FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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JUL. -3 ':'? :.34 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S No. 
796 
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Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine waters cover ten times more area than the total terrestrial 
environment. It, therefore, has great potential as a major base for development. 
Ecosystems present in the coastal zone include the coral reefs, identified as the 
most biologically productive environment second only to tropical rain forests, 
mangrove areas, seagrass beds and soft bottom communities. The coastal and 
marine ecosystem is considered an important source of livelihood for about 70% 
of the country's municipalities. 
Today, such resources have been extensively exploited. Most of the 
threats in the coastal zone are a direct result of human population and 
demographic trends. Concomitantly, there are the problems of inappropriate 
coastal land use schemes, destructive fishing practices, pollution and the 
demand for greater economic outputs without consideration of the long term 
sustainability of resources that have resulted to environmental deterioration in 
these coastal zones. This is further aggravated by widespread poverty of coastal 
communities, 
institutional deficiencies on sustainable 
coastal resource 
management and low awareness of the people on coastal resource management 
strategies. 
This bill seeks to lessen, if not totally eliminate, coastal and marine 
degradation with the establishment of the Coastal Environmental Program (CEP). 
The CEP aims to coordinate all activities on resource and environmental 
management of coastal ecosystems with the involvement of the communities and 
immediate stakeholders in the protection and management of coastal zones. It 
shall rely heavily on information, education and communication (IEC) coupled 
with community organizing during the early stages to achieve higher levels of 
participation. 


The components of CEP shall be coastal habitats and bio-diversity, 
endangered species, coastal industries and pollution, resource inventory and 
assessment, and research and special projects. The fundamental management 
principle of maintaining healthy and productive coastal and marine ecosystem 
will be the direction in the allocation of coastal and marine resources for long- 
term socio-economic benefits. 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall take the 
lead in achieving the expected outputs of this Act in our quest for a sustainable 
coastal and marine environment. 
Our survival as a nation is closely linked to the benefits we derive from the 
sea. When limited land resources eventually run out, the next frontier for survival 
lies under the sea - our marine resources. In recent years, more and more 
Filipinos have come to realize the tremendous impact of coastal resources on the 
country’s well being. These resources, increasingly under threat from destruction 
and over exploitation, need to be protected, managed, and nurtured for 
generations to come. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
,
?
 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
7 
<lUI. ”.! 
First Regular Session 
) 
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S E N A T E  
S No. 
796 
Introdnced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
THE 
COASTAL 
ENVIRONMENT 
PROGRAM, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be if 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 “Coastal 
Environment Program (CEP) of 2004” 
SEC. 2. Declarafion of Policy. - It is the policy ofthe State to protect 
and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in 
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. Toward this end, the State shall 
protect, conserve, and manage on a sustainable basis coastal environments 
throughout the territorial jurisdiction of the country. The integrity, productivity, 
biodiversity, and sustainability of coastal ecosystems shall be maximized subject 
to some areas being designated for protection. Moreover, the State shall promote 
partnerships among all sectors of Philippine society in protecting and enhancing 
coastal ecosystems. 
Equitable access and utilization of resources and substantive involvement 
of local communities and stakeholders shall be basic consideration in promoting 
a coastal environment program. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms- 
(a) “Coastal environments” refer to those areas of the country where at 
any given time socioeconomic interaction among and between humans and land- 


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based and sea-based natural resources occur, extending no more than one (’I) 
linear kilometer from the highest tide point landward and one hundred (100) 
fathom isobath or fifteen (15) linear kilometers, whichever is farther, seaward. 
(b) 
“Coastal Environment Program” herein after referred to as CEP, 
refers to a comprehensive and integrated program composed of specialized 
components in order to ensure the integrity of coastal ecosystems and to 
promote their productivity and biodiversity. 
(c) 
“Coastal resources” refer to all objects and processes of nature that 
are of value to humans, grouped primarily as shorelands, coastal forests, fishery 
and wildlife resources, and minerals. 
(d) 
“Shorelands” refer to strips of land extending one ( I )  linear 
kilometers from the highest tide point of the nearest body of water and includes 
the minerals, nutrients and life forms found under, on, or above the land. 
(e) 
“Central Forests” refer to mangroves and other beach vegetation 
whose structures and forms are consistent with the definition of forests under 
Presidential Decree No. 705, otherwise known as the Forestry Reform Code of 
the Philippines, as amended. 
(f) “Fishery and Wildlife Resources” refer to vertebrates, invertebrates, and 
floral formations in aquatic ecosystems, inhabiting or deriving sustenance from 
coastal environments. 
(9) 
“Minerals” refer to solid, gases (free or dissolved), and other liquids 
found on or under the seabed. 
(h) 
”Department” refer to the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources. 
(i) ”Secretary” refers to the Secretary of the Department of Environment 
and Natural Resources. 
SEC. 4. Program Organization- The CEP shall be organized into the 
following components: 
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(?) Coastal Habitats and Biodiversity - This component shall deal mainly 
with the conservation and management of coastal areas to enhance the 
biodiversity of floral and fauna populations. This component shall include the 
implementation of Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the National 
Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 relative to protected 
areas in coastal environments. It shall also include the rehabilitation of 
mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs. 
