Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by HON. EDGAR M. CHATTO 
First District, Bohol 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Coastal Greenbelts refers to a strip of natural or artificially created coastal 
vegetation including mangroves, beach forest, phytoplankton, and seagrasses, 
stretching at least up to 1.5 meters above towards land and up to 1.5 meters below 
towards the ocean from mean sea level, designed to prevent coastal erosion, and 
mitigate the adverse impacts of natural coastal hazards on human lives and property 
and mitigate the impacts of climate change. 
Mangrove forests are one of the most severely threatened and undervalued 
ecosystems. According to Global Mangrove Watch, the area of mangrove habitat in 
the Philippines was 2,675.27 sq. km. in 2016, this represents a linear coverage of 
30.25% of the 32,292.87 km of the coastline. Thus, the extent of mangroves in 
Philippines has decreased by 144.01 km2 between 1996 and 2016. 
Mangroves are being cleared at an alarming rate and there are numerous 
threats to these forests, including land development/reclamation, pollution, 
deforestation, and illegal conversion. One of the major reasons for the loss of 
mangroves has been to establish fishponds for aquaculture. There is no 
implementation of the legal requirement on reversion to the State (through the 
Department of the Environment and Natural Resources) by the Bureau of Fisheries 
and Aquatic Resources, with the agencies lacking in data sharing and collaboration 
for the reversion of abandoned, undeveloped and underutilized (AUU) fishponds.   
For many coastal communities, mangrove ecosystems provide livelihoods, 
essential sources of protein, and coastal protection and resiliency, amid the climate 
crisis we face. In fact, residents of  small islands in Siargao were saved by the 
mangrove forest in the municipality of Del Carmen as Supertyphoon Odette wreaked 
havoc on the province last December 16, 2021. Compelling evidence suggests that 
mangroves play an important role in climate stabilization, possessing carbon storage 
and sequestration potential considered to be greater than that of tropical forests. The 
Philippines is estimated to have a total blue carbon stored in mangroves in metric 
tons of CO2: 509,701,906 (Mapping Ocean Wealth Explorer), a fact largely 
unappreciated by decision-makers. 
Mangroves hold tremendous significance, especially for biodiversity 
conservation, climate mitigation and resiliency, and disaster risk reduction and 
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management. However, the management of mangroves at both the local and national 
levels face a multitude of challenges, hence, we need to create and implement 
science-based policies for the restoration and regeneration of mangroves.  
Institutionalizing coastal greenbelt zones is a nature-based solution that will provide 
the protection and resiliency of our natural life support systems and our people, 
which are urgently needed if we are to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate 
change and mainstream sustainable development for all. 
 
 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this legislative proposal is earnestly 
being sought. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REP. EDGAR M. CHATTO 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by HON. EDGAR M. CHATTO 
First District, Bohol 
AN 
ACT ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL COASTAL GREENBELT ZONES  
AND THE NATIONAL COASTAL GREENBELT MANAGEMENT ACTION 
PLAN, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “National Coastal 
Greenbelt Act of 2022.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the declared policy of the 
State: 
a. To uphold the people’s constitutional right  to a healthful and
balanced ecology;
b. To recognize that climate change and disaster risk reduction and
management are closely interrelated, and effective disaster risk
reduction will enhance climate change adaptive capacity;
c. To mainstream the important contribution of mangroves and beach
forest species in reducing the impacts of climate change and mitigate
the adverse impacts of natural coastal hazards on human lives and
property;
d. To integrate, consolidate and institutionalize coastal greenbelt
framework strategy and action plans into all development plans,
programs and projects, and all actions and decisions of the national
government, 
local 
government, 
business, 
non-government
organizations, local communities, and the public in general;
e. To develop and implement a coherent, comprehensive, integrated,
efficient National Coastal Greenbelt Management Action Plan that
aim to reduce our vulnerability to climate change and disaster risks,
enhance adaptive capacity and build national and local resilience to
climate change-related disasters;
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f. To enjoin the participation of national and local governments, 
businesses, nongovernment organizations, local communities and the 
public in the development, implementation, monitoring and 
assessment of plans, programs and activities to prevent and reduce 
the adverse impacts of climate change through the establishment of 
coastal greenbelt zones; and 
 
g. To adopt the precautionary principle in the planning, conservation, 
rehabilitation, and management of coastal greenbelt zones; 
 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms 
and phrases shall mean as follows: 
 
a. Coastal Greenbelt Zone refers to specific strips of natural or artificially 
created coastal vegetation, stretching at least one hundred (100) 
meters in width from the sea towards land, primarily of mangrove and 
beach forest species, designed to prevent coastal erosion, and mitigate 
the adverse impacts of natural coastal hazards on human lives and 
property;  
 
