1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representatives  
BELLA VANESSA B. SUANSING and MIKAELA ANGELA B. SUANSING 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR BLUE ECONOMY, PROMOTING 
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND 
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND RESOURCES, REORGANIZING AND RENAMING 
THE NATIONAL COAST WATCH SYSTEM AS THE NATIONAL MARITIME 
MONITORING SYSTEM, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines stands as one of the most significant actors in the global maritime 
landscape. The country shares the most fertile portion of the Coral Triangle, a six-million-
square-kilometer ecosystem that hosts the highest coral reef species diversity in the world. This 
immense coral reef diversity also houses the highest diversity of coral reef fishes and hosts six 
out of the seven marine turtle species in the world.  
The abundance of maritime resources in the Coral Triangle and the Philippines at large 
has enabled the area to directly sustain more than 78 percent of the Philippine provinces located 
along its coastline. Unfortunately, at the center of this abundance has also been extensive 
marine degradation. The Philippines also hosts the largest number of coral reef species under 
threat; more than 50 percent of Philippine reefs are classified as overfished.1  
The marine degradation in the Philippines is symptomatic of global marine degradation 
that has led to the calamitous environmental outcomes. By 2023, the global sea level average 
has risen by 91.2 millimeters since 1993,2 around 2.85 mm per year. The Philippines outpaces 
1 “Philippines: Guarding the Gates of the Pacific,” Coral Triangle Center, accessed July 24, 2025, 
https://www.coraltrianglecenter.org/philippines/. 
2 “Vital Signs: Global Mean Sea Level,” NASA, July 17, 2025, https://sealevel.nasa.gov/understanding-sea-
level/key-indicators/global-mean-sea-level. 
July 28, 2025
8:00 am
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the rest of the globe, with an average sea level rise of 5 to 7 mm per year.3 The sea level average 
is exacerbated by increasing ocean heat content, which leads to the expansion of global ocean 
volume. These two factors directly lead to coastal flooding that endangers over 60 percent of 
Filipinos who reside along the country’s coastline. 
As the Philippines explores the potential economic viability of its marine resources, 
sustainability must be placed at the center of its conversations to prevent irreversible 
environmental degradation. It is not only of national interest but also of global significance that 
the Philippines protects the “Amazon of the Seas,” essential for the flourishing of the global 
maritime ecosystem. 
With the imminent need for a responsible and sustainable approach to maritime 
activities in the Philippines and the immense potential of the country’s maritime resources, the 
following measure endeavors to create a streamlined maritime development framework that 
puts sustainability at the center of national maritime development. The following measure 
ensures that all Filipinos equitably benefit from the country’s expansive resources without 
putting Filipinos who are most vulnerable to adverse climate change effects on oceans at a 
greater risk of displacement and socio-economic ruin. 
The following bill has been approved during the 19th Congress on Third and Final 
Reading. In view of Rule X, Section 48 (3) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 
in view of the urgency of the consideration and approval of this measure, its immediate 
approval is earnestly sought. 
BELLA VANESSA B. SUANSING  
MIKAELA ANGELA B. SUANSING 
      2nd District of Sultan Kudarat 
1st District of Nueva Ecija 
3 “Climate Change Projections,” Climate Change Commission, accessed July 24, 2025, 
https://climate.gov.ph/climate-change-projections-our-future-through-the-looking-glass. 


3 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representatives  
BELLA VANESSA B. SUANSING and MIKAELA ANGELA B. SUANSING 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR BLUE ECONOMY, PROMOTING 
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND 
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND RESOURCES, REORGANIZING AND RENAMING 
THE NATIONAL COAST WATCH SYSTEM AS THE NATIONAL MARITIME 
MONITORING SYSTEM, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Blue Economy Act.” 
SECTION. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to: 
a.
Adopt blue economy as a framework for equitable and sustainable development
and safe use of marine wealth within our maritime zones, as a pillar of our national economy 
and patrimony; 
b.
Exercise stewardship of our seas and coasts, and protect and conserve the health
and resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats, through strong institutional 
mechanisms for maritime monitoring and regulatory enforcement, to promote the well-being, 
prosperity and security of present and future generations; 
c.
Preserve our maritime heritage, recognize the social, cultural, and historical value
of our seas and coasts, and foster public understanding and respect of the value of our seas and 
coasts to build a strong foundation for social responsibility; 
d.
Enrich scientific understanding of marine and coastal ecosystems, the benefits we
gain from these ecosystems like carbon sequestration, their changing conditions and the causes 
thereof, and use the best available scientific knowledge to inform decisions affecting our seas 
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and coasts and to enhance our capacity to respond and adapt to changing maritime 
environments; 
 
