TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
cl i1;" r:‘ :.:
25 AUG-4 P6 :11
SENATE 
S. No. ^51
RtCclV'iiD BY.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR BLUE ECONOMY, PROMOTING 
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND 
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND RESOURCES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Our country is host to vast marine resources. The Philippines has a total 
territorial water area, inclusive of our Exclusive Economic Zone, of 2.2 million square 
kilometers. Latest available data from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 
show that in 2020, total mariculture production amounted to some 150,507 metric 
tons1. The share of the Ocean Economy to our Gross Domestic Product in 2021 was 
at 3.6%, which amounted to PhP 707.80 billion2. Ocean-based industries also 
employed 1.99 million Filipinos in 2021, with a share of 4.5% to the total employment 
for the year.3
Drawing much from our marine resources, we need to transition into more 
sustainable maritime activities that will use, but not abuse our maritime wealth. It is 
imperative that we develop a policy framework and develop a system for ocean- 
economy environment accounting to assess the blue economy to properly record our 
ocean resources and its contribution to national wealth. There is also a need to ensure
1 Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - Philippine Fisheries Profile 2020
2 Philippine Statistics Authority - 2021 Philippine Ocean Economy Satellite Accounts
3 Ibid.


that the framework covers capacity development and protection for our coastal and 
marine environment ecosystems. Government policies should ensure that our marine 
resources will be developed and protected, helping address the pressing concern on 
food insecurity and employment for Filipinos.
The "Blue Economy Act seeks to establish a framework that will employ a 
whole-of-nation approach and environmentally-sound and sustainable practices for 
the development, management, protection, and preservation of our marine and 
coastal resources.
The measure seeks to establish the Blue Economy Council which is responsible 
for the formulation of an integrated strategy to strengthen, grow, and sustain the 
Philippines' blue economy, integrated marine and coastal area management, and 
ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine resources. The said Council 
shall also formulate the Policy Development Framework on Blue Economy which is a 
development model that aims to help the country define a roadmap for a diversified 
and sustainable ocean economy. It shall also undertake a nationwide Marine Spatial 
Planning (MSP) to, among others, identify the spatial and temporal distribution of 
priority activities, uses and interactions thereof in maritime zones, to reduce conflict 
among uses.
Moreover, the proposed measure mandates the Philippine Statistics Authority 
(PSA) to undertake environmental-economic accounting of the ocean, maritime 
ecosystems, and resources, based on the United Nations System of Environmental- 
Economic Accounting and in accordance with Republic Act No. 11995, otherwise 
known as the "Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) 
Act".
Other activities such as the establishment of Blue Economic Zones, Blue Finance 
and the protection of endangered species are provided in the measure to ensure the 
achievement of sustainable and safe use and development of marine wealth within 
our coastal and maritime domain, as a pillar of our national economy and patrimony.


In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
ING60Y EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. S81
Iof ;iii' £. 
.
25 AUG-4 P6:11 
\
RCCEIVHO BY:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR BLUE ECONOMY, PROMOTING 
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND 
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND RESOURCES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISION
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "'Blue Economy Act'.
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to:
a) Adopt blue economy as a framework for sustainable and safe use and 
development of marine wealth within our coastal and maritime domain, as 
a pillar of our national economy and patrimony;
b) Exercise stewardship of our coasts and oceans, protect and conserve the 
health and resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats to 
promote the well-being, inclusive prosperity, and security of present and 
future generations, and expand areas under protection to meet the nation's 
international obligations especially in refugial habitats;
c) Preserve our maritime heritage, recognize the economic, social, cultural, 
and historical value of our coasts and oceans, and foster public 
understanding and respect of the value of our coasts and oceans to build a 
strong foundation for social responsibility;
1


