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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10871 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to 
safeguard and promote the people's right to a balanced and healthful 
ecology in harmony with nature. This constitutional directive is reinforced 
by Republic Act No. 9729, known as the “Climate Change Act of 2009.” 
This Act establishes the Climate Change Commission (CCC), which 
collaborates with local government units (LGUs) and private entities to 
address the susceptibility of various regions, provinces, cities, and 
municipalities to climate change effects. 
Coastal communities are particularly vulnerable to the adverse 
impacts of climate change, facing significant environmental risks and 
natural hazards such as storm surges and flooding. These communities 
often depend on mangrove ecosystems for protection, ensuring the safety 
of their lives and property. According to a 2017 study by the World Bank's 
Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services (WAVES), 
Philippine mangroves mitigate flooding for 613,000 people annually. 
Without these vital ecosystems, the incidence and severity of flooding and 
associated damages would rise by approximately 25% each year. 
Despite their crucial role in safeguarding coastal areas, mangrove 
forests in the Philippines are limited in extent. The Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) estimates the country's 
mangrove forest cover at around 311,400 hectares, representing only 
4.3% of the nation's total forest cover of 7.23 million hectares. Therefore, 
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the restoration and expansion of coastal and mangrove areas are 
imperative. This priority is highlighted in the Enhanced National Greening 
Program of the DENR, which includes initiatives aimed at mitigating the 
negative impacts of climate change. 
This proposed legislation aims to strengthen existing efforts by 
mandating the DENR to develop an integrated National Coastal Greenbelt 
Management Action Plan (NCGMAP) in collaboration with the CCC and 
relevant agencies responsible for foreshore management, mangrove and 
beach forest protection, among others. The NCGMAP will outline criteria 
for identifying priority coastal greenbelt areas, detailed plans for their 
rehabilitation, and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation. 
Additionally, LGUs are required to formulate and implement their 
Local Coastal Greenbelt Management Action Plans (LCGMAPs). These 
local plans will support the NCGMAP by providing localized data and 
facilitating the execution of national operational plans. Incentives will be 
offered to LGUs that submit comprehensive LCGMAPs or demonstrate 
effective management of coastal greenbelt areas. 
The bill also delineates the roles and responsibilities of key 
implementing agencies to ensure coordinated and effective development 
of coastal greenbelt areas across the country. 
In light of the critical need for enhanced coastal protection and 
environmental resilience, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
Representative, CIBAC Partylist 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 10871 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
THE 
NATIONAL 
COASTAL 
GREENBELT 
MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National 
1 
Coastal Greenbelt Act." 
2 
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the 
4 
constitutional right of the people to a healthful and balanced ecology. The 
5 
State also acknowledges that as an archipelagic country, the Philippines 
6 
and its local communities are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate 
7 
change and global warming. It shall, therefore, be the policy of the State 
8 
to protect the lives and property of communities in the coastal areas from 
9 
the impacts of typhoons, tsunamis, and similar natural events. 
10 
11 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the 
12 
following terms shall have the following meanings: 
13 
14 
a) Coastal Greenbelt Zone refers to strips of natural or planted
15 
coastal vegetation, stretching at least one hundred (100)
16 
meters in width from the sea towards land, primarily of
17 
mangrove and beach forest species, which are designed to
18 


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prevent coastal erosion, and mitigate the adverse impacts of 
1 
natural coastal hazards on human lives and property; 
2 
 
3 
b) Coastal Zone refers to a band of dry land and adjacent ocean 
4 
space (water and submerged land) in which terrestrial 
5 
processes and uses directly affect oceanic processes and 
6 
uses, and vice versa. Its geographic extent may include areas 
7 
within a landmark limit of one (1) kilometer from the shoreline 
8 
at high tide to include mangrove swamps, brackish water 
9 
ponds, nipa swamps, estuarine rivers, sandy beaches and 
10 
other areas within a seaward limit of 200 meters isobath to 
11 
include coral reefs, algal flats, seagrass beds and other soft-
12 
bottom areas; 
13 
 
