have land-based activities with substantial positive or
15 
adverse impact on the marine ecosystem;
16 
CHAPTER V
17 
ENVIRONMENTAL-ECONOMIC ACCOUNTING
18 
SEC. 13. Environmental-Economic Accounting. - The Coimcil shall undertake
19 
environmental-economic accounting of maritime ecosystems and resources, based on
20 
the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting. Members of the
21 
Council and heads of support agencies shall contribute data on environmental-
22 
economic accounts relating to their mandates including damage estimation and sea
23 
level rise projections.
24 
Sec. 14. Framework. - The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shall develop a
25 
framework for the collection, compilation, processing, analysis, publication and
26 
dissemination of environmental-economic accounts and its integration in the national
27 
accounts: Provided, That PSA shall integrate the collection of enviromnental-economic
28 
accounts into the Community-Based Monitoring System for local government units
29 
(LGUs); Provided, further. That the PSA shall coordinate with and provide technical
30 
assistance to Members of the Council, support agencies, investment promotion
10


1 
agencies and LGUs to ensure compliance to standard environmental-economic
2 
accounting techniques, methodologies, concepts, definitions and classifications to
3 
prevent duplication in collection of statistical information.
4 
CHAPTER VI
5 
INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT
6 
Sec. 15. Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM). - The
7 
Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM) shall be the framework
8 
to address human impacts on marine and coastal biological diversity, and for
9 
promoting conservation and sustainable use of this biodiversity.
10 
Sec. 16. Elements of the National IMCAM Framework. - The Council shall develop
11 
and implement the National IMCAM Framework within one (1) year from the
12 
effectivity of this Act to provide direction, support and guidance to relevant member
13 
and support agencies, LGUs and other stakeholders, according to the Elaborated
14 
Programme of Work on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity contained in the
15 
Annex to Decision Vn/5 of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations
16 
Environmental Programme Convention on Biological Diversity.
17 
Accordingly, the National IMCAM Framework shall consider the following
18 
elements:
19 
(a) 
Building capacity of stakeholders, in both national and local levels, to
20 
apply relevant policy instruments to address legal issues, institutionalize
21 
participatory processes, and develop strategies to promote multidisciplinary and
22 
multisectoral ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine environments;
23 
(b) 
Direct action to protect coastal and marine environments from negative
24 
impacts, such as:
25 
(1) 
Alteration and destruction, of coastal and marine habitats,
26 
particularly areas important for reproduction, inter alia, coral reef systems, sea
27 
grass areas and the sea bed;
28 
(2) 
Marine and land-based pollution;
29 
(3) 
Improper coastal land use and the mismanagement of
30 
watersheds;
31 
(4) 
Illegal, umeported and imregulated fishing, by-catch especially
32 
of threatened species,;
11


1 
(c) Establishment of mechanisms and guidelines for research, monitoring,
2 
assessment and valuation of coastal and marine ecosystems and resources, including
3 
indicators to measure natural and human-induced impacts
4 
CHAPTER VII
5 
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF COASTAL AND MARINE
6 
RESOURCES
7 
SEC. 17. Protection of Endangered Species. - The Council shall spearhead the
8 
conservation, protection and rehabilitation of rare, threatened and endangered
9 
aquatic species as it may determine, including their habitats and migratory routes
10 
such as the East Asian Current. It shall recommend to the President and Congress the
11 
designation of coastal and marine areas as protected areas under the Expanded
12 
National Integrated Protected Areas System, or sanctuaries of local conservation areas
13 
under the Fisheries Code and the Local Government Code, and in comphance with
14 
the relevant provisions of international treaties and agreements such as, the
15 
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and
16 
Fauna, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and Convention on
17 
Biological Diversity.
18 
Sec. 18. Policy Coordination. - The Council shall harmonize rules and regulations
19 
of all relevant agencies responsible for the implementation and enforcement of laws
20 
to prevent and eliminate illegal fishing such as RepubHc Act (RA) No. 8550, also
21 
known as the ''Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998/' as amended by RA 10654.
22 
CHAPTER VIII
23 
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
24 
Sec. 19. Maritime Spatial Planning. - The Council shall imdertake a nationwide
25 
maritime spatial planning to identify the spatial and temporal distribution of priority
26 
activities and uses and the interactions thereof in Maritime Zones, in order to reduce
27 
conflict among uses, facilitate complementary uses, mitigate environmental impacts,
28 
prevent marine dead zones and preserve ecosystem services.
29 
Sec. 20. Industry Development Plans. - The Council, through working groups
30 
created for the purpose, shall prepare five-year and ten-year development plans for
31 
each priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related industry, in
32 
accordance with the Policy Framework.
12


1 
Sec. 21. Integration with Area and National Development Plans. - The National
2 
Economic and Development Authority shall integrate the maritime spatial plan and
3 
industry development plans into the Philippine Development Plan, the National
4 
Priority Plan, the National Physical Framework Plan, and Area Spatial Development
5 
Framework.
6 
Sec. 22. Inclusion in Strategic Investment Priority Plan. - The Council shall
7 
recommend to the Board of Investments the inclusion of identified priority strategic
8 
ocean-based and ocean-based activities in the Strategic Investment Priority Plan.
9 
Sec. 23. Blue Economic Zones. - Investment promotion agencies shall encourage
10 
the establishment of blue economic zones and the transformation of existing special
11 
economic zones (SEZs) into the same, where locator enterprises engaged in ocean-
12 
based or ocean-related activities shall enjoy the privileges, benefits, advantages or
13 
exemptions granted to economic zones and freeports in accordance with their
14 
respective special laws.
15 
In addition, the incentives provided for under the following laws may be
16 
granted to blue SEZs:
17 
(a) 
RA 9003, or the "Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of2000;"
18 
(b) 
RA 9275, or the "Philippine Clean Water Act of2004;"
19 
(c) 
RA 9513, or the "Renewable Energy Act of2008;" and
20 
(d) 
RA 10771, or the "Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016."
21 
Blue SEZs may also qualify for financing provided for under RA 11293, or the
22 
"Philippine Innovation Act."
23 
CHAPTER IX
24 
BLUE FINANCE
25 
Sec. 24. Role of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). - In the exercise of its
26 
regulatory powers over financial institutions, the BSP shall mandate banks and quasi-
27 
banks to adopt the United Nations Environment Programme Sustainable Blue
28 
Economy Finance Principles as a foimdation of corporate governance and risk
29 
management.
30 
Sec. 25. Role of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). - The SEC shall
31 
encourage the issuance of blue bonds where proceeds wiQ be exclusively applied to
32 
finance or refinance, in part or in fuU, strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-
13