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
d) Enrich scientific understanding of ocean, marine and coastal ecosystems, 
the benefits we gain from these, their naturally changing extent and 
conditions and the causes thereof; and use the best available scientific 
knowledge to inform decisions affecting our coasts and oceans, and to 
enhance our capacity to respond and adapt to changing ocean 
environments;
e) Exercise rights and jurisdiction, and enjoyment of freedom of the high seas, 
in accordance with applicable international laws;
f) Strategically address the factors that adversely affect the oceans and the 
living and non-living resource that comprise our seas, turning threats into 
opportunities and preventing further harm to all water bodies including land- 
based pollution, biodiversity loss, reclamation, and climate change;
g) Ensure a whole-of-nation approach and a comprehensive and integrated 
framework for the stewardship of our coasts and oceans to facilitate 
cohesive action of the National Government, local authorities, academe, civil 
society organizations, indigenous peoples, local communities, and the 
private sector, to secure our people's safe access to, enjoyment of, and 
opportunities to invest in sustaining their benefits from our blue economy;
h) Uphold marine science as a foundation of maritime governance, ensuring 
that all rules, policies, and plans governing the use of coastal and marine 
resources will be based on sound scientific understanding of the marine 
environment; and
i) 
Uphold the value of natural ecosystems and the irreplaceability, thereby 
explicitly excluding reclamation and other activities that remove, replace, or 
destroy coastal ecosystems as activities that advance a blue economy.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a) Aquacuiture refers to fishery operations involving all forms of raising and 
culturing fish and other fishery species in fresh, brackish and marine water 
areas;
b) Aquasiivicuiture refers to a multi-purpose production system that allows the 
production of fish in a mangrove reforestation project;


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
c) Blue economy refers to the practical ocean-based economic model using 
green infrastructure and technologies, innovative financing mechanisms, 
and proactive institutional arrangements for meeting the twin goals of 
protecting our oceans and coasts and enhancing its potential contribution 
to sustainable development, including improving human well-being, and 
reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities;
d) Coastal refers to the interface where the land meets the ocean, 
encompassing shoreline environments as well as adjacent coastal waters. 
Its components can include river deltas, coastal plaints, wetlands, beaches 
and dunes, reefs, mangrove forests, lagoons, and other coastal features
e) Ecosystem services refer to the benefits supplied by the functions of 
ecosystems and received by humanity and all elements of living systems, 
which support life systems on the planet. Ecosystem services consist of 
provisioning, regulating, maintenance, and cultural services;
f) Environmental sustainability retexs to the responsible use of coastal, marine, 
and freshwater resources that protects the marine ecosystem from harmful 
effects and degradation. Environmental sustainability includes stewardship 
by the government and local communities to (1) prevent, reduce, and 
control pollution of the coastal, freshwater, and marine environment; (2) 
mitigate the impacts of climate change; and (3) protect biodiversity;
g) 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 classified as:
i) Small-scale commercial fishing - fishing with passive or active gear 
utilizing fishing vessels of 3.1 gross tons (gt) up to 20 gt;
ii) Medium-scale commercial fishing -fishing utilizing active gears and 
vessels of 20.1 gt up to 150 gt; and
Hi) Large commercial fishing -fishing utilizing active 1 gears and vessels 
of more than 150 gt.
h) Integrated marine and coastal area management refers to coordinated and 
sustainable management of coastal and marine resources, and a 
participatory process for planning and decision-making to prevent, control.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
or mitigate adverse impacts of human activities to the marine and coastal 
environment, biodiversity, and climate, and to contribute to the restoration 
of degraded coastal areas, protection of habitats, and reduction of conflicts 
among various stakeholders in order to pursue sustainable and inclusive 
growth, support jobs and livelihood, and enhance food, energy and water 
security, climate resilience, and well-being;
i) Investment promotion agencies 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, or 
overseeing the operations of the different economic zones and freeports in 
accordance with their respective special laws;
j) Land-basedpoiiution refers to municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes 
and run-off, including, but not limited to, sewage and waste water, 
persistent organic pollutants (including pesticides), heavy metals, oils, 
nutrients, sediments, and plastic wastes, whether brought by rivers or 
discharged directly into coastal waters;
k) Marine resources refer to the diverse range of living and non-living 
components found within marine ecosystems, including oceans, seas, and 
coastal areas;
l) Marine spatiai pianning refers to the public process of analyzing and 
allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine 
areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives. It is a practical 
way to create and establish a more rational organization of marine space 
and its uses to balance the demand for development with the need to 
protect marine ecosystems, and to achieve social and economic objectives 
in an open and planned way;
m) Maritime zones refer to (1) the maritime zones of the Philippine archipelago 
comprising of internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, 
contiguous zone. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and continental shelf; and 
(2) the respective maritime zones, as appropriate, of all other territories 
over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, in accordance