e. 
Foster international cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement, and exercise 
rights and jurisdiction in accordance with applicable international laws, including on freedom 
of navigation; 
 
f. 
Ensure a whole-of-nation approach and a comprehensive, integrated framework for 
the stewardship of our seas and coasts to facilitate cohesive action of the national government, 
local authorities, academe, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and the public; 
and 
 
g. 
Promote, support and monitor science, technology and innovation programs of 
public and private academic and research institutions to strengthen interdisciplinary research 
in marine science, and to develop emerging technologies to catalyze growth of new maritime 
sectors. 
 
 
SECTION. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
 
a. Aquaculture refers to fishery operations involving all forms of raising and culturing 
fish and other fishery species in fresh, brackish, and marine water areas; 
 
b. Aquasilviculture refers to a multi-purpose production system that allows 
production of fish and other aquatic species in a mangrove reforestation project; 
 
c. Aquatic resources refer to fish and other living resources of the aquatic 
environment that have or will have commercial value when utilized; 
 
d. Blue economy refers to the integrated, holistic, cross-sectoral, and cross-
stakeholder approach for the sustainable, resilient and inclusive use, governance, 
management and conservation of oceans, seas as well as marine and coastal 
resources and ecosystems for economic growth, leveraging green infrastructure and 
technologies, innovative financing mechanisms and proactive institutional 
mechanisms, and improving human well-being and social equity, and reducing 
environmental risks and ecological scarcities; 
 
e. Blue carbon refers to organic carbon that is captured by marine and coastal 
ecosystems, such as algae, seagrass, mangroves, and other plants growing in salt 
marshes and coastal wetlands; 
 
f. Blue public expenditure refers to public expenditures that address issues related to 
coastal and marine resources, environmental degradation, and development 
aspirations that depend on marine resources and environments; 
 
g. By-catch refers to fish or other marine species that a fisher does not intend to catch, 
including juveniles of commercially-valuable species and biologically-important 
species caught unintentionally while trying to catch a certain type of fish. 
 
h. Commercial fishing refers to the taking of fishery species by passive or active gear 
for trade, business and profit beyond subsistence or sports fishing, to be further 


 
5 
classified as: small scale commercial fishing, or fishing with passive or active gear 
utilizing fishing vessels of three and one-tenth (3.1) gross tons (GT) up to twenty 
(20) GT; medium scale commercial fishing or fishing utilizing active gears and 
vessels of twenty and one-tenth (20.1) GT up to one hundred fifty (150) GT; and 
large commercial fishing or fishing utilizing active gears and vessels of more than 
one hundred fifty (150) GT: 
 
i. Contiguous zone refers to the contiguous zone of the Philippines to the waters 
beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent of twenty-four (24) 
nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is 
measured; 
 
j. Continental shelf refers to the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas of the 
Philippines that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural 
prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to 
a distance of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the baselines from which the 
breadth of the territorial sea is measured, where the outer edge of the continental 
margin does not extend up to that distance; 
 
k. Ecosystem services refer to the flow of benefits which humans gain from 
ecosystems, through biological processes and climate, hydrological and 
biochemical cycles, and experiences that contribute to intangible culture; 
 
l. Environmental-economic accounting refers to a systematic way to measure and 
report on stocks and flows of natural assets and resources - both biotic and abiotic, 
renewable and non-renewable - and ecosystem services, to determine the 
contribution of the environment to the economy and the impact of the economy on 
the environment; 
 
m. Environmental-economic accounts refer to statistical information, in physical or 
monetary terms, about the extraction of natural resources, their use within the 
economy, natural resource stock levels, the changes in those stocks during a 
specific period, and such other economic activities related to the environment; 
 