b. Coastal Zone refers to a band of dry land and adjacent ocean space 
(water and submerged land in which terrestrial processes and uses 
directly affect oceanic processes and uses, and vice versa; its 
geographic extent may include areas within a landmark limit of one 
(1) kilometer from the shoreline at high tide to include mangrove 
swamps, brackish water ponds, nipa swamps, estuarine rivers, sandy 
beaches and other areas within a sea ward limit of 200 meters isobath 
to include coral reefs, algal flats, seagrass beds and other soft-bottom 
areas; 
 
c. Civil Society Organizations or CSOs refer to non-state actors whose 
aims are neither to generate profits nor to seek governing power. 
CSOs unite people to advance shared goals and interests. Their right 
to participate at all levels of decision-making is guaranteed by the 
Constitution and they have a significant role in public life, expressing 
the interests and values of their members or others, are based on 
ethical, cultural, scientific, environmental, human rights, religious or 
philanthropic 
considerations. 
CSOs 
include 
non-government 
organizations 
(NGOs), 
professional 
associations, 
foundations, 
independent research institutes, community-based organizations; 
 
d. Designated areas refer to site-specific stretches of vegetation in the 
coastal zone, defined in relation to risk factors and vulnerability to 
coastal hazards, and reserved for protection and maintenance under 
the National Coastal Greenbelt Management Action Plan. The area 
may undergo rehabilitation, reforestation, or afforestation with locally 
appropriate native species. Designated areas with abandoned 
fishponds require the reversion of these fishponds to mangroves 
through natural regeneration or replanting with locally and 
ecologically appropriate species; 
 


e. Fisherfolk Settlement Areas refer to certain areas of the public 
domain, specifically near the fishing grounds, granted to or reserved 
for the settlement of municipal fisherfolks; 
 
f. Integrated Coastal Zone Management refers to an effective approach 
to sustainable coastal and marine development with demonstrated 
benefits in enhancing economic growth, ecosystem protection, 
promotion of social equity, and the quality of life of the people;  
 
g. Mangroves- refer to a community of intertidal plants in the tropics 
and subtropics including all species of trees, shrubs, vines and herbs 
growing along tidal mudflats and shallow water coastal areas 
extending inland along rivers, streams and their tributaries where the 
water is generally brackish; 
 
h. National Coastal Greenbelt Management Action Plan (NCGMAP)- 
refers to the operation plan that shall serve as the guide for the Local 
Coastal Greenbelt Action Plan (LCGMAP); and  
 
i. Local Coastal Greenbelt Management Action Plan refers to the local 
action plan of the coastal local governments that shall be based on the 
NCGMAP. It shall contain the specific goals and targets for the 
implementation of the program set in the NCGMAP; 
 
Section 4. Creation of National Coastal Greenbelt Management 
Action Plan. - The Climate Change Commission shall, within six (6) months, 
identify and convene all national agencies responsible for foreshore management, 
mangrove and beach forest protection and utilization, coastal land and sea-use 
planning, coastal tourism development, social welfare of coastal communities, and 
other relevant mandates, to prepare an integrated National Coastal Greenbelt 
Management Action Plan (NCGMAP). 
 
The NCGMAP shall, at the minimum, contain the following: 
 
a. Spatial representation, or if feasible, quick/rapid inventory of the 
status of coastlines and foreshores, including the status of mangroves, 
beach forests, settlements, structures, and fishponds within one 
hundred (100) meters therein; 
 
b. Assessment of priority areas to be designated as coastal greenbelts for 
each coastal province, city, and municipality. The criteria for 
designation of priority area shall be based on its vulnerability to storm 
surges, waves, tsunami and the like. This shall be completed within 
one (1) year from the adoption of the NCGMAP; 
 
c. Designation as priority areas for coastal greenbelts all those that are 
declared as a protected area under the Expanded National Integrated 
Protected Areas System (Republic Act 11038), a fish refuge or 
sanctuary under the Amended Fisheries Code (Republic Act 10654), 
or as a local marine protected area as declared by municipalities and 
cities through ordinances. The designation shall be completed within 
six (6) months from the completion of the assessment. The 


designation shall be done through the proposal of the appropriate 
agency, municipality or city as may be necessary. No structures shall 
be allowed in the designated area. Designation as priority area, 
however, shall not affect structures found in fisherfolk settlement 
areas reserved for the settlement of municipal fisherfolks and shall 
not impair existing foreshore lease and other similar agreements, 
provided that grantees shall be tasked to implement the plans and 
conditions laid down under the NCGMAP and LCGMAP; 
 