1 
with the 1987 Constitution and international law, particularly the 1982
2 
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS);
3 
n) Ocean accounting refers to a statistical framework that guides the
4 
compilation and integration of a series of standardized and regular
5 
measurements of stocks and flows of ocean economic, societal, and
6 
environmental components through specific accounting table groups and
7 
comprehensive 
indicators critical for informed and evidence-based
8 
decisions;
9 
o) Ocean-based activities refer to activities that are undertaken in the ocean,
10 
such as those relating to fisheries and aquaculture, exploration, drilling and
11 
production of offshore oil, gas, and ocean energy, mining, desalination,
12 
shipping and 
marine transportation, shipbuilding and repair, port
13 
operations, marine tourism including management of tourist resorts,
14 
communication, 
marine construction, maritime insurance and law
15 
enforcement, or maritime technical services;
16 
p) Ocean-reiated activities refer to activities that use products from the ocean
17 
such as seafood processing, marine biotechnology, chemicals and salt
18 
production, and produce products and services for the ocean and for ocean-
19 
based activities;
20 
q) Ocean iiteracy refers to an understanding of the ocean's influence on
21 
humans, and human influence on the ocean, as well as the linkage of ocean
22 
and climate and its effect on humans, water, and ecosystems;
23 
r) Reciamation refers to any project, permitted or otherwise, that dumps fill
24 
materials from another place into a coastal or marine area to form new land,
25 
thereby completely obliterating the marine habitat and changing the
26 
hydrology of the area, whether pursued for public or private purposes; and
27 
s) Subsistence fishing refers to fishing for personal consumption or
28 
traditional/ceremonial purposes.
29 
Sec. 4. Scope of Appiication. - For purposes of this Act, the Philippines shall, in
30 
accordance with international law, exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights, and
31 
jurisdiction, as appropriate, in internal waters, archipelagic waters, the territorial sea,
32 
contiguous zone, EEZ, and continental shelf, herein collectively referred to as "coastal


1 
and marine zones", including its seabed and subsoil, and any and all maritime features
2 
within the maritime zones now known or to be known in the future.
3 
CHAPTER II
4 
BLUE ECONOMY COUNCIL
5 
Sec, 5. Blue Economy Council. - The Blue Economy Council, herein referred to
6 
as the Council, is hereby established to formulate an integrated strategy to strengthen,
7 
grow, and sustain the Philippines' blue economy, integrated marine and coastal area
8 
management, and ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine resources.
9 
Sec. 6. Composition. - The Council shall be composed of the following:
10 
a) The Executive Secretary as chairperson;
11 
b) The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources as co-vice
12 
chairperson;
13 
c) The Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning as co-vice chairperson;
14 
d) The Secretary of National Defense as member;
15 
e) The Secretary of Foreign Affairs as member;
16 
f) The Secretary of Justice as member;
17 
g) The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government as member;
18 
h) The Secretary of Agriculture as member;
19 
i) The Secretary of Tourism as member;
20 
j) The Secretary of Transportation as member;
21 
k) The Secretary of Trade and Industry as member;
22 
I) The Secretary of Energy as member;
23 
m) The Secretary of Science and Technology as member;
24 
n) The Secretary of Finance as member; and
25 
o) The Secretary of Public Works and Highways as member.
26 
The Department Secretaries may designate an Undersecretary, whose portfolio
27 
covers matters directly or principally relating to the development or management of
28 
coastal and marine resources and ecosystems, if applicable, to sit in a permanent
29 
capacity, and whose acts shall be considered the acts of his or her principal.
30 
Majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.


1 
Sec. 7. Mandates, Powers, and Functions of the Blue Economy Council. - The
2 
Council shall be responsible for formulating a clear, coherent, and comprehensive
3 
policy 6 framework and strategic action plan on blue economy. It shall:
4 
a) Develop the country's policy framework and strategic vision for the growth
5 
and sustainable development of the country's blue economy;
6 
b) Institutionalize an integrated marine and coastal management;
7 
c) Enhance the country's ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine
8 
resources;
9 
d) Align Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) plans, fisheries management
10 
plans, coastal resource management plans, climate action plans, and marine
11 
spatial plans to determine zones, and designate allowed, regulated, and
12 
restricted activities;
13 
e) Strengthen economic and environmental regulations within our coastal and
14 
marine areas to preserve the value and sustainability of ocean resources
15 
and protect them from threats;
16 
f) Identify ciimate-resilient and environmentally sound investments,
17 
infrastructure, and technologies;
18 
g) Ensure an enabling environment for the growth and development of
19 
sustainable investment and finance;
20 
h) Identify priority blue economy sectors;
21 
i) Institutionalize regular coastal and ocean monitoring and accounting;
22 
j) Coordinate the deveiopment of marine spatial plans;
23 
k) Coordinate with various sectors and agencies to promote policy and
24 
program coherence;
25 
I) Coordinate and cooperate with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
26 
to ensure that the framework shall be in harmony and not overlap with the
27 
maritime industry development plan;
28 
m) Coordinate with the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee to Facilitate the
29 
Ratification and Accession to and Implementation of Maritime Conventions
30 
(ICCFRAIMC) and ensure that it will aid in the implementation thereof;
31 
n) Conduct, support, fund, engage, collaborate, and/or coordinate research
32 
and development in blue economy;