n. Exclusive economic zone (EEZ) refers to the waters beyond and adjacent to its 
territorial sea and up to the extent of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the 
baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, as established 
by Presidential Decree No. L599, otherwise known as the "Philippine Exclusive 
Economic Zone of 1978", and to the extent consistent with the other provisions of 
this Act and with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law 
of the Sea (UNCLOS); 
 
o. Fisheries refer to all activities relating to the science and act of business of fishing, 
culturing, preserving, processing, marketing, developing, conserving, and 
managing of aquatic resources, and environment; 
 
p. Integrated 
coastal 
management 
(ICM) 
refers 
to 
a 
holistic 
and 
integrative management that incorporates the following components: (1) 
connectivity of various ecosystems - environment and resources; (2) various 
sectors and stakeholders; (3) institutional arrangements that are relevant; and (4) 


 
6 
assessment of drivers of coastal ecosystem degradation, management planning and 
implementation, including research and education, to address coastal degradation 
and biodiversity losses, and to improve the well-being of communities in coastal 
and interconnected areas; 
 
q. Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM) refers to a 
participatory process for decision-making to prevent, control, or mitigate adverse 
impacts from human activities in the marine and coastal environment, and to 
contribute to the restoration of degraded coastal areas; 
 
r. Internal waters refer to waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines 
not forming part of archipelagic waters under Section 4 of this Act and delineated 
in accordance with Article 50 of the UNCLOS; and waters on the landward side of 
the baselines of the territorial sea of territories outside of the archipelagic baselines, 
drawn in accordance with Article 8 of the UNCLOS; 
 
s. Investment promotion agencies (IPAs) refer to government entities created by law, 
executive order, decree or other issuance, in charge of promoting investments, 
granting and administering tax and non-tax incentives, and overseeing the 
operations of the different economic zones and freeports in accordance with their 
respective special laws. These include the Board of Investments (BOI), 
Bangsamoro Board of Investments, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Bases 
Conversion and Development Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Clark 
Development Corporation, John Hay Management Corporation, Poro Point 
Management Corporation, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Zamboanga City 
Special Economic Zone Authority, PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority, Aurora 
Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, Authority of the Freeport Area of 
Bataan, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and all other similar 
existing authorities that may be created by law; 
 
t. Mariculture refers to the sea farming of aquatic plants and fishes; 
 
u. Marine scientific research refers to any research activity, which is conducted for 
exclusively peaceful purposes, for the purpose of increasing scientific knowledge 
about the marine environment, including all-natural resources, toward the benefit 
of mankind and according to the UNCLOS; 
 
v. Maritime domain awareness refers to the effective understanding of any activity 
that could impact upon the security, safety, economy or environment; 
 
w. Maritime spatial planning refers to a process by which human activities in maritime 
zones are analyzed and organized, based on best available scientific knowledge, to 
achieve economic, ecological and social objectives; 
 
x. Maritime zones refer to the maritime zones of the Philippines comprising the 
internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ, and 
continental shelf; 
 


 
7 
y. Ocean-based activities refer to activities that are undertaken in the ocean, such as 
fisheries and aquaculture, offshore oil and gas, mining, ocean energy, desalination, 
shipping and marine transportation, marine tourism, and marine construction; 
 
z. Ocean-related activities refer to activities that use products from the ocean such as 
seafood processing, marine biotechnology, chemicals, salt, and produce products 
and services for the ocean and ocean-based activities such as shipbuilding and 
repair, ports, tourist resorts, communication, maritime insurance and law, and 
maritime technical services; 
 
aa. Subsistence 
fishing 
refers 
to 
fishing 
for 
personal 
consumption 
or 
traditional/ceremonial purposes; and 
 
bb. Ocean literacy refers to an understanding of the ocean's influence on humans and 
human influence on the ocean. 
 
 
SECTION. 4. Scope of Application. – For  purposes of this Act, the Philippines shall 
exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, in accordance with commitments under 
the UNCLOS and other related treaties which the Philippines has ratified, in internal waters, 
archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental 
shelf, herein collectively referred to as "maritime zones", including its seabed and subsoil, and 
any and all maritime features within the maritime zones and where appropriate, the relevant 
airspace above the territorial sea, internal waters and archipelagic waters now known or to be 
known in the future. 
 
