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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No, 8940

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines has over 36,000 kilometers of coastline, the fourth longest in the world', and
the ecosystems that have developed along those coasts are among the most productive and
biologically diverse landscapes known to man, supporting many increasingly endangered plant
and animal species. Our coastal environments can be as a source of food for our fisherfolk and
a source of livelihood for coastal workers (in the fishing or tourism industries), as well as
protection for the natural habitat of the marine creatures. "Coastal vegetation habitats, such as
mangrove forests, can serve as buffers to protect the shore line from wind generated storms
while at the same time they absorb silt, nutrients, toxic substances and support fisheries,
provide construction materials, medicines and a huge range of other goods used by
communities."?

In order to protect our coastal environments, and to progress in the nation's goal of sustainable
development, the adoption of a comprehensive program relating to our coasts and coastal
environments is essential. This bill, refiled by DIWA PArtylist, as a counterpart of Senate Bill
No. 327 with the support of its author, Senator Cynthia Villar, creates such a program.

PERITO M. PICO
Representative, DIWA Party-list

+ http://geography.about.com/od/lists/a/longest-coastlines.htm
2 http://www. grida.no/ publications/rr/our-precious-coasts/page/1287.aspx

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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No. © 240

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

AN ACT

ESTABLISHING THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Coastal Environment Program
(CEP) Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall promote partnerships among all sectors
of Philippine society to protect, conserve and manage, on a sustainable basis, coastal
environments throughout the territorial jurisdiction of the country.

The integrity of coastal ecosystems and their productivity and bio-diversity shall be
maximized subject to some areas being designated for protection (exclusion of human
exploitation) and others for sustainable use.

Equitability of access to and utilization of resources and substantive involvement of
local communities and stakeholders shall be the basic concerns of the Program.

SECTION 3. Lead Agency. — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) 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, other concerned agencies such as Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and
‘Natural Resources, Research and Development (PCARRD), International Center for Living
Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), and the University of the Philippines Marine
Institute, and the local governments, whenever applicable: Provided, That in the Province of
Palawan, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development shall implement the provisions of
this Act pursuant to Republic Act No. 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:

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a)

Coastal environments - Those areas where, at any given time, socioeconomic
interactions among and between humans, land-based and sea-based natural resources
‘occur, extending not more than one (1) linear kilometer from the highest tide point
landward and to one hundred (100) fathom isobath or fifteen (15) linear kilometers
(whichever is farther) seaward.

b) Coastal resources - All objects and processes of nature which are of value to humans,
grouped primarily as follows:

°)

Shorelands - Strips of land extending one (1) linear kilometer from the highest tide
point of the nearest body of water, include the mineral, nutrients and life forms found
under, on or above the land;

qd

Coastal forests - Mangroves and other beach vegetation whose structures and forms are
consistent with the definition of forests under Presidential Decree No. 705 and the
Forestry Master Plan of the Philippines;

@)

Fishery and wildlife resources - Vertebrates, invertebrates and floral formations in
aquatic ecosystems, inhabiting or deriving sustenance from coastal environments;

) Minerals - Solids and gases (free or dissolved) and other liquids found on or under the
seabed

SECTION 5. Program Organization. ~ The CEP shall be organized into the following
components:

a) Coastal habitats and biodiversity - This component shall deal mainly with the
conservation and management of coastal areas, enhancing the biodiversity of floral and
fauna populations. This component shall include the implementation of Republic Act
‘No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992, relative to
protected areas in coastal environments. It shall also include the rehabilitation of
mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs in designated areas;

Endangered species - This component shall focus on the conservation, protection and
propagation of endangered species and on the protection and management of their
habitats. Existing projects of the DENR on marine turtles, crocodiles, sea snakes, shore
birds, whales, sea cows, porpoises and others shall be included in this component;
Coastal industries and pollution - This component shall focus on the regulation of
industrial activities and water pollution in coastal areas. It shall study the impact of
industrial activities and draw down pollution on coastal environments, to identify and
recommend development and regulatory options to mitigate negative effects;
Resource inventory and assessment - This component shall include activities to identify
and estimate existing and future stocks of ecologically and economically important
coastal species;

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 with the other four (4) components of the CEP.

b)

©)

dq)

e)

Future activities of the DENR relating to coastal environments shall be assigned to any
of the five components above.

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SECTION 6. CEP Implementation. — Al activities included in the CEP shall involve three
(3) general phases, as follows:

a) Information, education anc communication (IEC) campaign coupled with community
organizing, to achieve higher levels of participation of local communities in the
activities;

b) Introduction of intended interventions of package of developmental activities for
eventual adoption by partner communities and sectors; and

©) Monitoring and evaluation of the activity to seek options and opportunities for follow-
up and institutionalization.

Each phase may overlap, to the extent deemed needed by the implementers, to ensure
success of the activity.

SECTION 7. Local Government and Community Participation. — CEP activities shall, to all
extent possible, involve local communities and sectoral organizations (POs, NGOs and LGUs)
in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the activity. Leadership in the CEP
activities shall be reposed on, or at least shared by the DENR with the local leaders and
community members.

SECTION 8. Trainings. - The DENR shall give priority to the training of Department
personnel and community leaders in the technical aspects of resource inventory and assessment
as well as proper monitoring and evaluation of activities, to develop local expertise and to
establish a reliable and uniform data base.

SECTION 9. Program Management. — Overall direction and management of the CEP shall
be reposed on the DENR Secretary. However, said direction and management affecting the
Province of Palawan shall be exercised by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
pursuant to Republic Act No. 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan. There is
hereby created a committee to be known as the National Coastal Environment Program
Steering Committee (NCEPSC) which shall assist the DENR Secretary in formulating the
policies and implementing guidelines of the CEP. The NCEPSC shall be composed of the
following:

(a) Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources as Chairman;

(b) Secretary of Agriculture as member;

(©) Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as member;

(@) Secretary of Science and Technology as member;

(e) Secretary of the Interior and Local Government as member;

(f) Director of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau as member;

(g) Two (2) representatives from non-government organizations (NGOs) concerned with
coastal environment protection and conservation as members; and

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(h) Two (2) representatives of national organizations or federations of fisherfolk
organizations to be appointed by the President for a term of three (3) years as members;

The Secretary shall designate a National Coastal Environment Program Coordinator
who shall assist in the implementation of the Program nationwide. The NCC shall direct the
administrative and technical staff as may be formed by the Secretary, which shall serve as the
coordinating body for all CEP activities.

Regional Executive Directors may designate any officer or either Regional Technical Director
(RTD), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) or equivalent level
to be the Regional CEP Coordinator (RCC), subject to the approval by the Secretary.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. — The sum necessary to effectively carry out the provisions of
this Act during the first year of implementation shall be sourced from the appropriations for
the coastal environment program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary
for its continued implementation which should not be less than the amount of prior years’
appropriations, shall be submitted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
to be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources 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
corporation in the Philippines or abroad. The cash receipts and sale of donated commodities
shall be deemed automatically appropriated for purposes specified by the donor.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws and regulations inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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