1 
o) Develop, expand, and strengthen investments in capacity building and skills
2 
enhancement programs for the blue economy, and encourage such to be
3 
featured in the work plans of governments, the private sector, and civil
4 
society organizations;
5 
p) Review, update, and disseminate the poiicy framework and strategic action
6 
plan on blue economy; and
7 
q) Perform other functions as may be necessary for the implementation of this
8 
Act.
9 
Sec. 8. Secretariat. - A Secretariat to the Council shall be established within the
10 
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), to be headed by an Executive
11 
Director III (Salary Grade 28) who shall be appointed by the President of the
12 
Philippines. The Secretariat shall be under the control and supervision of the NEDA
13 
Director General. The Executive Director III shall have at least seven (7) years of
14 
experience and practice in the fields of marine science and research, blue economy
15 
and ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine resources, environmentai
16 
economics, environmental accounts, and financial analysis.
17 
The initial staffing structure and complement of the Secretariat shall be
18 
submitted by the NEDA to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for
19 
funding. The NEDA shall constitute an interim Secretariat within one (1) month from
20 
the effectivity of this Act, through the temporary detail of personnel from its member
21 
agencies.
22 
The Secretariat shall have the following functions:
23 
a) Provide secretariat support to the Council, including the preparation of draft
24 
strategies, priorities, and other outputs to be adopted by the Council;
25 
b) Consult with experts who can offer insights on blue economy and
26 
ecosystem-based management 
of 
coastal 
and 
marine 
resources
27 
policymaking and priority setting;
28 
c) Coordinate with various agencies of the government, private sector,
29 
academe, scientific community, civil society organizations, 
indigenous
30 
peoples, local communities, and the public;
31 
d) Design and implement a blue economy development program and promote
32 
its use and adoption in the government bureaucracy;
8


1 
e) Develop recommendations for consideration by the Council; and
2 
f) Perform other functions as may be directed by the Council.
3 
Sec. 9. Support Agencies. - The following agencies shall provide material or
4 
technical support to the Council, as may be necessary:
5 
a) Climate Change Commission (CCC);
6 
b) Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP);
7 
c) Board of Investments (BOI);
8 
d) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC);
9 
e) Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
10 
f) National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA);
11 
g) Environmental Management Bureau (EMB);
12 
h) Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB);
13 
i) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR);
14 
j) National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI);
15 
k) Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA);
16 
I) Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF);
17 
m) MARINA;
18 
n) Philippine Ports Authority (PPA);
19 
o) Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research
20 
and Development (PCAARRD);
21 
p) Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
22 
Administration (PAGASA);
23 
q) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA);
24 
r) Philippine Coast Guard (PCG);
25 
s) Philippine National Police - Maritime Group (PNP-MG);
26 
t) Philippine Navy (PN);
27 
u) National Museum - Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Division (NM-
28 
MUCHD);
29 
v) Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
30 
w) Relevant institutions and components of the University of the Philippines
31 
(UP); and
32 
x) Investment promotion agencies.


