Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS “MIGZ” R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY 
“HORI” G. HORIBATA AND HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A quick look at the numbers show how important bodies of water are to the Philippines. 
The country’s territory is mostly marine, covering 2.2 million square kilometers. We 
rank 11th in the world in both capture fisheries and aquaculture fish production. We 
have the second highest coastline of 32,289 kilometers after Indonesia, an average 
precipitation rate of 4,604mm.  
Our rich bodies of water enable our people to also make a living on sea transportation, 
oil and gas, and tourism among others. It is thus imperative for us to preserve and 
protect our waters, our national patrimony. This proposed measure seek to 
reconstitute the National Coast Watch Council, created 10 under Executive Order No. 
57, Series of 2011, as the National Maritime Council. It shall be tasked to formulate a 
policy framework on blue economy, which shall serve as the basis for marine spatial 
planning, determination of investments to enhance maritime domain awareness, the 
preservation of value and sustainability of ocean resources. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY “HORI” G. HORIBATA 
BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
August 2, 2023
11:50 am
8708


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS “MIGZ” R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY 
“HORI” G. HORIBATA AND HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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 Maritime Zones, as a pillar of our
national economy and patrimony;
(b)
Exercise stewardship of our seas and coasts, and protect and conserve the
health and resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats to promote
the well-being, prosperity and security of present and future generations;
(c)
Preserve our maritime heritage, recognize the social, cultural, and historical
value of our seas and coasts, and foster public understanding and respect of the
value of our seas and coasts to build a strong foundation for social responsibility;
8708


 
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(d)  Enrich scientific understanding of marine and coastal ecosystems, the benefits 
we gain from these ecosystems (e.g. carbon sequestration), their changing 
conditions and the causes thereof, and use the best available scientific 
knowledge to inform decisions affecting our seas and coasts and to enhance our 
capacity to respond and adapt to changing maritime environments; 
 
(e)  Foster international cooperation, and exercise rights and jurisdiction in 
accordance with applicable international laws, including on freedom of 
navigation; 
 
(f)  
Strategically address the factors that adversely affect the oceans and the living 
and non-living resources that comprise our seas, turning threats into 
opportunities and preventing further harm to all water bodies including land-
based pollution; 
 
(g)  Ensure a whole-of-nation approach and a comprehensive, integrated framework 
for the stewardship of our seas and coasts to facilitate cohesive action of the 
National 
Government, 
local 
authorities, 
academe, 
non-governmental 
organizations, the private sector, and the public. 
 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
(a)  Aquaculture refers to the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, 
crustaceans and aquatic plants. Farming implies some sort of intervention in the 
rearing process to enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, 
protection from predators, etc. Farming also implies individual or corporate 
ownership of the stock being cultivated, the planning, development and operation 
of aquaculture systems, sites, facilities and practices, and the production and 
transport; 
 
(b)  Aquisilviculture refers to a multi-purpose production system that allows 
production of fish in a mangrove reforestation project; 
 
(c)  Blue economy refers to a practical ocean-based economic model using green 
infrastructure and technologies, innovative financing mechanisms, and proactive 


 
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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)  Commercial fishing refers to the harvesting of fish, either in whole or in part, for 
sale, barter or trade; 
 
(e)  Ecosystem services refer to the flow of benefits which humans gain from 
ecosystems, through biological processes and climate, hydrological and 
biochemical cycles, and experiences that contribute to intangible culture; 
 
(f)  
Environmental-economic accounting refers to a systematic way to measure 
and report on stocks and flows of natural assets and resources - both biotic and 
biotic, renewable and non-renewable - and ecosystem services, to determine the 
contribution of the environment to the economy and the impact of the economy 
on the environment; 
 
(g)  Environmental-economic accounts refer to statistical information, in physical 
or monetary terms, about the extraction of natural resources, their use within the 
economy, natural resource stock levels, the changes in those stocks during a 
specific period, and such other economic activities related to the environment; 
 
(h)  Integrated marine and coastal area management refers to a participatory 
process for decision-making to prevent, control, or mitigate adverse impacts from 
human activities in the marine and coastal environment, and to contribute to the 
restoration of degraded coastal areas; 
 