(2) Endangered Species- This component shall focus on the conservation, 
protection and propagation of endangered species and the protection and 
management of. their habitats. Existing projects of the Department on marine 
turtles, crocodiles, sea snakes, shore birds, whales, sea cows, porpoises, and 
other shall be included in this component. 
(3) Coastal Industries and Pollution- This component shall focus on the 
regulation of industrial activities and control and abatement of pollution in coastal 
areas, It shall study the impact of industrial activities and sources of pollution in 
coastal environments and identify and recommend developmental and regulatory 
options to mitigate the negative effects of industrialization and other human 
activities. 
(4) Resource Inventory and Assessment- This component shall include 
activities to identify and estimate existing and future stocks of ecologically and 
economically important .coastal species. 
(5) Research and Special Projects- This component shall include activities 
related to the development, testing and application of methodologies to 
understand coastal environments and their associated resource systems. Special 
projects shall include those, which because of their unique scoping or funding 
specifications may not be associated to the other components. 
Future activities of the Department relating to coastal environments shall 
be assigned to any of these five (5) components. 
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SEC. 5. Lead Agency.- 
The Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources shall be the lead agency in the implementation of this Act. It shall 
consult and coordinate with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of 
the Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA) and other concerned agencies such 
as, but not limited to, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural 
Resources, Research and Development (PCARRD), International Center for 
Living Aquatic Resources Management (ELARM), University of the Philippines 
Marine Institute, and the local governments, whenever applicable: Provided, That 
in the Province of Palawan, the Paiawan Council for Sustainable Development 
(PCSD) shall implement the provisions of this Act pursuant to Republic Act No. 
761 1 or the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan. 
SEC. 6. Implementation.- All activities included in the CEP shall involve 
three (33 general phases, as follows: 
(I) 
Information, education and communication (IEC) campaign coupled 
with community organizing to achieve higher levels of participation of local 
communities in the activities; 
(2) Introduction of intended interventions or package of developmental 
activities for adoption by partner communities and sectors; 
(3) Monitoring and evaluation of the activity to seek options and 
opportunities for follow-up and institutionalization. 
Each phase may overlap to the extent deemed desirable by the 
implementing agencies or organizations to ensure the successful implementation 
of activities. 
SEC. 7. Program Management. The Secretary shall exercise overall 
direction and management of fhe CEP. However, said direction and management 
affecting the Province of Palawan shall be exercised by the PCSD pursuant to 
the SEP for Palawan. 
There is hereby created an inter-agency committee to be known as the 
National Coastal Environment Program Steering Committee under the 
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Department which shall assist the Secretary in formulating the policies and 
implementing the guidelines of the CEP. 
The NCSC shall be composed of the following: 
(a) Secretary of the DENR, as chairperson; 
(b) Secretary of Agriculture, member, 
(c) Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, member; 
(d) Director of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWBO, 
member; 
(e) Two (2) representatives from NGOs concerned with coastal 
environment protection and conservation, to be appointed by the President of the 
Philippines for a term of three (3) years, members; and 
(9 Two (2) representatives of national organizations or federations of 
fisherfolk organizations to be appointed by the President of the Philippines for a 
term of three (3) years, members. 
The Secretary shall designate a National Coastal Environment Program 
Coordinator to ensure the effective implementation of the CEP nationwide. The 
National CEP Coordinator shall supervise an administrative and technical staff, 
as may be organized by the Secretary, which shall serve as the coordinating 
body for CEP activities. 
The regional executive director (REO) of the Department may designate 
the assistant regional director (ARED), any provincial environment and natural 
resources officer (PENRO), or any other officer of equivalent rank as the 
Regional CEP Coordinator, subject to the approval of the Secretary. 
SEC. 8. Local Government and Community Participation- Planning, 
implementing, monitoring and evaluating CEP activities shall, to all extent 
possible, involve local communities and sectoral organizations, such as peoples 
organizations 
(POs), 
nongovernment 
organizations 
(NGOs) 
and 
local 
government units (LGUs). Leadership in CEP activities shall be reposed on, or at 
least shared by the Department with local leaders and community members. 
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SEC. 9. Training.- The Secretary shall give priority to the training of the 
Department's personnel as well as community leaders in the technical aspects of 
resource inventory and assessment as well as proper monitoring and evaluation 
of activities in order to develop local expertise and to establish a reliable and 
uniform data base. 
SEC. I O .  Appropriations- The Secretary shall immediately include in the 
Department's program the implementation of this Act, the initial funding of which 
shall be charged against the appropriations of the coastal and marine 
management office of the Department under the current General Appropriations 
Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continued 
implementation of the CEP shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
The 
Department may 
receive grants, 
subsidies, donations, or 
contributions, bequests, or gifts, in cash or in kind from corporations, trusts, 
foundations, associations, and other sources from any private or government 
office, agency or corporations in the Philippines or abroad. The receipts from 
cash donations and proceeds from sale of donated commodities shall be remitted 
to the national treasury and recorded as a special account in the general fund 
and shall be utilized by the Department through a special budget pursuant to 
Section 35, Chapter 5, Book VI of Executive Order No. 292. 
SEC. I 
-I, Repealing Clause- All laws, executive orders, presidential 
decrees, letters of instruction, rules or regulations, or parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed andlor 
amended accordingly. 
SEC. 12 Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national 
newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,