Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF BEACHES AND COASTAL RECREATION 
WATER 
The Constitution, Article II, 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.  
Our country takes pride in our world-class beaches. They draw millions of tourists 
annually.  
However, the influx of tourists to a relatively small area has a huge impact. They add 
to the pollution, waste, and water needs of the local population, putting local 
infrastructure and habitats under enormous pressure. 
This bill seeks to improve the quality of beaches and coastal recreation water by 
adopting consistent criteria that would enhance public health and safety. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
9096
March 23, 2021
1:13 PM


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF BEACHES AND COASTAL RECREATION 
WATER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Beaches Environmental 
Assessment, Closure, and Health Act.” 
SECTION 2. Purposes. – The purpose of this Act is to require uniform criteria and 
procedures for testing, monitoring, and notifying users of public coastal recreation 
water and beaches –  
(A) To protect public safety; and
(B) To improve environmental quality.
SECTION 3. Definitions. – For the purposes of this Act, the term: 
(A) “Coastal recreation water” means water adjacent to public beaches and marine 
coastal water (including bays, lagoon mouths, and coastal estuaries within the tidal 
zone) used by the public for –
(1) Swimming;
(2) Bathing;
(3) Surfing; or
(4) Other similar body contact purposes.
(B) “Floatable materials” means any foreign matter that may float or remain 
suspended in water, including –
(1) Plastic;
(2) Aluminum cans; 
(3) Wood;
(4) Bottles;
(5) Paper products; and
(6) Fishing gear.
9096


 
 
SECTION 4. Adoption of Coastal Recreational Water Quality Criteria. –  
 
(A) In General. – Not later than three (3) years and one hundred eighty (180) days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources shall adopt water quality criteria for coastal 
recreation water.  
(B) Development of Criteria. – Water quality criteria described in paragraph (A) shall 
be developed and promulgated in accordance with existing environmental laws and 
policies.  
 
SECTION 5. Water Quality Criteria Revision. –  
 
(A) STUDIES – Not later than three (3) years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
and after consultation with appropriate officials, including local health officials, and 
other interested persons, the Secretary shall conduct studies to provide new 
information for use in developing –  
(1) A more complete list of potential human health risks from inhalation, ingestion, 
or body contact with coastal recreation water, including effects on the upper 
respiratory system; 
(2) Appropriate and effective indicators for improving direct detection of the 
presence of pathogens found harmful to human health in coastal recreational 
water; 
(3) Appropriate, accurate, and expeditious methods (including predictive models) 
for detecting the presence of pathogens in coastal recreation water that are 
harmful to human health; and  
(4) Guidance for the application of the criteria issued under subsection (2) to 
account for the diversity of geographic and aquatic conditions throughout the 
country.  
 
(B) Revised Criteria. – Not later than five (5) years after the date of enactment of this 
Act, based on the results of the studies conducted under paragraph (A), the Secretary, 
after consultation with appropriate officials, including local health officials, and other 
interested parties, shall –  
(1) Issue revised water quality criteria for pathogens in coastal recreation water 
that are harmful to human health, including a revised list of indicators and testing 
methods; and  
(2) Not less than once every five (5) years thereafter, review and revise the water 
quality criteria.  
 
SECTION 6. Coastal Beach Water Quality Monitoring. –  
 
(A) Monitoring. – 
(1) In General. – Not later than one (1) year and one hundred eighty (180) days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall promulgate 
regulations requiring monitoring by the department of public coastal recreation 
water and beaches for:   
(a) Compliance with applicable water quality criteria; and 
(b) Maintenance of public safety. 
(2) Contents of Requirements. – Monitoring requirements established under this 
section shall specify, at a minimum –  


 
 