14 
c) Designated areas refer to site-specific stretches of vegetation 
15 
in the coastal zone, defined in relation to risk factors and 
16 
vulnerability to coastal hazards, and reserved for protection and 
17 
maintenance 
under 
the 
National 
Coastal 
Greenbelt 
18 
Management Action Plan. The area may undergo rehabilitation, 
19 
reforestation, or afforestation with locally appropriate native 
20 
species. Designated areas with abandoned fishponds require 
21 
the reversion of these fishponds to mangroves through natural 
22 
regeneration or replanting with locally and ecologically 
23 
appropriate species. Designated areas with illegal structures, 
24 
such as breakwaters, permanent residential/commercial 
25 
structures, and the like require removal of such Structures; 
26 
 
27 
d) Fisherfolk Settlement Areas refer to certain areas of the 
28 
public domain, specifically near the fishing grounds, granted to 
29 
or reserved for the settlement of municipal fisherfolks; and 
30 
 
31 
e) Mangroves refer to a community of intertidal plants in the 
32 
tropics and subtropics, including all species of trees, shrubs, 
33 
vines, and herbs growing along tidal mudflats and shallow 
34 
water coastal areas extending inland along rivers, streams, and 
35 
their tributaries where the water is generally brackish. 
36 
 
37 
SEC. 
4. 
Creation 
of 
the 
National 
Coastal 
Greenbelt 
38 
Management Action Plan (NCGMAP). - Within six (6) months from the 
39 
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Environment and Natural 
40 
Resources (DENR), in coordination with the Climate Change Commission 
41 
(CCC), shall identify and convene all national agencies responsible for 
42 
foreshore management, mangrove and beach forest protection and 
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utilization, coastal land and sea-use planning, coastal tourism 
1 
development, and social welfare of coastal communities for the 
2 
preparation of an integrated National Coastal Greenbelt Management 
3 
Action Plan (NCGMAP). 
4 
 
5 
The NCGMAP shall, at the minimum, contain the following: 
6 
 
7 
(a) Spatial representation, or if feasible, an inventory of the status 
8 
of coastlines and foreshores, including the status of 
9 
mangroves, beach forests, settlements, structures, and 
10 
fishponds within one hundred (100) meters of coastlines, 
11 
foreshores, mangroves or beaches; 
12 
 
13 
(b) The criteria for the designation of priority areas as coastal 
14 
greenbelt areas in each coastal province, city, and 
15 
municipality. The designation shall be shall be based on the 
16 
area's vulnerability to storm surges, waves, tsunamis and 
17 
other similar natural disasters; Provided, That the assessment 
18 
of priority areas shall be accomplished within one (1) year 
19 
from the completion of the NCGMAP; Provided, further, That 
20 
(0) areas declared as protected areas in accordance with 
21 
Republic Act No. 11038, or the Expanded National Integrated 
22 
Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act, (ii) fish refuge or 
23 
sanctuaries as determined in accordance with Republic Act 
24 
No. 8550, as amended by Republic Act No. 10654, or the 
25 
Philippine Fisheries Code, and (ii) local marine protected 
26 
areas as provided under municipal or city ordinances shall be 
27 
automatically designated as priority areas; 
28 
 
29 
(c) Operational plan for the rehabilitation, reforestation, or 
30 
afforestation of designated priority coastal greenbelts with 
31 
ecologically appropriate mangrove and beach forest species, 
32 
not less than one hundred (100) meters in width; Provided, 
33 
That existing forests or plantations greater than the minimum 
34 
width shall not be reduced; Provided, further, That the 
35 
program for rehabilitation, reforestation or afforestation shall 
36 
be community-based, long-term, and implemented through 
37 
the local government concerned; Provided, further, That the 
38 
program shall aim to cover at least twenty percent (20%) of 
39 
the designated priority areas in the first five (5) years, while 
40 
the remaining priority areas shall be completed within ten (10) 
41 
years from their designation as such; 
42 
 
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(d) Operational plan for the reversion of all abandoned fishponds 
1 
to mangroves through natural regeneration or replanting with 
2 
locally appropriate species; Provided, That the identification 
3 
and recovery of possession from delinquent fishpond lease 
4 
agreement holders shall be completed within twelve (12) 
5 
months from the adoption of the NCGMAP; 
6 
 
7 
(e) Operational plan for the removal of illegal structures in the 
8 
identified priority coastal greenbelts; Provided, That such 
9 
removal shall be completed within twelve (12) months from the 
10 
start of rehabilitation, reforestation or afforestation of the 
11 
areas; 
12 
 