(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, and overseeing the 
operations of the different economic zones and freeports in accordance with their 
respective special laws. These include the Board of Investments (BOI), Regional 
Board of Investments-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-ARMM), 


 
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Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Bases Conversion and 
Development Authority (BCDA), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Clark 
Development Corporation (CDC), John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC), 
Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC), Cagayan Economic Zone 
Authority (CEZA), Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority (ZCSEZA), 
PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (PIA), Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport 
Authority (APECO), Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), Tourism 
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and all other similar 
existing authorities or that may be created by law; 
 
(j)  
Land-based pollution - 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 and sediments - whether 
brought by rivers or discharged directly into coastal waters; 
 
(k)  Mariculture refers to the farming of organisms, both plants and animals, in an 
aquatic medium or environment which may be completely marine (sea), or sea 
water mixed to various degrees with fresh water. This definition would include 
both the sea and inland brackishwater areas; 
 
(l)  
Marine scientific research refers to any research activity, which is conducted 
for exclusively peaceful purposes, for the purpose of increasing scientific 
knowledge about the marine environment, including all natural resources, toward 
the benefit of mankind and according to the United Nations Convention on the 
Law of the Sea; 
 
(m)  Maritime domain awareness refers to the effective understanding of any activity 
that could impact upon the security, safety, economy or environment; 
 
(n)  Maritime spatial planning refers to a process by which human activities in 
Maritime Zones are analyzed and organized, based on best available scientific 
knowledge, and to achieve economic, ecological and social objectives; 
 


 
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(o)  Ocean-based activities refer to activities that are undertaken in the ocean, e.g. 
fisheries and aquaculture, offshore oil and gas, mining, ocean energy, 
desalination, shipping and marine transportation, marine tourism, marine 
construction; 
 
(p) 
Ocean-related activities refer to activities that use products from the ocean 
(e.g., seafood processing, marine biotechnology, chemicals, salt, etc.) and 
produce products and services for the ocean and ocean-based activities (e.g., 
ship building and repair, ports, tourist resorts, communication, maritime 
insurance and law, maritime technical services, etc.); 
 
(q)  Subsistence fishing - fishing for personal consumption or traditional/ceremonial 
purposes; 
 
(r)  
Ocean literacy refers to an understanding of the ocean’s influence on humans 
and human influence on the ocean. 
 
SEC. 4. Scope of Application. – For purposes of this Act, the Philippines shall 
exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, in accordance with 
international law, as appropriate, in internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, 
contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continent shelf, herein collectively 
referred to as “Maritime Zones”, including its seabed and subsoil, and any and all 
maritime features within the Maritime Zones now known or to be known in the future, 
without prejudice to the power, authority and right granted exclusively to the 
Bangsamoro Government under Republic Act No. 11054, also known as the “Organic 
Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” or the powers of 
Protected Area Management Boards over protected seascapes to explore, develop, 
and utilize natural resources within its territorial jurisdiction. 
 
CHAPTER II 
NATIONAL MARITIME COUNCIL 
SEC. 5. National Maritime Council. – The National Coast Watch Council, created 
under Executive Order No. 57, Series of 2011, is hereby renamed and reconstituted 
as the National Maritime Council, herein referred to as the “Council,” and its functions 


 
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expanded to include the formulation of an integrated strategy to promote blue 
economy and ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine resources. 
 
SEC. 6. Composition. – The Council is composed of the following: 
(a)  Executive Secretary, as Chairperson; 
(b)  Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning; 
(c)  Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources; 
(d)  Secretary of National Defense; 
(e)  Secretary of Foreign Affairs; 
(f)  
Secretary of Justice; 
(g)  Secretary of the Interior and Local Government; 
(h)  Secretary of Agriculture; 
(i)  
Secretary of Tourism; 
(j)  
Secretary of Transportation; 
(k)  Secretary of Trade and Industry; 
(l)  
Secretary of Energy; 
(m)  Secretary of Science and Technology; and 
(n)  Secretary of Finance. 
 
Department Secretaries may designate an Undersecretary, whose portfolio 
covers matters directly or principally relating to the development or management of 
coastal and marine resources and ecosystems, if applicable. They shall sit in a 
permanent capacity, and their acts shall be considered the acts of their principals. 
 
