NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1561
(®{firp of tljf fe; t: rl.U i>
*22 NOV 29 A10-44
RliCEIVf D 8V:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF BEACHES AND COASTAL RECREATION 
WATER
EXPLANATORY NOTE
World class beaches are one of the things that our country is truly proud of. 
The Philippines is known for its prime beaches, and rest and recreation facilities. Not 
only does this give pride to our country, but it also provides for employment and 
income for many of our kababayans.
This bill seeks to improve and maintain the quality of beaches and coastal 
recreation waters in the country. If successfully attained, this will not only conserve 
our ecology but will also sustain the source of income of our fellow Filipinos.
Among the provisions of this bill are: (1) adoption of Coastal Recreational Water 
Quality Criteria, and (2) promulgation of Coastal Beach Water Quality Monitoring. 
Further, it also mandates the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR) to submit a report to Congress of the implementation of the law, specifically 
possible recommendations for improvement.
For the purpose of protecting public safety and improvement of environmental 
quality, consideration of this bill Is earnestly sought.
RAMO
REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1561
of tt)e S>.
*22 NOV 29 AlO 'AA
RliCEIVtD BY.
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF BEACHES AND COASTAL RECREATION 
WATER
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "'Beaches Environmental
2 
Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act'.
3 
Sec. 2. Purposes. - The purpose of this Act is to require uniform criteria and
4 
procedures for testing, monitoring, and notifying users of public coastal recreation
5 
water and beaches:
6 
a. To protect public safety; and
7 
b. To improve environmental quality.
8 
Sec. 3. Definitions. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
9 
mean:
10 
a. Coastal recreation water- means water adjacent to public beaches and marine
11 
coastal water (including bays, lagoon mouths, and coastal estuaries within the
12 
tidal zone) used by the public for:
13 
i. 
Swimming;
14 
ii. 
Bathing;
15 
iii. 
Surfing; or
16 
iv. 
Other similar body contact purposes


1 
b. Floatable materials - means any foreign matter that may float or remain
2 
suspended in water, inciuding:
3 
i. 
Piastic;
4 
ii. 
Aluminum cans;
5 
iii. 
Wood;
6 
iv. 
Bottles;
7 
V. 
Paper products; and
8 
vi. 
Fishing gear.
9 
Sec. 4. Adoption of Coastal Recreational Water Quality Criteria.
10 
a. In General. - Not later than three (3) years and one hundred eighty (180) days
11 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of
12 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall adopt water quality criteria
13 
for coastal recreation water.
14 
b. Development of Criteria. - Water quality criteria described in paragraph (A)
15 
shall be developed and promulgated, in accordance with existing environmental
16 
laws and policies.
17 
Sec. 5. Water Quality Criteria Revision.
18 
a. Studies. - Not later than three (3) years after the date of enactment of this Act,
19 
and after consultation with appropriate officials, including local health officials,
20 
and other interested persons, the Secretary shall conduct studies to provide
21 
new information for use in developing:
22 
i. A more complete list of potential human health risks from inhalation,
23 
ingestion, or body contact with coastal recreation water, including
24 
effects on the upper respiratory system;
25 
ii. Appropriate and effective indicators for improving direct detection of the
26 
presence of pathogens found harmful to human health in coastal
27 
recreational water;
28 
iii. Appropriate, accurate, and expeditious methods (including predictive
29 
models) for detecting the presence of pathogens in coastal recreation
30 
water that are harmful to human health; and


1 
iv. Guidance for the application of the criteria issued under subsection (B)
2 
to account for the diversity of geographic and aquatic conditions
3 
throughout the country.
4 
b. Revised Criteria. - Not later than five (5) years after the date of enactment of
5 
this Act, based on the results of the studies conducted under paragraph (A),
6 
the Secretary, after consultation with appropriate officials, including local health
7 
officials, and other interested parties, shall:
8 
i. Issue revised water quality criteria for pathogens in coastal recreation
9 
water that are harmful to human health, including a revised list of
10 
indicators and testing methods; and
11 
ii. Not less than once every five (5) years thereafter, review and revise the
12 
water quality criteria.
13 
Sec. 6. Coastal Beach Water Quality Monitoring.
14 
a. Monitoring
15 
i. In General. - Not later than one (1) year and one hundred eighty (180) days
16 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate
17 
regulations for the monitoring by the Department for:
18 
a. Compliance with applicable water quality criteria; and
19 
b. Maintenance of public safety.
20 
ii. Contents of Requirements. - Monitoring requirements established under this
21 
section shall specify, at a minimum -
22 
a. Available monitoring methods to be used; and
23 
b. The frequency and location of monitoring based on:
24 
i. The periods of recreational use of coastal recreation water and
25 
beaches;
26 
ii. The extent and degree of recreational use during the periods
27 
described in clause (1);
28 
iii. The proximity of coastal recreation water to known or identified
29 
point and nonpoint sources of pollution; and
30 
iv. The relationship between the use of public recreation water and
31 
beaches to storm events;
32 
c. Methods for:


