SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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PROHIBITING THE PRACTICE OF SEA DUMPING OF SEWAGE SLUDGE AND 
INDUSTRIAL WASTE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 16 provides: 
The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a 
balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of 
nature, This constitutional provision is not self-executory and the State has 
the duty to enact laws to effectively respond to environmental problems 
besetting the country, 
The dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste pollute our seawaters thereby 
affecting harmfully the marine resources which undoubtedly is a rich source of food for 
the survival of the Filipino people, 
Thus, in order to protect our marine resources and in the interest of public health 
and safety, this bill seeks to penalize the dumping of wastes into seawaters, 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF TI-IE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2643 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
AN ACT 
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PROHIBITING THE PRACTICE OF SEA DUMPING OF SEWAGE SLUDGE AND 
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INDUSTRIAL WASTE 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Sea Dumping Ban Act 
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of2015." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to 
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promote the natural balance of the environment for the protection of human health and 
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safety. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(1) "Alternative System" means any method for the management of sewage sludge 
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or industrial waste which does not require a permit under this Act; 
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(2) "Excluded Materials" means: 
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(a) any dredged materials discharged by the Philippine Army Corps of 
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Engineers or discharged pursuant to a permit issued by the Secretary of 
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Environment and Natural Resources; 
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(b) any waste from any industrial operation located in the Philippines 
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discharged pursuant to a permit issued by the Secretary of Environment and 
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Natural Resources; 
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(3) "Industrial Waste" mcans any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste generated by a 
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manufacturing or processing plant other than an excluded material. 
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(4) "Interim Measure" means any short-term method for the management of 
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sewage sludge or industrial waste, which -
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(a) is used before implementation of an alternative system; and 
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(b) does not require a permit under this Act; 
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(5) "Sewage Sludge" means any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste generated by a 
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wastewater treatment plant, other than an excluded material. 
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SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts. - No person shall dump into seawaters or transport 
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for the purposes of dumping into seawaters, sewage sludge or industrial waste, unless 
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such person has obtained a permit issued by the Secretary of Environment and Natural 
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Resources which authorizes such transportation and dumping. 
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The Secretary of Transportation and Communication shall not issue any permit 
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under this Act which authorizes a person to dump into seawaters, or to transport for the 
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purpose of dumping into sea waters, sewage sludge or industrial waste, unless that person 
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was authorized by a permit issued by him or by a court order to dump into seawaters or to 
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transport for the purpose of dumping into ocean waters, sewage sludge or industrial 
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wastes. 
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SECTION 5. Penalties. -- Any person who dumps into seawaters, or transports for 
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the purpose of dumping into seawaters, sewage sludge or industrial waste shall be liable 
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in the amount of not less than fifty thousand pesos (1'50,000.00) or imprisonment of not 
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less than three (3) months or both at the discretion of the court. 
If the offense is 
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committed by a corporation, trust, firm, partnership, association or other entity, the 
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penalty shall be imposed upon the guilty officer or officers of such corporation, trust, 
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firm, partnership or association or other entity. 
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SECTION 6. Enforcement Monitoring Report. - Not later than six (6) months after 
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the date of the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Environment 
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and Natural Resources, in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of 
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Transportation and Communication, shall submit a report to Congress. The report under 
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this section shall contain (1) an accounting of discharges into the seawaters of the 
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territorial sea, the contiguous zone, and the ocean including -
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(a) the total number of discharges; 
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(b) the location, source, volume, and potential environmental effects of 
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each discharge; 
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(c) the date of original issuance, review, and reissuance of each discharge 
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permit; 
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(d) the number of discharges including that which have been determined by 
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the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources; 
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(e) a schedule for implementing this Act and achieving compliance with 
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guidelines promulgated under such Act as expeditiously as practicable, and an 
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estimate of the resources required to meet such schedule; and 
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(f) recommendations for any additional legislative authorities needed to 
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achieve compliance with such guidelines. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause.-
If any provision or part thereof, is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the reminder of the law of the provision not otherwise 
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
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or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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