SEC. 7. Secretariat. – The Coastal Watch Council Secretariat, created under Section 
4 of Executive Order No. 57, Series of 2011, is hereby renamed as the National 
Maritime Office and shall continue to provide technical and administrative support to 
the Council. 
 
SEC. 8. Support Agencies. – Section 6 of Executive Order No. 57, Series of 2011 is 
hereby amended to include the following agencies to provide material or technical 
support to the Council, as may be deemed necessary: 
(a)  Climate Change Commission; 
(b)  Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; 


 
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(c)  Board of Investments; 
(d)  Securities and Exchange Commission; 
(e)  Philippine Statistics Authority; 
(f)  
National Mapping and Resources Information Authority; 
(g)  Environmental Management Bureau; 
(h)  Biodiversity Management Bureau-Coastal and Marine Division; 
(i)  
Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards; 
(j)  
Philippine Fisheries Development Authority; 
(k)  Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries; 
(l)  
Maritime Industry Authority; 
(m)  Philippine Ports Authority; 
(n)  Philippine Reclamation Authority; 
(o)  Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research 
and Development; 
(p)  Philippine 
Atmospheric, 
Geophysical 
and 
Astronomical 
Services 
Administration (PAGASA); 
(q)  Department of Foreign Affairs-Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office; 
(r)  
National Museum-Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Division; 
(s)  University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute; and 
(t)  
Investment promotion agencies. 
 
In order to ensure the efficient and effective discharge of its responsibilities, the 
Council may create working groups, and call upon other departments, bureaus. offices 
and instrumentalities of the Government, and academic and research institutions 
engaged in marine science and ocean-based or ocean-related activities to participate 
in working groups, as it may deem necessary. 
 
CHAPTER III 
POLICY FRAMEWORK ON BLUE ECONOMY 
SEC. 9. Policy Framework on Blue Economy. – The Council shall, within six (6) 
months from the effectivity of this Act, formulate a Policy Framework on Blue Economy, 
herein referred to as the Policy Framework. The Policy Framework shall serve as the 
basis for marine spatial planning, determination of investments to enhance maritime 
domain awareness, the preservation of value and sustainability of ocean resources 


 
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and their protection from threats such as land-based pollution and overfishing and 
enforcement of economic and environmental regulations within our Maritime Zones. 
The Policy Framework shall be subject to mandatory review and modification every 
five (5) years. 
 
SEC. 10. Components of the Policy Framework on Blue Economy. – The Policy 
Framework shall include the following components: 
(a)  Review of all existing policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and regulations 
on ocean-based and ocean-related activities; 
(b)  Adherence to international maritime laws; 
(c)  Analysis of current and emerging trends and changes in demography, 
consumption, trade, technology, environmental quality and climate that show the 
interaction between the economy and the environment, present threats and 
pressures on coastal and marine environments and damage estimation; 
(d)  Environmental-economic accounting of coastal and marine assets and 
resources, and ecosystem services from coastal and marine environments, 
including assessment of losses due to degradation or major pollution events such 
as oil spills; 
(e) 
Priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related economic 
activities, which may include: 
(1)  Fisheries, including commercial fishing, but with preference to subsistence 
fisheries, as mandated by Section 7, Art. XIII, of the Constitution; 
(2)  Aquaculture, mariculture and aquasilviculture; 
(3)  Marine and coastal tourism; 
(4)  Environmentally and hydrologically appropriate reclamation; 
(5)  Shipping, logistics and maritime transport; 
(6)  Ship-building and ship repair; 
(7)  Exploration, exploitation and extraction of oil and natural gas; 
(8)  Production of renewable energy from marine sources; 
(9)  Submarine mining or extraction of minerals and aggregates; 
(10)  Installation of submarine cables and pipelines; 
(11)  Bioremediation, Marine biotechnology and bioprospecting; 
(12)  Desalination; and 
(13)  Underwater cultural heritage and maritime archaeology. 