1 
related activities, in accordance with ASEAN Green Bonds Standards and Green
2 
Bonds Principles, as developed and may be revised from time to time by the ASEAN
3 
Capital Markets Forum and the International Capital Market Association,
4 
respectively.
5 
Sec. 26. Role of Government Financial Institutions. - The Land Bank of the
6 
Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines shall allocate five percent
7 
(5%) of its regular loan portfolio for credit to strategic and sustainable ocean-based or
8 
ocean-related enterprises.
9 
CHAPTER X
10 
MARINE SCIENCE AND OCEAN LITERACY
11 
Sec. 27. Marine Scientific Research. - The State recognizes marine science as a
12 
foundation of maritime governance, insofar as rules governing the use of coastal and
13 
marine resources must be based on the sound scientific understanding of the marine
14 
environment. In accordance with UNCLOS, the Philippines has the exclusive rights to
15 
regulate, authorize and conduct marine scientific research in our internal waters,
16 
archipelagic waters and territorial sea; whereas, the Philippines has rights to regulate,
17 
authorize and conduct maritime research in our exclusive economic zone and
18 
continental shelf: Provided, That the marine scientific research activities shall not
19 
unjustifiably interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea and shall not constitute the
20 
legal basis for any claim to any part of the marine environment or its resources.
21 
Marine scientific research by foreign states and competent international
22 
organizations may only be conducted with the express consent of and the conditions
23 
set forth by the Council, in accordance with the UNCLOS.
24 
Sec. 28. Ocean Literacy Framework. - The Department of Education, Commission
25 
on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and
26 
other government agencies implementing sector-specific literacy programs, in
27 
consultation with relevant Members of the Coimcil or support agencies, shall integrate
28 
into the curricula of K-12, the Alternative Learning System, general education
29 
programs of higher education institutions, technical and vocational education and
30 
training, and other community-based training programs, the essential principles and
31 
fundamental concepts of ocean sciences to develop the following competencies:
32 
(a) Understanding the importance of the ocean to humankind;
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1 
(b) 
Communicating about the ocean in a meaningful way; and,
2 
(c) 
Making informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its
3 
resources.
4 
CHAPTER XI
5 
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION
6 
SEC. 29. Archipelagic Sea Lanes. - The Council shall designate sea lanes and air
7 
routes there above, suitable for the continuous and expeditious passage of foreign
8 
ships and aircrafts through or over the archipelagic waters and the adjacent territorial
9 
sea, and shall, where necessary as regards to the safety of navigation, require foreign
10 
ships exercising the right of innocent passage to use such lanes and traffic separation
11 
schemes in accordance with the UNCLOS.
12 
CHAPTER XII
13 
ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
14 
Sec. 30. Role of Local Government Units. - Cities and municipalities shall continue
15 
to exercise jmisdiction over municipal waters, pursuant to RA 7160, also known as the
16 
"Local Government Code of 1991/' as amended, and RA 8550, as amended. Consistent
17 
with this mandate, local government units shall act as the frontline agencies in the
18 
formulation, planning and implementation of IMCAM in their respective
19 
jurisdictions. LGUs shall integrate the National Maritime Spatial Plan and
20 
opportunities such as the National Sewage and Septage Management Plan and the
21 
funds under the Clean Water Act in their Comprehensive Development and Annual
22 
Investment Plans.
23 
Sec. 31. Inter-LGU Cooperation. - Consistent with the provisions of RA 7160, as
24 
amended, LGUs may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their efforts,
25 
services, and resources for the accomplishment of the objectives of this Act.
26 
CHAPTER XIII
27 
FINAL PROVISIONS
28 
Sec. 32. Congressional Oversight. - For the effective implementation of this Act,
29 
a Congressional Oversight Committee is created to be known as the Blue Economy
30 
Oversight Committee. The Blue Economy Oversight Committee shall be composed of
31 
five (5) Senators and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President
32 
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The Minority shall be
15


1 
entitled to pro rata representation. The Blue Economy Oversight Committee shall be
2 
jointly chaired by the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs and
3 
the Chairperson of the House Committee on Economic Affairs.
4 
Sec. 33. Appropriations. - The amoimt of One hundred million pesos
5 
(P100,000,000.00) as initial funding for the Council to be charged against the
6 
imexpended Contingency Fund of the Office of the President is hereby appropriated.
7 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the implementation of this Act shall be included in
8 
the annual General Appropriations Act.
9 
Sec. 34. Implementing Rules and Regulaticms. - The Council shall issue the
10 
implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the approval of this
11 
Act: Provided, That That failure to issue rules and regulations shall not in any manner
12 
affect the executory nature of the provisions of this Act.
13 
Sec. 35. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
14 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected shall remain in full force and
15 
effect.
16 
Sec. 36. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules
17 
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are repealed
18 
or modified accordingly.
19
20 
Sec. 37. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
21 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
16