13 
(f) Monitoring and evaluation plan, with quantitative and 
14 
qualitative targets for the implementation of the operational 
15 
plans identified in subparagraphs (c), (d), and (e) of this 
16 
Section, appropriate indicators, and reasonable means of 
17 
verification; and 
18 
 
19 
(g) The national incentive program, as provided under Section 6 
20 
of this Act, to encourage broader participation of local 
21 
government units (LGUs) in the implementation of this Act. 
22 
 
23 
The DENR and CCC shall lead the preparation of the NCGMAP not 
24 
later than twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
25 
 
26 
SEC. 5. Creation of the Local Coastal Greenbelt Management 
27 
Action Plan (LCGMAP). - Each coastal province, city and municipality in 
28 
the identified priority coastal greenbelt areas in the NCGMAP shall 
29 
prepare a Local Coastal Greenbelt Management Action Plan (LCGMAP) 
30 
to facilitate the implementation of the operational plans identified in the 
31 
NCGMAP. 
32 
 
33 
For this purpose, each province, city, and municipality shall: 
34 
 
35 
(a) Provide local data and other supporting measures to the agencies 
36 
involved in the implementation of this Act; 
37 
 
38 
(b) Implement complementary programs to assist affected local 
39 
communities and local businesses, including providing appropriate 
40 
relocation sites with basic services, such as livelihood and 
41 
transportation programs, and zoning or re-zoning of priority coastal 
42 
greenbelt areas, as appropriate; 
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1 
(c) Provide an actual inventory of affected families in designated areas 
2 
to ensure that a legal, just, fair, and humane process of relocation 
3 
is carried out; 
4 
 
5 
(d) Lead the rehabilitation, reforestation, and afforestation of coastal 
6 
communities; 
7 
 
8 
(e) Integrate 
the 
identified 
coastal 
greenbelt 
zones 
in 
its 
9 
comprehensive land use plan; and 
10 
 
11 
(f) Provide relevant data and qualitative feedback to the Key 
12 
Implementing Agencies identified in Section 8 of this Act. 
13 
 
14 
The LCGMAP shall be consistent with and/or integrated into the local 
15 
development plan, comprehensive land use plan, local climate change 
16 
action plan, and other relevant plans. 
17 
 
18 
The relevant agencies of the National Government, in coordination with 
19 
the provincial government, shall provide the necessary technical and 
20 
budgetary support to component coastal cities and municipalities and 
21 
ensure consistency across contiguous LGUs sharing common priority 
22 
coastal greenbelt areas. Highly urbanized cities shall likewise provide 
23 
support to component barangays under their jurisdiction. 
24 
 
25 
The LCGMAP shall be submitted to the Department of the Interior and 
26 
Local Government (DILG), the DENR and the CCC to ensure 
27 
convergence with the NCGMAP. 
28 
 
29 
SEC. 6. Incentives. - LGUs that have i) submitted their LCGMAPs 
30 
to the DILG, DENR, and CCC, or (ii) been recognized by the DILG, DENR 
31 
and/or CCC for their effective establishment and/or management of 
32 
coastal greenbelt areas, may be entitled to receive grants and incentives 
33 
to build technical capacities in implementing the LCGMAP and supporting 
34 
programs which are in line with the objectives of this Act. 
35 
 
36 
SEC. 7. National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC). - The 
37 
DENR, in coordination with the CCC, shall convene a National Technical 
38 
Advisory Committee (NTAC) composed of: 
39 
 
40 
(a) A representative from the DENR; 
41 
 
42 
(b) A representative from the CCC; 
43 


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1 
(c) A representative from the Department of Agriculture (DA) - Bureau 
2 
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); 
3 
 
4 
(d) A representative from the DILG; 
5 
 
6 
(e) Two experts in mangrove and beach forest ecosystems, 
7 
oceanography, or other related disciplines; and 
8 
 
9 
(f) A representative from a non-government organization or a people's 
10 
organization that demonstrates capacity to promote the public 
11 
interest and with identifiable leadership, membership and structure 
12 
and has been actively involved in mangrove research. 
13 
 
14 
Provided, That the representatives of government agencies shall not have 
15 
a rank lower than an Assistant Secretary. 
16 
 