(a) Available monitoring methods to be used; and 
(b) The frequency and location of monitoring based on – 
(i)    The periods of recreational use of coastal recreation water and 
beaches; 
(ii) 
The extent and degree of recreational use during the periods 
described in clause (i);  
(iii) 
The proximity of coastal recreation water to known or identified 
point and non-point sources of pollution; and 
(iv) 
The relationship between the use of public recreation water and 
beaches to storm events; 
(c) Methods for –  
(i)    Detecting levels of pathogens that are harmful to human health; 
and  
(ii) 
Identifying short-term increases in pathogens that are harmful to 
human health in coastal recreation water, including the relationship of 
short-term increases in pathogens to storm events; and 
(d) Conditions and procedures under which discrete areas of coastal 
recreation water may be exempted by the Secretary from the monitoring 
requirements under this subsection, if the Secretary determines that an 
exemption will not –  
(i)    Impair compliance with the applicable water quality criteria for that 
water; and 
(ii) 
Compromise public safety.  
 
(B) Notification Requirements. – 
(1) In General. – Regulations promulgated under subsection (1) shall require 
provinces to provide notification of a failure or the likelihood of a failure to meet 
applicable water quality criteria for provincial coastal recreation water, to:  
(a) Local governments; 
(b) The public; and 
(c) The Secretary. 
(2) Information Included in Notification. – Notification under this subsection shall 
require, at a minimum –  
(a) The prompt communication of the occurrence, nature, extent, and 
location of, and substances, including pathogens, involved in, a failure or 
immediate likelihood of a failure to meet water quality criteria, to a 
designated official of a local government having jurisdiction over land 
adjoining the coastal recreation water for which the failure or imminent 
failure to meet water quality criteria is identified; and  
(b) the posting of signs, during the period in which water quality criteria are 
not met continues, that are sufficient to give notice to the public –  
(i)     of a failure to meet applicable water quality criteria for the water; 
and 
(ii) 
the potential risks associated with water contact activities in the 
water.  
 
(C) Review and Revision of Regulations. – Periodically, but not less than once every 
five (5) years, the Secretary shall review and make any necessary revisions to 
regulations promulgated under this section.  
 


 
 
(D) Implementation. – 
(1) In General. – Not later than three (3) years and one hundred eighty (180) 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, each province shall implement a 
monitoring and notification program that conforms to the regulations promulgated 
under subsections (1) and (2).  
(2) Revision of Program. – Not later than two (2) years after the date of 
publication of any revisions by the Secretary under subsection (3), each province 
shall revise the program established under paragraph (A) to incorporate the 
revisions. 
  
(E) Guidance; Delegation of Responsibility. – 
(1) In General. – Not later than one (1) year and one hundred eighty (180) days 
after the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary shall issue guidance 
establishing –  
(a) Core performance measures for testing, monitoring, and notification 
programs under this section; and 
(b) The delegation of testing, monitoring, and notification programs under 
this section to the local government authorities. 
(2) Delegation of Responsibility to Local Governments. – If a responsibility 
described the above paragraph is delegated by a province to a local government 
authority, or is delegated to a local government authority before the date of 
enactment of this section, resources, including grants made, shall be made 
available to the delegated authority for the purpose of implementing the 
delegated program in a manner that is consistent with the guidance issued by the 
Secretary.  
 
(F) Floatable Materials Monitoring; Technical Assistance. – Not later than one (1) year 
and one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall –  
(1) Provide technical assistance for uniform assessment and monitoring 
procedures for floatable materials in coastal recreation water; and 
(2) Specify the conditions under which the presence of floatable material shall 
constitute a threat to public health and safety.  
 
(G) Occurrence Database. – The Secretary shall establish, maintain, and make 
available to the public by electronic and other means –  
(1) A national coastal recreation water pollution occurrence database using 
reliable information, including the information reported under paragraph (A); and  
(2) A listing of communities conforming to the regulations promulgated under 
paragraph (A) and (B).  
 
SECTION 7. Report to Congress. – Not later than four (4) years after the date of the 
enactment of this title and periodically thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report that contains –  
 
(A) Recommendations concerning the need for additional water quality criteria and 
other actions that are necessary to improve the quality of coastal recreation water; 
and 
(B) An evaluation of efforts to implement this Act.  
 
 


 
 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting.  
 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly.  
 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
Approved,