d. Operational plan for the rehabilitation, reforestation, or afforestation 
of designated priority coastal greenbelts with ecologically appropriate 
mangrove and beach forest species, not less than one hundred (100) 
meters in width; existing forests or plantations greater than the 
minimum width shall not be reduced. The program for rehabilitation, 
reforestation or afforestation shall be community-based, long-term 
and implemented through the municipality or city government. The 
Operation Plan shall indicate that the program for rehabilitation, 
reforestation and afforestation must cover a minimum target area of 
twenty percent (20%) of the designated priority areas in the first five 
(5) years for maximum protection of the most vulnerable 
communities in the city or municipality. The remaining priority areas 
must be completed within ten (10) years from the designation as 
priority area; 
 
e. Operational Plan for the reversion of all abandoned fishponds to 
mangroves through natural regeneration or replanting with locally 
appropriate 
species. 
The 
NCGMAP 
shall 
indicate 
that 
the 
identification and recovery of possession from delinquent fishpond 
lease agreement holders shall be completed within twelve (12) months 
from the adoption thereof. All fishpond areas to be reverted to 
mangroves shall form part of the minimum target for the first year of 
implementation of the Action Plan; 
 
f. Operational Plan for the removal of illegal structures (such as 
breakwaters, permanent residential/commercial structures, and the 
like), in the identified priority coastal greenbelts. The NCGMAP shall 
indicate that the declaration and notice to persons responsible for 
removal of illegal structures shall be completed within twelve (12) 
months from the start of rehabilitation, reforestation or afforestation 
of these areas shall form part of the minimum target for the first year 
of implementation of the Action Plan; 
 
g. Monitoring and evaluation plan, with quantitative and qualitative 
targets consistent with subparagraphs (d), (e) and (f) of this Section, 
appropriate indicators, and reasonable means of verification. The plan 
shall become an integrated part of the National Coastal Greenbelt 
Management Action Plan and Annual Report to Congress; 
 
The Commission shall be responsible for consolidating the NCGMAP not later 
than twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
 


Section 5. Role of Key Implementing Agencies. - The following 
agencies shall take the lead in implementing components of the Action Plan that are 
relevant to their mandates: 
 
a. The Climate Change Commission shall be responsible for convening 
the relevant government agencies, facilitating public participation in 
the crafting the NCGMAP and integration of the NCGMAP into the 
Local Coastal Greenbelt Management Action Plan (LCGMAP), and 
preparing the integrated report to Congress especially with regard to 
the expenditure of the appropriation and other pertinent matters 
under Section 8 of this Act; 
 
b. The Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR), 
through the Biodiversity Management Bureau, shall be responsible for 
Section 4 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) of this Act in line with existing 
laws and mandates, and it shall provide the Commission with all the 
relevant information to aid in the monitoring and evaluation of the 
NCGMAP. In particular, the DENR shall identify the designated areas 
that must be expropriated by the government and recommend the 
expropriation plan to the Commission; 
 
c. The Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources shall coordinate with the DENR for Section 4 (e) 
above or the Operation Plan that provides for the reversion of all 
abandoned fishponds to mangroves through natural regeneration, 
replanting with locally appropriate species, and implementation of 
fisherfolk settlement program in line with existing laws and mandate, 
and it shall provide the Climate Change Commission with all relevant 
information to aid in the monitoring and evaluation of the NCGAP; 
 
d. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through its 
relevant offices, shall provide technical guidance and supervision for 
provinces, cities, and municipalities to establish their local coastal 
greenbelt zones and develop appropriate Local Coastal Greenbelt 
Management Action Plans, design and implement community-based 
and ecologically appropriate rehabilitation, reforestation, and 
afforestation programs, and monitor and evaluate the implementation 
of the Local Government Unit’s (LGUs) programs and action plans; 
and 
 
e. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development 
(DHSUD) in coordination with concerned Local Government Units 
(LGUs) shall provide for the relocation of the families or individuals 
who will be affected by the designated areas;  
 
Other implementing agencies that participated in the preparation of the 
Action Plan shall implement their commitments, as provided therein within a period 
of six (6) months. The actions required of implementing agencies are immediately 
executable, based on the agreed National Coastal Greenbelt Management Action 
Plan, and on their existing mandates, programs and budgets that are aligned with the 
Action Plan, without need of formulating implementing guidelines, rules, and 
regulations for this Act. 


 
Section 6. National Technical Advisory Committee. - The Climate 
Change Commission shall convene a National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) 
composed of: 
 
a. A representative from the Climate Change Commission; 
b. A representative from the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources;  
c. A representative from the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; 
d. A representative from the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government; 
e. Two experts in mangrove and beach forest ecosystems, oceanography, 
or other related disciplines; and 
f. A representative from a non-government organization or a people’s 
organization that demonstrates capacity to promote the public 
interest and with identifiable leadership, membership and structure 
and has been actively involved in mangrove research as among the 
criteria that will be set by DENR, BFAR and the Commission. 
 
