Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 537

Introduced by Representative EDUARDO R. RAMA, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines continues to grapple with the persistent problem of littering, which
contributes to the degradation of the environment and deterioration of vital drainage systems."
During the rainy season, it has become a regular scene to see litter, including plastic bottles and
bags, floating around high waters and then clogging canals, sewers. and storm drains.”

This issue is not confined to urban infrastructure but is also evident during large public
gatherings and in natural tourist destinations. For instance, during the Translacion, EcoWaste
Coalition had recorded single-use plastic bags, bottles, food containers, paper packaging, food
waste, soiled diapers, improvised sleeping materials, cigarette butts, and disposable vapes as
among the most discarded items.’ Similarly, the management of Mt. Pulag announced that it is
temporarily closing its two (2) campsites, which are littered with garbage probably left by hikers
and trekkers."

This proposed legislative measure seeks to strengthen the implementation of Republie Act
No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, by imposing community
service as the primary penalty for littering offenses, thereby promoting restorative justice and civic
engagement. Accordingly, violators of this Act will be active in the preservation and rehabilitation

of the environment

*  G.Ombay, S. Locus (30 July 2024). DPW11. 70% of NCR's internal druinage clogzed with garbage. silt.

2 The Climate Reality Project Philippines (02 August 2024). Eleventh How ~low plastics worsen flovls,
‘emissions

M. Montemayor (09 January 2025). Group laments uncontrollable litter ug during Translacion.

4 A. Quitasol (20 February 2025). Mi. Pulag Closes Campsites for Rehabii:tation Amid Litiering Issues



Furthermore, the bili empowers local government units (LGUs) and the Depariment of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to implement and monitor the community service

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In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought to promote
environmental protection, strengthen civic responsibility, and uphold the constitutional right to a
healthy environment.

aa

REP. EDUARDO R. RAMA JR.
2nd District, Cebu City


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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS

House Bill No.__ 537

~ Introduced by Representative EDUARDO R. RAMA, JR.

AN ACT PENALIZING LITTERING AND IMPROPER WASTE DISPOSAL,
PROVIDING PENALTIES 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 shail be known as the “Anti-Litterbug Act of 2025”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is a continuing policy of the State to protect
public health, preserve environmental cleanliness, and institutionalize waste reduction. The State
Promote a culture of environmental responsibility through education, community
participation, and the adoption of best practices in waste management

shall

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
mean:
a. Community Service ~ Unpaid iabor for public benctit, supervised by LGUs or
accredited environmental organizations,

b. Domestic Waste — Food residues, food preparation waste and spoilage, paper and
‘other products, metals, plastics and rubber, rugs and clothes, process residues, yard
trimmings, and wood.

c. Environmentally sensitive areas ~ This includes flood-prone areas as identified by
relevant government agencies; public rivers, estuaries, and canals, particularly those within
city limits or under commercial bridges; watersheds, aquifers, and other areas designated
as protected or critical to water management and public health

4. Hazardous Waste — Any waste or combination of wastes of solid liquid, contained
gaseous, or semi-solid form which cause, of contribute to, an increase in mortality or an


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increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversibie illness, taking into account
toxicity of such waste, its persistence and degradability in nature, its potential for

contribute to adverse acute or chronic effects on the health of persons or organisms.

. Immediate surroundings — Refers to the frontage, including up to the mid-span of
the road, alley or avenue (excluding highways and major thoroughfares) from the edge of
the street guiter, sidewalke of residential honcee, dwelling tnits, business/eammercial

establishments or offices, whether private or public.

f Industrial waste — Any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste material with no
commercial value released by a manufacturing or processing plant other than excluded

g. Littering - The act of throwing, dumping, or leaving waste, trash, garbage, or any
kind of refuse in public places, roads, sidewalks, parks, waterways, or any arca not
designated as a waste receptacle or for waste disposal.

h. _Litterbug— Any person who drops waste, litter, trash, uarbage, or any kind of refuse
on the ground in public places not intended for waste disposal, or who commits the act of
littering as defined in this Act

i. Open public place ~ This includes roads, streets, sidewalks, easements, parks, and
other open spaces, bridges, alleys, overpasses, rivers, creeks, canals, drainage, esteros,
waterways, and other bodies of water and outlets, which are accessible to the public.

j. Potentially infectious medical waste — Refers to isolation wastes, infectious agents,
human blood and blood products, pathological wastes, sharps, body parts, contaminated
bedding, surgical wastes, and other disposable medical equipment and material that may
pose a risk to the public health, welfare, or the marine environment.

k. Solid Waste — Refuse arising from human, animal, and industrial activities that are
normally of a solid nature and discarded or thrown away as useless and/or unwanted.