1 
In order to ensure the efficient and effective discharge of its responsibilities,
2 
the Council may create working groups and call upon other departments, bureaus,
3 
offices, and instrumentalities of the Government, and academic and research
4 
institutions engaged in marine science and ocean-based or ocean-related activities, to
5 
participate therein, as it may deem necessary.
6 
CHAPTER III
7 
THE BLUE ECONOMY FRAMEWORK
8 
Sec. 10. Policy Development Framework on Blue Economy. - The Council shall,
9 
within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, formulate a policy framework on
10 
blue economy, herein referred to as the Framework. The Framework is a development
11 
model that aims to help the country define a roadmap for a diversified and sustainable
12 
ocean economy in a manner that provides long-term economic and social benefits
13 
while building resilience to climate change and without compromising the safety of
14 
our marine ecosystems. The Framework shall be subject to mandatory review and
15 
modification every five (5) years.
16 
Sec. 11. Components of the Policy Framework on Blue Economy. - The
17 
Framework shall include the following components:
18 
a) Review of all existing policies, plans, programs, projects, rules, and
19 
regulations on ocean-based and ocean-related activities;
20 
b) Adherence to international maritime laws;
21 
c) Analysis of current and emerging trends and changes in demography,
22 
consumption, trade, energy, technology, environmental quality, and climate
23 
that show the interaction between the economy and the environment,
24 
present and future threats and pressures on coastal and marine
25 
environments, and damage estimation;
26 
d) Environmental-economic accounting of coastal and marine assets, living and
27 
non-living resources, and ecosystem services from coastal and marine
28 
environments, including assessment of losses due to degradation or major
29 
pollution events such as oil spills;
30 
e) The Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM) framework
31 
to address human impact on marine and coastal biological diversity, and
10


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
promote the conservation and sustainable use of this biodiversity. The 
national IMCAM framework shall consider the following elements:
1) Capacity-building for stakeholders, at 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;
2) Protection of coastal and marine environments from negative 
impacts, such as:
i) Alteration and destruction of coastal and marine habitats, 
particularly areas important for reproduction, coral reef systems, 
sea grass areas, and the sea bed;
ii) Marine and land-based pollution;
iii) Improper coastal land use, and the mismanagement of 
watersheds;
iv) Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, by-catch especially 
of threatened species; and
3) Establishment of mechanisms and guidelines for research, 
monitoring, assessment, and valuation of coastal and marine 
ecosystems and resources, including indicators to measure natural 
and human-induced impacts;
f) Priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related economic 
activities, which may include:
1) Fisheries, including commercial fishing, seafood processing, and 
commercial research and development, with preference to 
subsistence fisheries, as mandated under Section 7, Article XIII of 
the Constitution;
2) Aquaculture, mariculture, and aquasilviculture;
3) Marine and coastal tourism;
4) Shipping, logistics, and maritime transport;
5) Shipbuilding and ship repair;
6) Production of renewable energy from marine sources;
11


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
7) Installation of submarine cables and pipelines;
8) Bioremediation, marine biotechnology, and bioprospecting;
9) Desalination; and
10) Underwater cultural heritage and maritime archaeology;
g) Guiding framework for IMCAM;
h) Guiding framework for blue finance;
i) Priority research and development agenda that maximizes opportunities 
created for pollution control, remediation, used water economics, and other 
industries that address threats;
j) Promotion of ocean literacy and social responsibility towards the protection 
of coastal and marine environments;
k) Enhancement of the capability of the relevant 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 coastal, ocean-based and ocean-related 
activities, including their contribution to gross domestic product, job 
creation, and livelihood;
m) Scaling up the expansion and management of marine protected areas 
(MPAs) through the protection and conservation of coastal and marine 
ecosystems and resources;
n) Mainstreaming of circular and resource efficiency approaches on the blue 
economy framework to address the longstanding problem on marine litter 
and microplastics;
o) Integration of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM) strategies 
to help operationalize the country's Nationally Determined Contributions 
(NDC); and
p) Strengthening of management capacities of national and local governments, 
including relevant sectors, to enhance the protection of coastal and marine 
ecosystems and such other components as may be determined by the 
Council.
CHAPTER IV 
OCEAN ACCOUNTING
12