17 
The NTAC shall provide guidance in the design, implementation, and 
18 
evaluation of actions under the NCGMAP. The experts shall serve the 
19 
NTAC without compensation but may be reimbursed for basic expenses 
20 
to attend meetings and prepare technical reports. 
21 
 
22 
SEC. 8. Role of Key Implementing Agencies. - The following 
23 
agencies shall take the lead in implementing components of the NCGMAP 
24 
that are relevant to their mandates: 
25 
 
26 
(a) The DENR, through the Biodiversity Management Bureau and the 
27 
Forest Management Bureau, among others, shall be the primary 
28 
agency responsible for the implementation of the NCGMAP and 
29 
shall provide other implementing agencies with all the relevant 
30 
information to aid in the monitoring and evaluation of the NCGMAP. 
31 
It shall also lead the identification of designated areas that must be 
32 
expropriated; 
33 
 
34 
(b) The CCC shall be responsible for convening the relevant 
35 
government agencies, monitoring the implementation of the 
36 
NCGMAP, facilitating public participation in crafting the NCGMAP, 
37 
ensuring the integration of the NCGMAP into the LCGMAP, and 
38 
preparing the annual report to Congress provided under Section 
39 
11 of this Act; 
40 
 
41 
(c) The DA, through the BFAR, shall coordinate with the DENR for the 
42 
reversion of all abandoned fishponds to mangroves through natural 
43 


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regeneration, replanting with locally appropriate species, and 
1 
implementation of fisherfolk settlement program in line with existing 
2 
laws and programs. It shall also provide the CCC with all relevant 
3 
information to aid in the monitoring and evaluation of the NCGMAP; 
4 
 
5 
(d) The DILG, in coordination with the DENR, CCC and DA-BFAR, 
6 
shall provide technical guidance to, and supervision over, 
7 
provinces, cities, and municipalities in establishing their local 
8 
coastal greenbelt zones and in developing appropriate LCGMAP, 
9 
including designing and implementing community-based and 
10 
ecologically 
appropriate 
rehabilitation, 
reforestation, 
and 
11 
afforestation programs, and monitoring and evaluating the 
12 
implementation of the LGUs' programs and action plans; and 
13 
 
14 
(e) The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development 
15 
(DHSUD), in coordination with the concerned LGU, shall provide 
16 
for the relocation of the families or individuals who will be affected 
17 
by the implementation of this Act. 
18 
 
19 
SEC. 9. Penalties. - In addition to the penalties provided under existing 
20 
laws, the following acts shall be penalized: 
21 
 
22 
(a) Obstructing or preventing the removal of illegal structures or the 
23 
reversion of abandoned fishponds: An administrative fine of Fifty 
24 
Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) per day that the agency is 
25 
prevented from performing its function; 
26 
 
27 
(b) Construction of structures within the coastal greenbelt zones 
28 
without the appropriate permit: An administrative fine of Fifty 
29 
Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) per day from the time that the 
30 
structure was built until its removal. 
31 
 
32 
Proceeds from the imposition of administrative fines under this Section 
33 
shall be retained by the agency imposing such fines and shall be used 
34 
exclusively for the implementation of its mandate under this Act. 
35 
 
36 
Legal actions filed in the exercise of rights and enforcement of obligations 
37 
under this Act shall also be covered under the Philippine Fisheries Code, 
38 
as amended, and other applicable laws, rules and regulations. 
39 
 
40 
SEC. 10. Annual Report to Congress. - The CCC shall consolidate 
41 
and prepare the reports of all Key Implementing Agencies regarding the 
42 


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accomplishment of the quantitative and qualitative targets under the 
1 
NCGMAP. 
2 
 
3 
The report shall be submitted to the President and the Congress of the 
4 
Philippines not later than June 30 of each year. 
5 
 
6 
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) 
7 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the DENR, CCC and all concerned 
8 
agencies, upon prior consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall issue 
9 
the implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of 
10 
this Act. 
11 
 
12 
SEC. 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the 
13 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
14 
Appropriations Act. 
15 
 
16 
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
17 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed 
18 
or modified accordingly. 
19 
 
20 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held 
21 
invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and 
22 
effectivity of the other provisions hereof. 
23 
 
24 
SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) 
25 
days from its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general 
26 
circulation. 
27 
 
28 
Approved,   
29