 
CHAPTER II 
NATIONAL MARITIME MONITORING SYSTEM 
 
 
SECTION. 5. National Maritime Monitoring System. – The National Coast Watch 
System, established under Executive Order (EO) No. 57, series of 2011, is hereby renamed as 
the National Maritime Monitoring System. 
 
 
SECTION. 6. National Maritime Council. – The National Coast Watch Council, 
created under EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby renamed and reconstituted as the National 
Maritime Council, herein referred to as the "Council", and its functions expanded to include 
the formulation of an integrated strategy to promote blue economy and ecosystem-based 
management of coastal and marine resources. 
 
 
In addition to the powers and functions of the Council enumerated in Section 3 of the 
same EO, the Council is likewise further mandated to: 
 
a. Steer the development, research, and sustainable resource explorations in maritime 
zones, especially in areas with high economic potential such as the Philippine Rise 
and the West Philippine Sea; 
 
b. Coordinate the maritime regulation or licensing and law enforcement for strengthened 
preparedness and responsiveness to potential security threats or concerns in the 
country's maritime areas and zones; and 


 
8 
c.   Build capacities in monitoring, including the use of digital and innovative technologies 
for security and surveillance activities. 
 
 
The Council is likewise authorized to convene committees or subcommittees to oversee 
the abovementioned functions. In this way, all strategic maritime zones will be covered and 
will reduce the call for the creation of new bodies or authorities to manage the same. 
 
 
SECTION. 7. Composition of National Maritime Council. - The Council is composed 
of the Executive Secretary as Chairperson and the Secretaries of the following national 
agencies as members: 
 
a. National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); 
b. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); 
c. Department of National Defense (DND) 
d. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); 
e. Department of Justice (DOJ); 
f. Department of the Interior and Local Government; 
g. Department of Agriculture; 
h. Department of Tourism; 
i. Department of Transportation; 
j. Department of Trade and Industry; 
k. Department of Energy; 
l. Department of Science and Technology; 
m. Department of Finance; 
n. Department of Education (DepEd); 
o. Department of Information and Communications Technology; 
p. National Security Council; and 
q. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
 
 
Department Secretaries may designate an alternative representative, whose portfolio 
covers matters directly or principally relating to the development or management of coastal 
and marine resources and ecosystems, if applicable. They shall sit in a permanent capacity, and 
their acts shall be considered the acts of their principals. 
 
 
SECTION. 8. National Maritime Secretariat. – The Coastal Watch Council 
Secretariat, established under Section 4 of EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby renamed as the 
National Maritime Secretariat and shall continue to provide technical and administrative 
support to the Council and perform its functions under the same EO. 
 
 
SECTION. 9. National Maritime Coordination Center. – The National Coast Watch 
Center, established under Section 5 of EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby renamed as the National 
Maritime Coordination Center and shall continue to be the operational support unit of the 
National Maritime Monitoring System and perform its functions under the same EO. 
 
 
SECTION. 10. Support Agencies. – In order to ensure the efficient and effective 
discharge of its responsibilities, in addition to the agencies enumerated under Section 6 of EO 
57, series of 2011, the Council may call upon other departments, bureaus, offices and 
instrumentalities of the government, representatives from maritime industries, and academic 
and research institutions engaged in marine science and ocean-based or ocean-related activities 
to participate in working groups, as it may deem necessary. 


 
9 
CHAPTER III 
POLICY FRAMEWORK ON BLUE ECONOMY 
 
 
SECTION. 11. Policy Framework on Blue Economy. – The Council shall, within six 
(6) months from the effectivity of this Act, formulate a Policy Framework on Blue Economy, 
herein referred to as the Policy Framework. The Policy Framework shall serve as the basis for 
marine spatial planning, determination of investments to develop modern physical 
infrastructure and build an enabling environment for blue economy to prosper, and enhance 
maritime domain awareness, and enforcement of economic and environmental regulations 
within our maritime zones. The Policy Framework shall be subject to mandatory review and 
modification every five (5) years. 
 