 
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(f)  
Guiding framework for integrated marine and coastal area management; 
(g) 
Guiding framework for blue finance; 
(h)  Priority research and development agenda, maximizing opportunities created for 
pollution control, remediation, used water economics and other industries that 
address threats; 
(i)  
Promotion of ocean literacy and social responsibility towards the protection of 
coastal and marine environments; 
(j)  
Enhancement of capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and civilian 
agencies to enforce laws, rules and regulations to protect our marine wealth; 
(k)  Goals, targets and indicators for growth, resilience and sustainability of priority 
strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related activities, including its 
contribution to Gross Domestic Product and job creation; 
 
CHAPTER VI 
ADHERENCE TO INTERNATIONAL MARITIME INSTRUMENTS 
SEC. 11. International Maritime Instruments Implementation and Reporting. – 
The Council shall establish mechanisms for the full and effective implementation and 
enforcement of the following international maritime instruments and their subsequent 
amendments and the reporting of compliance and adherence to the President and 
Congress: 
(a)  Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and 
Fauna; 
(b)  UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage; 
(c)  International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, and its 
Protocol of 1988 (SOLAS 74); 
(d)  International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and its 
Protocol of 1978 (MAPROL 73/78); 
(e)  Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 
1972, as amended (COLREG 72); 
(f)  
International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 and its Protocol of 1988, as 
amended (LL 66); 
(g)  International Convention on the Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 
(TONNAGE 69); 


 
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(h)  Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime 
Navigation, 1988 (SUA) and its Protocol; 
(i)  
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-
operation 1990 (OPRC 1990); 
(j)  
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water 
and Sediments, 2004 (BWM 2004); 
(k)  Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by dumping of Wastes and 
Other Matter, 1972, as amended, and its 1996 Protocol (LCP); 
(l)  
Special Trade Passenger Ships Agreement, 1971 (STP 71); 
(m)  Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization, as amended 
(IMSO 1976) and its Operating Agreement (INMARSAT); 
(n)  International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and 
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, As Amended (STCW 78); 
(o)  International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on 
Ships, 2001 (AFS 2001); 
(p)  Protocol of 1992 to Amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil 
Pollution Damage, 1969; 
(q)  Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on the Establishment of 
an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971; 
 
SEC. 12. Application. – Unless otherwise indicated, the international conventions 
enumerated in the preceding section shall apply to: 
(a) 
All ships, whether seagoing or coastwise, which are registered under the 
Philippine flag; 
(b)  All persons, partnerships, corporations, firms and other entities duly registered 
or licensed in the Philippines to engage in ocean-based or ocean-related 
enterprise, or those acting on their behalf; 
(c)  All foreign ships that are within the waters, ports, harbors and offshore terminals 
of the Philippines regardless of whether or not they are registered in, or belong 
to, State Parties to the conventions sought to be implemented by this Act. 
(d)  All entities that have land-based activities with substantial positive or adverse 
impact on the marine ecosystem; 
 
CHAPTER V 


 
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ENVIRONMENTAL-ECONOMIC ACCOUNTING 
SEC. 13. Environmental-Economic Accounting. – The Council shall undertake 
environmental-economic accounting of maritime ecosystems and resources, based on 
the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting. Members of the 
Council and heads of support agencies shall contribute data on environmental 
economic accounts relating to their mandates including damage estimation and sea 
level rise projections. 
 
SEC. 14. Framework. – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shall develop a 
framework for the collection, compilation, processing, analysis, publication and 
dissemination of environmental-economic accounts and its integration in the national 
accounts: Provided, That PSA shall integrate the collection of environmental-
economic accounts into the Community-Based Monitoring System for local 
government units (LGUs); Provided, further, That the PSA shall coordinate with and 
provide technical assistance to Members of the Council, support agencies, investment 
promotion agencies and LGUs to ensure compliance to standard environmental-
economic accounting techniques, methodologies, concepts, definitions and 
classifications to prevent duplication in collection of statistical information. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT 
SEC. 15. Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM). – The 
Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM) shall be the framework to 
address human impacts on marine and coastal biological diversity, and for promoting 
conservation and sustainable use of this biodiversity. 
 