1 Waste — Any material, either solid, liquid, semisolid, contained gas, or other forms
resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, or agricuitural operations, or [rom
community and household activities that is devoid of usage and discarded.

SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts —- For purposes of this Act, the following acts arc

prohibited:


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a. Dumping, throwing, scattering, strewing, litering, or disposing of garbage, refuse,
or any types of waste as defined in Section 3 of the Act such as, but not limited to, plastics,

immediate surroundings, including vacant lots, rivers, canals, drainage, and other water
ways, not otherwise designated as garbage dumping areas, trash cans, or receptacles,
whether owned by the government or private entities.

defined in Section 3 of this Act in environmentally sensitive areas, including but not limited
to flood-prone zones, public rivers, aquifers, reservoirs, watersheds, estcros, canals, and
waterways, especially those located under or adjacent to commercial bridges within urban
centers.

c Placing, storing, or dumping construction waste or debris, junked or under repair
vehicles, dilapidated appliances, and similar objects in any part of the road, street, or
avenue, or any sidewaik, which may obstruct or impede vehicular and pedestrian traftic.

2. Bringing out garbage on the property Hine of
establishments or any part of the road, which must be stored in properly sealed plastic
containers and brought outside only upon arrival of the authorized garbage hauling trucks
in their respective localities.

contents of any garbage or refuse bin.

f Urinating or defecating in or upon any street, vacant iand, river, canal, ditch, drain,
or watercourse, or in any public place.

g Spilling, throwing, or depositing any litter, garbage, or refuse on any part of the
road, street, or other public places, while being a driver or passenger of any private or
public vehicie on the way to their destination.

for collection by authorized persons or entities.

i, Violating local anti-iiutering ordinances, which impose fines and community
service for littering offenses.


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ets is mi

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safety, well being and basic human rights of the person who has been found to have

violated this act;

b.__ Formuiating guidelines for impiementing community service, including the number
of hours for community service and issuance of citation tickets;

©. Recording and maintaining the list of persons who are found to have violated this
Act;

4. Identifying and authorizing officers who shail apprehend violators and issue
citation tickets; and

© Coordinating with the Department of Education (“DepEd”) in the conduct of
mandatory environmental education to offenders at the age of fifteen (15) years old

SECTION 6. Penalty — Every person who performs any of the aforementioned prohibited

the off

od to pe the LGU where the

a. In case of a first offense, the person shall perform at least eight (8) hours but not
exceeding ten (10) hours of community service.

b. In case of a second offense, the person shall perform at least twelve (12) hours but
not exceeding twenty-four (24) hours of community service.

©. In case of subsequent offenses, the person shall perform thirty-six (36) hours but
not exceeding seventy-two (72) hours of community service.

In the event that the offender is a minor, he or she shall undergo mandatory environmental

education organized by the LGU concerned.

SECTION 7. Public Education and Community Engagement. — The Department of

Environment and Natural Resources, in coordination with the DepED, Commission on Higher
Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Philippine Information Agency,
shall conduct a continuing education and information campaign on the implementation of this Act,
including proper waste management and disposal.

To ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of these efforts, any of the following

activities may be promoted by the aforementioned agencies:

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a. Partnership with LGUs and community-based organizations to organize clean-up

b. Encourage the formation of volunteer groups within communities to monitor and
report littering;

¢. Incorporate modules on environmental responsibility and stewardship into school
curricula at all levels; and

fhasize the impacts of

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health and ecological balance.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause.— If, for any reasun, any section of this Act shall be
deemed unconstitutional and invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules,
and regulations, contrary to or inconsistent with any provisions of this Act, are repeaied or
amended accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,