 
SECTION. 12. Components of the Policy Framework on Blue Economy. – The 
Policy Framework shall include the following components: 
 
a. Review of all existing policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and regulations on 
ocean-based and ocean-related activities in our maritime zones, including seafood 
processing and storage, and commercial research and development (R&D) 
activities for biomass resource and fish stock estimation, artificial intelligence for 
forecasting fish stocks and supply; 
 
b. Compliance to local and international maritime laws; 
 
c. Analysis of current and emerging trends in demography, consumption, trade, 
technology and climate that show the interaction between the economy and the 
environment, and present threats and pressures on coastal and marine 
environments; 
 
d. Environmental-economic accounting of coastal and marine assets and resources, 
and ecosystem goods and services from coastal and marine environments; 
 
e. Priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related economic 
activities within our maritime zones, which may include the following: 
1. Fisheries, including commercial fishing, but with preference to subsistence 
fisheries, as mandated by Section 7, Article XIII, of the Constitution; 
2. Aquaculture, mariculture and aquasilviculture and support industries, 
including seafood processing and storage, and aquaculture feed milling; 
3. Marine and coastal tourism; 
4. Shipping, logistics and maritime transport; 
5. Shipbuilding and ship repair; 
6. Production of renewable energy from marine sources; 
7. Installation of submarine cables and pipelines; 
8. Marine biotechnology and bioprospecting; 
9. Desalination; 
10. Underwater cultural heritage and maritime archaeology; and 
11. Commercial R&D activities and commercialization of new and emerging 
technologies developed from locally-undertaken R&D; 
 
f. Principles and indicators to guide environmental impact assessment of ocean-based 
and ocean-related economic activities, taking into account the environmental-


 
10 
economic accounting of marine resources and ecosystem services that will be 
affected; 
 
g. Adoption of integrated marine and coastal area management; 
 
h. Strategies to promote blue finance; 
 
i. Priority research and development agenda, including development of innovative 
technologies, and human capital to support the blue economy; 
 
j. Promotion of ocean literacy and social responsibility towards the protection of 
coastal and marine environments; 
 
k. Enhancement of capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and civilian 
agencies to enforce laws, rules and regulations to protect our marine wealth; 
 
l. Goals, targets and indicators for growth, resilience and sustainability of priority 
strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related activities, including its 
contribution to Gross Domestic Product and job creation; and 
 
m. Such other components as may be determined by the Council as a result of its 
periodic review, to ensure that the Policy Framework is continually updated and 
adapted to the needs of the times. 
 
 
CHAPTER IV 
COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL MARITIME INSTRUMENTS 
 
SECTION. 13. International Maritime Instruments. – The Council shall direct the 
Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee, as created under EO No. 159, series of 2021, to 
Facilitate the Ratification of/Accession to and Implementation of Maritime Conventions 
(ICCRIMC) to establish mechanisms for the full and effective implementation and enforcement 
of the following international maritime instruments and their subsequent amendments, 
including, but not limited to the following: 
A. 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; 
 
B. Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna; 
 
C. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 
(UNESCO)Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage; 
 
D. International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, and its 
Protocol of 1988 (SOLAS 74); 
 
E. International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and its 
Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78); 
 
F. Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 
1972, as amended (COLREG 72);  


 
11 
G. International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 and its Protocol of 1988, as 
amended (LL 66); 
 
H. International Convention on the Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 
(TONNAGE 69); 
 
I. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime 
Navigation, 1988 (SUA) and its Protocol; 
 
J. International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-
operation 1990 (OPRC 1990); 
 
K. International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water 
and Sediments, 2004 (B WM 2004); 
 
L. Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by dumping of Wastes and 
Other Matter, 1972, as amended, and its 1996 Protocol (LCP); 
 
M. Special Trade Passenger Ships Agreement, 1971 (STP 71); 
 
N. Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization, as amended (IMSO 
1976) and its Operating Agreement (INMARSAT);  
 
O. International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and 
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as Amended (STCW 78) 
 
P. International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on 
Ships, 2001 (AFS 2001); 
 
Q. Protocol of 1992 to Amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil 
Pollution Damage, 1969; 
 
R. Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on the Establishment of an 
International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971; and 
 
S. Other relevant maritime treaties, conventions, or instruments as may be agreed 
upon in the future. 
 
 
SECTION. 14. Application. – Unless otherwise indicated, the international conventions 
enumerated in the preceding section shall apply to: 
 
a. All ships, whether seagoing or coastwise, which are registered under the Philippine 
flag; 
 
b. All persons, partnerships, corporations, firms and other entities that engage in ocean-
based or ocean-related enterprise, or those acting on their behalf; and 
 
c. All foreign ships that are within the waters, ports, harbors and offshore terminals of 
the Philippines regardless of whether or not they are registered in, or belong to, State 
Parties to the conventions sought to be implemented by this Act. 