The National Technical Advisory Committee shall provide scientific guidance 
in the design, implementation, and evaluation of actions under the NCGMAP. The 
experts shall serve the Committee without compensation but may be reimbursed for 
basic expenses to attend meetings and prepare technical reports. 
 
Section 7. Local Coastal Greenbelt Management Action Plan. - Each 
coastal city and municipality in the identified priority coastal greenbelt areas in the 
Action plan shall prepare a Local Coastal Greenbelt Management Action Plan 
(LCGMAP) to facilitate the implementation of mandated actions in the NCGMAP. 
Each city and municipality shall: 
 
a. Facilitate the implementation of the mandates of the national 
agencies under Section 4, by providing local data and other 
supporting measures; 
 
b. Implement complementary programs to assist local communities and 
local businesses affected by the actions under Section 4, such as but 
not limited to relocations sites with basic services like livelihood and 
transportation programs, zoning, or re-zoning of the priority coastal 
greenbelt areas, as appropriate, and the like;  
 
c. Provide an actual inventory of affected families in designated areas to 
ensure that a legal, just, fair and humane process of relocation is 
carried out; 
 
d. Lead in the actual implementation of rehabilitation, reforestation, and 
afforestation, through the coastal barangays; 
 
e. Integrate the identified coastal greenbelt zones in the Comprehensive 
Land-Use Plan; and  
 


f. Provide data and qualitative feedback to the Key Implementing 
Agencies as may be relevant. 
 
The Provincial Government shall provide technical and budgetary support to 
component coastal cities and municipalities and ensure consistency across 
contiguous cities and municipalities sharing common priority coastal greenbelt 
areas. Highly urbanized cities shall likewise provide support to component barangays 
under their jurisdiction. 
 
Section 8. Incentives. - Local government units (LGUs) whose Local 
Coastal Greenbelt Management Action Plan have been submitted and/or approved to 
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Climate 
Change Commission or those LGUs who have been recognized by the DILG and the 
Commission for their effective establishment and/or management efforts for coastal 
greenbelts may be entitled to receive grants and incentives for the purpose building 
technical capacities in implementing the LCGMAP and supporting programs which 
are in line with the objectives of this Act. The incentive program, which shall 
encourage the participation of LGUs in the implementation of this Act, shall be 
included in the NCGMAP. 
 
Section 9. Coastal Greenbelt Incentive Fund. - There is hereby created 
a special account under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) called “Coastal 
Greenbelt Fund” (CGIF). The fund shall be utilized to pay out the incentives granted 
to LGUs which qualify for the CGIF. 
 
Section 10. Enforcement Actions. - 
 
a. In addition to the penalties provided under existing laws, any person 
who obstructs the LGU, DENR, or any other authorized agency or 
officer in the removal of illegal structures, or the BFAR in the process 
of reversion of abandoned fishponds, shall be liable to that agency for 
an administrative fine of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) per day 
that the agency is prevented from performing its function; 
 
b. No structures shall be built within the identified coastal greenbelt 
zones without permits from the LGU, DENR or BFAR, consistent with 
their mandates. Any person who violates this prohibition shall be 
liable for an administrative fine of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) 
per day from the time the structure was built until its removal; 
 
c. Proceeds from administrative fines under this Section shall be 
retained by the agency imposing such fines and used exclusively for 
the implementation of its mandate under this Act; and 
 
d. Legal actions filed in the exercise of rights and enforcement of 
obligations under this Act shall also be covered by the Fisheries Code, 
as amended by RA 10654, and the 2010 Supreme Court Rules of 
Procedure for Environmental Cases; 
 
Section 11. Annual Report to Congress. - The Key Implementing 
Agencies shall report to Congress on their progress in meeting the quantitative and 
qualitative targets under the Action Plan for each year. The reports shall be 


consolidated by the Commission for presentation to the appropriate Committee in 
Congress at a meeting called for that purpose. 
 
Section 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the DENR and Climate Change Commission shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of 
this Act. 
 
Section 13. Appropriations- The Key Implementing Agencies shall draw 
from their existing programs and budgets to implement their responsibilities under 
the Action Plan, and through the People’s Survival Fund, where appropriate, subject 
to additional funding in the annual national appropriations, to meet the targets 
agreed in the Action Plan. 
 
Section 14. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other 
provisions of this act. 
 
Section 15. Amendatory and Repealing Clause. - To expand the powers 
and functions of the Climate Change Commission, Section 9 of Republic Act 9729, 
insofar as it may be inconsistent with this Act, is hereby amended. All laws, decrees, 
orders, rules and regulations or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are likewise hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
Section 16. Effectivity Clause. - 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.