1 
Sec. 12. Ocean Accounting. - The PSA shall undertake environmental-economic
2 
accounting of the ocean, maritime ecosystems, and resources, based on the United
3 
Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting and in accordance with
4 
Republic Act No. 11995, otherwise known as the "Philippine Ecosystem and Natural
5 
Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act". Members of the Council and heads of
6 
support agencies shall contribute data and submit reports on environmental-economic
7 
accounts relating to their mandates including damage estimation and sea level rise
8 
projections.
9 
CHAPTER V
10 
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
11 
Sec. 13. Marine Spatial Planning. - The Council shall undertake a nationwide
12 
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) with the participation of key stakeholders to identify
13 
the spatial and temporal distribution of priority activities, uses and interactions thereof
14 
in maritime zones, to reduce conflict among uses; facilitate complementary uses;
15 
mitigate environmental impacts; prevent marine dead zones; rehabilitate dead zones
16 
or non-attainment areas, if any; reduce wastage and ensure efficiency in marine
17 
supply chains; preserve ecosystem services with the national MSP providing the
18 
guiding principles and overarching delineations, and identifying the spatial and
19 
temporal distribution of allowed, restricted, and regulated human activities and priority
20 
uses and the interactions thereof in the coastal and marine zones; and encourage and
21 
support the development of regional and local MSPs, which can provide a level of
22 
granularity that can be linked to actionable investments, regulations and enforcement,
23 
coastal and marine resource management and conservation measures, and reduction
24 
of risks from climate change and natural disasters.
25 
Sec. 14. Blue Economic Zones. - Investment promotion agencies shall
26 
encourage the establishment of blue economic zones (BEZs) and the transformation
27 
of existing special economic zones into BEZs. Registered business enterprises engaged
28 
in ocean-based or ocean-related activities as listed under the Strategic Investment
29 
Priority Plan (SIPP) shall enjoy the privileges, benefits, advantages, or exemptions
30 
granted to economic zones and freeports in accordance with their respective special
31 
laws, Republic Act No. 11534 or the "Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for
32 
Enterprises Act (CREATE)", and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
13


1 
In addition, registered business enterprises operating within BEZs may also
2 
qualify for financing under Republic Act No. 11293 or the "Philippine Innovation Act",
3 
as applicable.
4 
Sec. 15. Promotion of Sustainable Livelihoods and Employment - The Council
5 
shall, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the
6 
Department of Agriculture-BFAR, and other concerned agencies and stakeholders,
7 
develop a policy to ensure the enhancement and sustainability of municipal fisheries
8 
as well as the promotion and generation of sustainable livelihood in the blue economy
9 
towards the creation of more employment and equal opportunities for all, and to
10 
strengthen investments in capacity building and skills enhancement programs, in
11 
accordance with Republic Act No. 10771 or the "Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016".
12 
CHAPTER VI
13 
BLUE FINANCE
14 
Sec. 16. Pole of the Bangko Sentrai ng Pilipinas. - In the exercise of its
15 
regulatory powers over financial institutions, the BSP shall provide an enabling
16 
regulatory environment to promote the development of the country's blue economy,
17 
in line with its sustainable finance framework and considering international standards
18 
and best practices.
19 
Sec. 17. Pole of Securities and Exchange Commission. - The SEC shall
20 
encourage the issuance of blue bonds, the proceeds of which will be exclusively
21 
applied to finance or refinance, in part or in full, eligible blue Programs, Activities, and
22 
Projects (PAPs) in accordance with SEC guidelines, and ASEAN Green Bonds Standards
23 
and Green Bonds Principles, as developed and may be revised from time to time by
24 
the SEC, the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum and the International Capital Market
25 
Association. All designated blue PAPs must provide clear benefits to ocean health and
26 
the blue economy and must contribute substantially to United Nations Sustainable
27 
Development Goals 6 and 14, which shall be assessed together with compliance with
28 
environmental laws and standards, and, where feasible, quantified by the corporation
29 
that will issue the blue bonds.
30 
The eligibility of these blue PAPs shall be subject to the guidelines to be issued
31 
by the SEC.
14


1 
Sec. 18. Role of Government Financial Institutions. - The Land Bank of the
2 
Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines shall provide credit to
3 
enterprises engaged in strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related
4 
activities.
5 
CHAPTER VII
6 
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF COASTAL AND MARINE
7 
RESOURCES
8 
Sec. 19. Protection of Endangered Species. - The Council shall monitor,
9 
coordinate, and ensure the conservation, protection, and rehabilitation of rate,
10 
threatened, and endangered aquatic species as it may determine, including their
11 
habitats and migratory routes, in coordination with BFAR and in accordance with
12 
existing laws, rules, and regulations. It shall recommend to the President and Congress
13 
the designation of coastal and marine areas as protected areas under Republic Act
14 
No. 11038 or the "Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018",
15 
or sanctuaries of local conservation areas under Republic Act No. 8550 or "The
16 
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998", as amended, and Republic Act No. 7160 or the
17 
"Local Government Code of 1991", as amended, and in compliance with the relevant
18 
provisions of international treaties and agreements, such as the UNCLOS, the
19 
Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
20 
Species of Wild Animals, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
21 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
22 
Sec. 20. Policy Coordination. - The Council shall harmonize the rules and
23 
regulations of all agencies responsible for the implementation and enforcement of laws
24 
to prevent and eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing under Republic
25 
Act No. 8550, as amended, setting strategic and measurable targets and ensuring the
26 
best use of technology such as vehicle monitoring system. Further, the Council shall
27 
act as the coordinating and monitoring arm of the government in ensuring other
28 
government agencies' compliance with these laws.
29 
CHAPTER VIII
30 
ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
31 
Sec. 21. Pole of Local Government Units (LGUs). - Cities and municipalities
32 
shall continue to exercise jurisdiction over municipal waters, pursuant to Republic Act
15