 
12 
 
SECTION. 15. Reciprocity. – The rights and privileges of foreign vessels and aircraft 
in Philippine archipelagic waters herein provided are recognized under conditions of 
reciprocity and mutual respect. The President of the Philippines is hereby authorized to institute 
countermeasures and other appropriate steps as may be recommended by the DFA in response 
to foreign states that do not abide by, or that act inconsistently with the UNCLOS, or which do 
not ensure that vessels and aircraft under their authority comply with their rights and 
obligations under the convention. 
 
CHAPTER V 
ENVIRONMENTAL-ECONOMIC ACCOUNTING 
 
 
SECTION. 16. Environmental-Economic Accounting. – The Philippine Statistics 
Authority shall include the environmental-economic accounting of marine ecosystems, as part 
of the Philippine ecosystem and natural capital accounting system, in the generation of the 
Philippine ocean economy satellite accounts. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT 
 
 
SECTION. 17. Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management. – The IMCAM 
shall be the framework to address human impacts on marine and coastal ecosystem, and for 
promoting its conservation and sustainable use. The Integrated Coastal Management 
Framework, principles, and mechanisms shall be aligned and shall be an integral part of the 
IMCAM framework to be developed under this Act. 
 
 
SECTION. 18. Elements of the National IM CAM Framework. – The Council shall 
develop and implement the National IMCAM Framework within one (1) year from the 
effectivity of this Act to provide direction, support and guidance to relevant member and 
support agencies, local government units and other stakeholders, according to the Elaborated 
Programme of Work on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity contained in the Annex to 
Decision VII/5 of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Environmental 
Programme Convention on Biological Diversity. 
 
 
Accordingly, the National IMCAM Framework shall consider the following elements: 
 
(a) Build capacity of stakeholders, in both national and local levels, to apply relevant policy 
instruments to address legal issues, institutionalize participatory processes, and develop 
strategies to promote multidisciplinary and multisectoral ecosystem-based management 
of coastal and marine environments; 
 
(b) Direct action to protect coastal and marine environments from negative impacts, such 
as:  
(1) Identification, protection, prevention of alteration and destruction, and restoration 
of coastal and marine habitats, particularly areas important for reproduction, inter 
alia, coral reef systems; 
(2) Prevention, reduction or control of marine pollution; 
(3) Protection of coastal and marine environments from land-based sources, including 
proper coastal land use and watershed management; 


 
13 
(4) Establishment of closed fishing areas, and closed seasons, in accordance with 
Republic Act (RA) No. 8550, also known as the "Philippine Fisheries Code of 
1998". ', as amended by RA 10654; and 
(5) Reduction of by-catch. 
 
(c) Establish mechanisms and guidelines for research, monitoring and assessment of 
coastal and marine ecosystems and resources, including indicators to measure natural 
and human-induced impacts; and 
 
(d) Establish guidelines and mechanisms on green and blue businesses. 
 
 
CHAPTER VII 
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES 
 
 
SECTION. 19. Protection of Endangered Species. – The Council shall spearhead the 
conservation, protection and rehabilitation of rare, threatened and endangered aquatic species 
as it may determine, including their habitats. It shall recommend to the President of the 
Philippines and Congress the designation of coastal and marine areas as protected areas under 
the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System or under RA 8550, as amended, and 
in compliance with the relevant provisions of international treaties and agreements such as, the 
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, the 
UNCLOS, and Convention on Biological Diversity. 
 