1 
i. Detecting levels of pathogens that are harmful to human health;
2 
and
3 
ii. Identifying short-term increases in pathogens that are harmful to
4 
human health in coastal recreation water, inciuding the
5 
reiationship of short-term increases in pathogens to storm events;
6 
and
7 
iii. Conditions and procedures under which discrete areas of coastal
8 
recreation water may be exempted by the Secretary from the
9 
monitoring requirements under this subsection, if the Secretary
10 
determines that an exemption will not:
11 
1. Impair compliance with the applicable water quality criteria
12 
for that water; and
13 
2. Compromise public safety.
14 
b. Notification Requirements
15 
i. In General - Regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall require
16 
provinces to provide notification of a failure or the likelihood of a failure to meet
17 
applicable water quality criteria for provincial coastal recreation water, to:
18 
a. Local governments;
19 
b. The public; and
20 
c. The Secretary.
21 
ii. Information inciuded in Notification. - Notification under this subsection shali
22 
require, at a minimum:
23 
a. The prompt communication of the occurrence, nature, extent and
24 
iocation of, and substance, inciuding pathogens, invoived in a failure or
25 
immediate likeiihood of a faiiure to meet water quality criteria, to a
26 
designated offidai of a iocai government having jurisdiction over land
27 
adjoining the coastal recreation water for which the failure or imminent
28 
failure to meet water quality criteria is identified; and
29 
b. The posting of signs, during the period in which water quaiity criteria are
30 
not met continues, that are sufficient to give notice to the public:
31 
i. Of faiiure to meet applicabie water quaiity criteria for the water;
32 
and


1 
ii. The potential risks associated with water contact activities in the
2 
water.
3 
c. Review and Revision of Regulations. - Periodically, but not less than once every five
4 
(5) years, the Secretary shall review and make any necessary revisions to regulations
5 
promulgated under this section.
6 
d. Implementation
7 
i. In General. - Not later than three (3) years and one hundred eighty (180)
8 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, each province shall implement a
9 
monitoring and notification program that conforms to the regulations
10 
promulgated under subsections (A) and (B).
11 
ii. Revision of Program. - Not later than two (2) years after the date of
12 
publication of any revision by the Secretary under subsection (C), each province
13 
shall revise the program established under paragraph (A) to incorporate the
14 
revisions.
15 
e. Guidance: Delegation of Responsibility
16 
i. In General - Not later than one (1) year and one hundred eighty (180) days
17 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidance establishing:
18 
a. Core performance measures for testing, monitoring, and notification
19 
programs under this section; and
20 
b. The delegation of testing, monitoring and notification programs under
21 
this section to the local government authorities.
22 
f. Delegation of Responsibility to Local Governments. - If a responsibility described in
23 
the above paragraph is delegated by a province to a local government authority, or is
24 
delegated to a local government authority before the date of enactment of this section,
25 
resources, including grants made, shall be made available to the delegated authority
26 
for the purpose of implementing the delegated program in a manner that is consistent
27 
with the guidance issued by the Secretary.
28 
g. Floatable Materials Monitoring; Technical Assistance. - Not later than one (1) year
29 
and one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
30 
Secretary shall:
31 
i. Provide technical assistance for uniform assessment and monitoring
32 
procedures for floatable materials in coastal recreation water; and


1 
ii. Specify the conditions under which the presence of floatable material shall
2 
constitute a threat to public health and safety.
3 
h. Occurrence Database. - The Secretary shall establish, maintain, and make available
4 
to the public by electronic and other means -
5 
i. A national coastal recreation water pollution occurrence database using
6 
reliable information, including the information reported under paragraph (A);
7 
and
8 
ii. A listing of communities conforming to the regulations promulgated under
9 
paragraphs (A) and (B).
10 
Sec. 7. Report to Congress. - Not later than four (4) years after the date of the
11 
enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to
12 
Congress a report that contains:
13 
A. Recommendations concerning the need for additional water quality
14 
criteria and other actions that are necessary to improve the quality of
15 
coastal recreation water; and
16 
B. An evaluation of efforts to implement this Act.
17 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. If any portion of this Act is declared invalid or
18 
unconstitutional, the portions or provisions which are not affected shall continue to be
19 
in full force and effect.
20 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and
21 
regulations or parts thereof contrary to, or inconsistent with, this Act are hereby
22 
repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
23 
Sec. 10. Effectivity Cause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
24 
complete publication either in the Official Gazette or in at ieast two (2) national
25 
newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,