1 
No. 7160, as amended, and Republic Act No. 8550, as amended. Consistent with this
2 
mandate, LCDs in coastal and marine areas shall act as the frontline agencies in the
3 
formulation, planning, and implementation of the IMCAM framework in their respective
4 
jurisdictions. The LCDs shall develop their local Marine Spatial Plan in accordance with
5 
the National Maritime Spatial Plan, and integrate them in their Comprehensive Land
6 
Use Plan, Comprehensive Development Plan, and Annual Investment Plan, ICM or
7 
Coastal Resource Management Plan, Climate Change Action Plan, and Disaster Risk
8 
Reduction and Management Plan, and opportunities such as the National Sewage and
9 
Septage Management Plan and the funds under the Republic Act No. 9275 or the
10 
"Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004".
11 
Sec. 22. Inter-LGU Cooperation. - Consistent with the provisions of Republic
12 
Act No. 7160, as amended, LGUs may group themselves and consolidate or coordinate
13 
their efforts, services, and resources for the accomplishment of the objectives of this
14 
Act.
15 
Sec. 23. Local Government Power to Undertake Reclamation. - Notwithstanding
16 
the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1899 and Republic Act No. 7160, as
17 
amended, there shall be a presumption against the power of the local governments
18 
to reclaim land from the foreshore, or oceans and coasts unless such reclamation is
19 
planned for the purposes as defined under Presidential Decree No. 1899. Such
20 
presumption can only be overturned if:
21 
a) There is an overriding public need and the reclaimed land is not for private
22 
or exclusive development;
23 
b) The public need is cogent and convincing;
24 
c) There is no other means to meet the public need, other alternatives having
25 
been analyzed in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as required
26 
under Presidential Decree No. 1151;
27 
d) No private sale of lands is included unless it is to fund the project with an
28 
overriding public need and buyers are required to continuously and regularly
29 
pay to the municipality the ecosystem services from the marine ecosystem
30 
lost to the reclamation; and
31 
e) Adjacent LGUs express no objection to the project.
16


1 
Sec. 24. Ecosystem Services. - The LGUs that satisfy the acceptability
2 
requirements in the foregoing section shall pass the necessary ordinances and cause
3 
the necessary annotations to the titles of all lands privately acquired to ensure
4 
collection of the payments required under Section 23(d) of this Act.
5 
CHAPTER IX
6 
FINAL PROVISIONS
7 
Sec. 25. Appropriations.-The initial implementation of this Act shall be charged
8 
against the current year's appropriations of the departments or agencies concerned.
9 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued implementation shall be included
10 
in the respective budgets of the concerned departments and agencies in the annual
11 
General Appropriations Act.
12 
Sec. 26. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within sixty (60) days from
13 
the approval of this Act, the Council shall issue the rules and regulations for its
14 
effective implementation: Provided, That failure to issue rules and regulations shall
15 
not in any manner affect the executory nature of the provisions of this Act.
16 
Sec. 27. Construction. - In the implementation of this Act, any conflict with
17 
Republic Act No. 8550, as amended, shall be resolved in favor of the latter, to ensure
18 
the ecological and environmental safeguards therein and with a presumption in favor
19 
or subsistence fisherfolk.
20 
Sec. 28. Separabiiity Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
21 
unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force
22 
and effect.
23 
Sec. 29. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
24 
letters of instruction, proclamations, or administrative regulations that are inconsistent
25 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly:
26 
Provided, That any inconsistency with Republic Act No. 8550, as amended, shall be
27 
construed in favor of the said law unless there is a cogent ecological rationale for
28 
resolving the inconsistency in favor of this Act.
29 
Sec. 30. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
30 
publication in the Official Gazette in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
31 
circulation.
Approved,
17