 
SECTION. 20. Policy Coordination. – The Council shall harmonize rules and 
regulations of all relevant agencies responsible for the implementation and enforcement of laws 
to prevent and eliminate illegal fishing such as RA 8550, as amended. 
 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING 
 
 
SECTION. 21. Maritime Spatial Planning. – The Council, in consultation with 
relevant agencies, regional bodies and local government units (LGUs), shall undertake a 
nationwide maritime spatial planning, guided by the standards of the Intergovernmental 
Oceanographic Commission, to identify the spatial and temporal distribution of priority 
activities and uses and the interactions thereof in maritime zones, in order to reduce conflict 
among uses, facilitate complementary uses, mitigate environmental impacts, and preserve 
ecosystem services. 
 
 
SECTION. 22. Industry Development Plans. – The Council, through working groups 
created for the purpose, shall prepare five-year and ten-year development plans for priority 
strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related industry, in accordance with the Policy 
Framework and in consideration of the existing development plans and strategies formulated 
by agencies involved in coastal and marine protection and development. The Council shall also 
ensure the integration of the framework in existing industry plans. 
 
 
SECTION. 23. Integration with Area and National Development Plans. – The NEDA 
shall integrate the maritime spatial plan and industry development plans into the Philippine 


 
14 
Development Plan, the National Priority Plan, the National Physical Framework Plan, and Area 
Spatial Development Framework. 
 
 
SECTION. 24. Inclusion in Strategic Investment Priority Plan. – The Council shall 
recommend to the BOI the inclusion of identified priority strategic ocean-based and ocean-
related activities in the Strategic Investment Priority Plan. 
 
 
SECTION. 25. Blue Economic Zones. – Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) shall 
encourage the establishment of blue economic zones and the transformation of existing special 
economic zones into the same: Provided, That Registered Business Enterprises (RBEs) 
engaged in ocean-based or ocean-related activities in these blue economic zones, duly 
registered by an IPA, may be entitled to the incentives under Title XIII (Tax Incentives) of the 
National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. 
In addition, the incentives provided under this Act shall be without 
prejudice to the following laws: 
 
(1) RA 9003, otherwise known as the "Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 
2000"; 
(2) RA 9275, otherwise known as the "Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004"; 
(3) RA 9513, otherwise known as the "Renewable Energy Act of 2008"; and 
(4) RA 10771, otherwise known as the "Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016". 
 
 
The RBEs operating within blue economic zones may also qualify for financing provided 
under RA 11293, otherwise known as the "Philippine Innovation Act", as applicable. 
 
 
CHAPTER IX 
BLUE FINANCE 
 
 
SECTION. 26. Role of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilininas (BSP). – In the exercise of its 
regulatory powers over financial institutions, the BSP shall mandate banks and quasi-banks to 
adopt the United Nations Environment Programme Sustainable Blue Economy Finance 
Principles as a foundation of corporate governance and risk management. 
 
 
SECTION. 27. Role of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). – The SEC shall 
encourage the issuance of blue bonds where proceeds will be exclusively applied to finance or 
refinance, in part or in full, eligible Blue Economy activities, in accordance with SEC 
Guidelines, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Green Bonds Standards and 
Green Bonds Principles, as developed and may be revised from time to time by the SEC, 
ASEAN Capital Markets Forum, and the International Capital Market Association, 
respectively. All designated Blue Projects or Activities must provide clear benefits to ocean 
health and the blue economy or must contribute substantially to United Nations Sustainable 
Development Goals (UN SDG) 6 or 14, which shall be assessed and, where feasible, quantified 
by the Issuer. 
 
 
SECTION. 28. Role of Government Financial Institutions. – The Land Bank of the 
Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines shall provide credit to strategic and 
sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related enterprises. 
 


 
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SECTION. 29. Blue Public Expenditures. – The Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM) shall allocate funds to implement blue economy programs, activities and 
projects (PAPs), in consonance with Section 15 of Republic Act No. 9729, as amended. The 
DBM shall include blue public expenditures as part of its efforts to increase convergence in 
programming and implementation of climate change and disaster risk reduction PAPs through 
the Risk Resiliency Program. 
 
