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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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SEP 23 1’5 :ii9 
A 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by SENATOR COMPANERA PIA S. CAYETANO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Living in an archipelago of 7,100 islands, we are very much dependent on 
the sea and othek bodies of water such as rivers and lakes for our livelihood, 
transportation, anb related industries such as tourism. It is therefore of primary 
importance that laws are enacted for the protection of our marine environment. 
Presidential Decr e No. 600 as amended by Presidential Decree No. 979 was 
promulgated way back in 1974 and 1976 respectively. These laws impose civil 
and criminal liabi ities against polluters such as Sulpicio Lines, owner of M N  
Princess of the 
rient which sank on September 25, 1998 discharging oil and 
other noxious c emicals into the seas killing marine life in the area and 
I 
contaminating the 9 
waters from Manila Bay as far as Cavite and Bataan. 
However, since the above mentioned decrees have been enacted more 
than twenty years ago, the penalties provided for their violation are much too low 
to serve as a deterrent for those who do not exercise diligence in traversing our 
territorial and inland navigable waters. It is therefore imperative to provide stiffer 
penalties commensurate to the short term as well as long term damage caused 
by polluters. This bill proposes the increase of the penalties provided for under 
the present law to a fine of not less than 8 years and 1 day nor more than 12 
years or both such fine and imprisonment. 
For the reasons stated above, the immediate passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
CO 6%. 
PAR RAP1 %!Lh .CAYETANO 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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"0% SFP 2-3 
135 :oy 
First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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S E N A T E  
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w :  
S.B. No. 
Introduced by SENATOR COMPANERA PIA S. CAYETANO 
AN ACT 
INCREASING THE PENALTY IMPOSED AGAINST POLLUTERS OF OUR 
NAVIGABLE WATERS BY AMENDING SECTION 7 OF PRESIDENTIAL 
DECREE NO. 979 PROVIDING FOR THE REVISION OF PRESIDENTIAL 
DECREE NO. 600 GOVERNING MARINE POLLUTION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in congress assembled: 
SECTION I, 
Section 7 of Presidential Decree No. 979 is hereby amended 
to read as follows: 
SECTION 7. Penalties for Violations. - Any person who 
violates Section 4 of this Decree or any regulations prescribed in 
pursuance thereof, shall be liable for a fine of not less than [Two 
hundred pesos nor more than Ten thousand pesos] FIVE MILLION 
PESOS (Php5,000,000.00) or by imprisonment of not less than 
[thirty days] EIGHT (8) YEARS AND ONE (1) DAY nor more than 
[one year] TWELVE (12) YEARS or both such fine and 
imprisonment, for each offense, without prejudice to the civil liability 
of the offender in accordance with existing laws. 
Any vessel from which oil or other harmful substances are 
discharged in violation of Section 4 or any regulation prescribed in 
pursuance thereof, shall be liable for the penalty or fine specified in 
this section, and clearance of such vessel form the port of the 
Philippine Coast Guard shall provide in its rules and regulations 
such reasonable administrative penalties as may be necessary for 
the effective implementation of this decree. 
SECTION 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, 
including rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SECTION 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,