SEC. 16. Elements of the National IMCAM Framework. – The Council shall develop 
and implement the National IMCAM Framework within one (1) year from the effectivity 
of this Act to provide direction, support and guidance to relevant member and support 
agencies, LGUs and other stakeholders, according to the Elaborated Programme of 
Work on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity contained in the Annex to Decision 
VII/5 of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Environmental Programme 
Convention on Biological Diversity. 


 
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Accordingly, the National IMCAM Framework shall consider the following 
elements: 
(a)  
Building capacity of stakeholders, in 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; 
(b)  
Direct action to protect coastal and marine environments from negative 
impacts, such as: 
(1)  Alteration and destruction, of coastal and marine habitats, particularly 
areas important for reproduction, inter alia, coral reef systems, sea grass 
areas and the sea bed; 
(2) 
Marine and land-based pollution; 
(3)  Improper coastal land use and the mismanagement of watersheds; 
(4)  Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, by-catch especially of 
threatened species; 
(c) 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. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES 
SEC. 17. Protection of Endangered Species. – The Council shall spearhead the 
conservation, protection and rehabilitation of rare, threatened and endangered aquatic 
species as it may determine, including their habitats and migratory routes such as the 
East Asian Current. It shall recommend to the President and Congress the designation 
of coastal and marine areas as protected areas under the Expanded National 
Integrated Protected Areas System, or sanctuaries of local conservation areas under 
the Fisheries Code and the Local Government Code, and in compliance with the 
relevant provisions of international treaties and agreements such as, the Convention 
on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, the United 
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and Convention on Biological Diversity. 
 
SEC. 18. Policy Coordination. – The Council shall harmonize rules and regulations 
of all relevant agencies responsible for the implementation and enforcement of laws 


 
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to prevent and eliminate illegal fishing such as Republic Act (RA) No. 8550, also known 
as the “Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998,” as amended by RA 10654. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING 
SEC. 19. Maritime Spatial Planning. – The Council shall undertake a nationwide 
maritime spatial planning to identify the spatial and temporal distribution of priority 
activities and uses and the interactions thereof in Maritime Zones, in order to reduce 
conflict among uses, facilitate complementary uses, mitigate environmental impacts, 
prevent marine dead zones and preserve ecosystem services. 
 
SEC. 20. Industry Development Plans. – The Council, through working groups 
created for the purpose, shall prepare five-year and ten-year development plans for 
each priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related industry, in 
accordance with the Policy Framework. 
 
SEC. 21. Integration with Area and National Development Plans. – The National 
Economic and Development Authority shall integrate the maritime spatial plan and 
industry development plans into the Philippine Development Plan, the National Priority 
Plan, the National Physical Framework Plan, and Area Spatial Development 
Framework. 
 
SEC. 22. Inclusion in Strategic Investment Priority Plan. – The Council shall 
recommend to the Board of Investments the inclusion of identified priority strategic 
ocean-based and ocean-based activities in the Strategic Investment Priority Plan. 
 
SEC. 23. Blue Economic Zones. – Investment promotion agencies shall encourage 
the establishment of blue economic zones and the transformation of existing special 
economic zones (SEZs) into the same, where locator enterprises engaged in ocean-
based or ocean-related activities shall enjoy the privileges, benefits, advantages or 
exemptions granted to economic zones and freeports in accordance with their 
respective special laws. 
In addition, the incentives provided for under the following laws may be granted 
to blue SEZs: 


 
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(a)  
RA 9003, or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000;”  
(b)  
RA 9275, or the “Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004;” 
(c)  
RA 9513, or the “Renewable Energy Act of 2008;” and 
(d)  
RA 10771, or the “Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016.” 
Blue SEZs may also qualify for financing provided for under RA 11293, or the 
“Philippine Innovation Act.” 
 
CHAPTER IX 
BLUE FINANCE 
SEC. 24. Role of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). – In the exercise of its 
regulatory powers over financial institutions, the BSP shall mandate banks and quasi-
banks to adopt the United Nations Environment Programme Sustainable Blue 
Economy Finance Principles as a foundation of corporate governance and risk 
management. 
 
SEC. 25. Role of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). – The SEC shall 
encourage the issuance of blue bonds where proceeds will be exclusively applied to 
finance or refinance, in part or in full, strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-
related activities, in accordance with ASEAN Green Bonds Standards and Green 
Bonds Principles, as developed and may be revised from time to time by the ASEAN 
Capital Markets Forum and the International Capital Market Association, respectively. 
 