 
CHAPTER X 
MARINE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION (STI) AND OCEAN 
LITERACY 
 
 
 
SECTION. 30. Marine Scientific Research. – The State recognizes marine science as 
a foundation of maritime governance, insofar as rules governing the use of coastal and marine 
resources must be based on the sound scientific understanding of the marine environment. In 
accordance with UNCLOS, the Philippines has the exclusive rights to regulate, authorize and 
conduct marine scientific research in our internal waters, archipelagic waters and territorial sea; 
whereas, the Philippines has rights to regulate, authorize and conduct maritime research in our 
exclusive economic zone and continental shelf: Provided, That the marine scientific research 
activities shall not unjustifiably interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea and shall not 
constitute the legal basis for any claim to any part of the marine environment or its resources. 
 
 
Marine scientific research by foreign states and competent international organizations 
may only be conducted with the express consent of and the conditions set forth by the Council, 
in accordance with the UNCLOS. 
 
 
SECTION. 31. Marine Technology and Innovation. – The State recognizes that 
science, technology, and innovation have a critical role in harnessing ocean resources for the 
blue economy while ensuring sustainability. Marine technology and innovations are needed to 
address technical and logistical constraints that impede the development of Philippine blue 
industries. Among these technologies are advanced materials, subsea engineering and 
technology, sensors and imaging, big data analytics, autonomous systems, biotechnology, 
nanotechnology, marine spatial planning, and circular blue economy. The government shall 
also support the development and adoption of locally-developed marine-related technologies. 
 
 
SECTION. 32. Ocean Literacy Framework. - The DepEd, Commission on Higher 
Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and other government 
agencies implementing sector-specific literacy programs, in consultation with relevant 
members of the Council or support agencies, shall integrate into the curricula of K-12, the 
Alternative Learning System, general education programs of higher education institutions, 
technical and vocational education and training, and other community-based training programs, 
the essential principles and fundamental concepts of ocean sciences to develop the following 
competencies: 
 
A. Understanding the economic, socio-cultural, spiritual, scientific and political 
importance/significance of the ocean to humankind in general and the Filipinos in 
particular; 
 
B. Communicating about the ocean in a meaningful way; and 
 


 
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C. Making informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its resources. 
 
 
CHAPTER XI 
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION 
 
SECTION. 33. Archipelagic Sea Lanes. – The President of the Philippines shall 
designate sea lanes and air routes thereabove suitable for the continuous and expeditious 
passage of foreign ships and aircrafts through or over the archipelagic waters and the adjacent 
territorial sea, and shall, where necessary as regards the safety of navigation, require foreign 
ships exercising the right of innocent passage to use such lanes and traffic separation schemes 
in accordance with the UNCLOS. 
 
 
CHAPTER XII 
ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 
 
 
SECTION. 34. Role of Local Government Units. – Cities and municipalities shall 
continue to exercise jurisdiction over municipal waters, pursuant to RA 7160, otherwise known 
as the "Local Government Code of 1991" , as amended, and RA 8550, as amended subject to 
the jurisdiction and authority of national government agencies as stated in the provisions of 
special laws as the case may be. Consistent with this mandate, LGUs shall act as the frontline 
agencies in the formulation, planning, and implementation and enforcement of the law of 
IMCAM in their respective jurisdictions. The LGUs shall integrate the National Maritime 
Spatial Plan in their Comprehensive Development and Annual Investment Plans. 
 
 
SECTION. 35. Inter-LGU Cooperation. - Consistent with the provisions of RA 7160, 
as amended, LGUs may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their efforts, services, and 
resources for the accomplishment of the objectives of this Act. 
 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
 
SECTION. 36. Joint Congressional Oversight. – For the effective implementation of 
this Act, a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee is created, to be known as the Blue 
Economy Oversight Committee, which shall be composed of five (5) Senators and five (5) 
Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, respectively. The Minority shall be entitled to pro rata representation. The 
Blue Economy Oversight Committee shall be jointly chaired by the Chairperson of the Senate 
Committee on Economic Affairs and the Chairperson of the House Committee on 
Economic Affairs. 
 
 
SECTION. 37. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Office of the 
President. Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
 
SECTION. 38. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Council shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations to efficiently carry out the provisions of this Act within sixty 
(60) days from its effectivity. 


 
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SECTION. 39. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
 
 
SECTION. 40. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules 
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
 
 
SECTION. 41. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,