SEC. 26. Role of Government Financial Institutions. – The Land Bank of the 
Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines shall allocate five percent 
(5%) of its regular loan portfolio for credit to strategic and sustainable ocean-based or 
ocean-related enterprises. 
 
CHAPTER X 
MARINE SCIENCE AND OCEAN LITERACY 
SEC. 27. Marine Scientific Research. – The State recognizes marine science as a 
foundation of maritime governance, insofar as rules governing the use of coastal and 
marine resources must be based on the sound scientific understanding of the marine 
environment. In accordance with UNCLOS, the Philippines has the exclusive rights to 
regulate, authorize and conduct marine scientific research in our internal waters, 


 
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archipelagic waters and territorial sea; whereas, the Philippines has rights to regulate, 
authorize and conduct maritime research in our exclusive economic zone and 
continental shelf: Provided, That the marine scientific research activities shall not 
unjustifiably interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea and shall not constitute the 
legal basis for any claim to any part of the marine environment or its resources. 
Marine scientific research by foreign states and competent international 
organizations may only be conducted with the express consent of and the conditions 
set forth by the Council, in accordance with the UNCLOS. 
 
SEC. 28. Ocean Literacy Framework. – The Department of Education, Commission 
on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other 
government agencies implementing sector-specific literacy programs, in consultation 
with relevant Members of the Council or support agencies, shall integrate into the 
curricula of K-12, the Alternative Learning System, general education programs of 
higher education institutions, technical and vocational education and training, and 
other community-based training programs, the essential principles and fundamental 
concepts of ocean sciences to develop the following competencies: 
(a)  Understanding the importance of the ocean to humankind; 
(b)  Communicating about the ocean in a meaningful way; and 
(c)  Making informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its 
resources. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION 
SEC. 29. Archipelagic Sea Lanes. – The Council shall designate sea lanes and air 
routes there above, suitable for the continuous and expeditious passage of foreign 
ships and aircrafts through or over the archipelagic waters and the adjacent territorial 
sea, and shall, where necessary as regards to the safety of navigation, require foreign 
ships exercising the right of innocent passage to use such lanes and traffic separation 
schemes in accordance with the UNCLOS. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 


 
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SEC. 30. Role of Local Government Units. – Cities and municipalities shall continue 
to exercise jurisdiction over municipal waters, pursuant to RA 7160, also known as the 
“Local Government Code of 1991,” as amended, and RA 8550, as amended. 
Consistent with this mandate, local government units shall act as the frontline agencies 
in the formulation, planning and implementation of IMCAM in their respective 
jurisdictions. LGUs shall integrate the National Maritime Spatial Plan and opportunities 
such as the National Sewage and Septage Management Plan and the funds under the 
Clean Water Act in their Comprehensive Development and Annual Investment Plans. 
 
SEC. 31. Inter-LGU Cooperation. – Consistent with the provisions of RA 7160, as 
amended, LGUs may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their efforts, 
services, and resources for the accomplishment of the objectives of this Act. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 32. Congressional Oversight. – For the effective implementation of this Act, a 
Congressional Oversight Committee is created to be known as the Blue Economy 
Oversight Committee. The Blue Economy Oversight Committee shall be composed of 
five (5) Senators and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President 
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The Minority shall be 
entitled to pro rata representation. The Blue Economy Oversight Committee shall be 
jointly chaired by the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs and 
the Chairperson of the House Committee on Economic Affairs. 
 
SEC. 33. Appropriations. – The amount of One hundred million pesos 
(P100,000,000.00) as initial funding for the Council to be charged against the 
unexpended Contingency Fund of the Office of the President is hereby appropriated. 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the implementation of this Act shall be included in 
the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 34. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Council shall issue the 
implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act: 
Provided, That That failure to issue rules and regulations shall not in any manner affect 
the executory nature of the provisions of this Act. 


 
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SEC. 35. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected shall remain in full force and 
effect. 
 
SEC. 36. Repealing Clause. – Any other laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules 
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are repealed 
or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 37. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,