SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.NO. 2237 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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'14 MY22 P4:24 
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL MANGROVE REFORESTATION PROGRAM FOR 
COASTAL AREAS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Marine plants are important natural resources that provide shelter, food and 
nursery areas to a big number of fish species. Marine plants, as well as with rocky 
foreshores, mud flats, reefs and sand bars, are a fundamental part of fish habitats as they 
help sustain fish for the future for commercial, traditional and recreational fishing. 
Mangroves are among the most productive and biologically complex ecosystems. They 
allow many species to thrive from starfish to monkey and are important for local 
communities living along the coast lines. 
A study of the 2004 Asian tsunami found that areas near healthy mangroves 
suffered less damage and fewer deaths. Despite their ecological and economic 
importance, mangroves are under threat worldwide. Over the past 50 years, aquaculture 
and commercial fish fanning has destroyed a third of the world's mangrove forests. In 
some regions of the world such as the Philippines the loss has been up to 80 percent. The 
International Union for Conservation of Nature (mCN) classifies the Philippines as the 
"center of the center" of marine ecosystem diversity. The Philippines is home to about 
half the world's mangrove species. However, despite Philippine laws that since 1975 have 
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banned mangrove clearing, enforcement has been virtually absent, and mangrove 
destruction still occurs widely. 
We can learn from the experiences of other countries. Vietnam is one of the most 
typhoon-hit nations in Asia. Annually, an average of four typhoons and many more 
storms wreak havoc on this low-lying country. In what may seem as an uncommon 
advocacy for a humanitarian organization, the Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC) has been 
planting and protecting mangrove forests in northern Vietnam since 1994. The reason for 
its commitment to mangrove protection, which has included planting nearly 12,000 
hectares of trees and defending them from shrimp farmers who want to hack them down, 
is simple: mangroves protect Vietnam's coastal inhabitants from the effects of typhoons. 
These submerged, coastal forests act as buffers against the sea, reducing potentially 
devastating 1.5 meter waves into harmless ripples of water. The mangroves planted by 
the VNRC protect 110 kilometers of the 3,000-kilometre sea dyke system that runs up 
and down Vietnam's coastline. 
In financial terms alone, the mangrove program proves that disaster preparedness 
pays. The planning'-and protection of 12,000 hectares of mangroves has cost around 
$l.IM, but has helped reduce the cost of dyke maintenance by $7.3M annually. In lives 
spared, one need only look to the dividend reaped during typhoon Wukong in October , 
2000. This typhoon struck three northern provinces, but caused no damage to the dykes 
behind regenerated mangroves and no deaths inland from these dykes. In the past waves 
would breach the coastal dykes and flood the land of poor coastal families. Apart from 
the lives, possessions and properly saved trom floods, the VNRC estimates that the 
livelihoods of 7,750 families have benefited from the replanting and protection of the 
mangrove forests. Local fishermen and their families now earn additional income selling 
the crabs, shrimps and mollusks which mangrove forests harbor. 
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This is the same situation in Kenya. Over the last 10 years, conservationists in the 
region have planted an estimated 10 million mangroves, and the forests have in turn 
provided for the community. During the peak tourism season, which runs from August to 
March, the Dabaso Creek Conservation Group earns over 300,000 Kenyan shillings 
(around $3,600) from the eeo-restaurant, birding excursions, and selling crabs and tlsh to 
hotels in Dabaso. 
Mangrove conservation is important in the fight against climate change, and not 
just because mangroves can slow storm surges, prevent erosion, and lower disaster risk, 
for coastal communities. An Earth Watch study reported that I hectare of mangroves can 
sequester 1.36 tons of carbon in a year, equivalent to the annual emissions of six cars. 
Another study showed that mangroves and other coastal vegetation like sea grasses and 
salt marsh grass, which are collectively known as blue carbon, can sequester carbon up to 
100 times more effectively than terrestrial forests. 
For these reasons, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly requested.] 
1 Source: This is the Senate counterpmt of House Bill No. 3525 bill filed by Congo Regina Ongsiako Reyes in the 
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House of Representatives during the 16 Congress. 
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" 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
s.No2237 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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'14 
MAY 22 P 4 :24 
HECEIVED In':~-f-
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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AN ACT 
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ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL MANGROVE REFORESTATION 
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PROGRAM FOR COASTAL AREAS 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Mangrove 
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Reforestation Act of2014." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Principles and Policies. ~ The Constitution provides 
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that the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful 
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ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. 
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The State recognizes the need to reforest our coastlines with mangroves to serve a& 
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a habitat for fish species and to serve as a natural defense against typhoons, storm surges, 
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and other ecological disasters that usually affect coastal areas. 
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SECTION 3. Definitions. ~ As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
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(a) Mangroves - a community of intertidal plants including all species of trees, 
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shrubs, vines and herbs found on coasts, swamps, or border of swamps; 
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(b) Coastal Area/Zone - is a band or dry land and adjacent ocean space (water and 
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submerged land) in which terrestrial processes and uses directly affect oceanic 
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processes and uses, and vice versa; its geographic extent may include areas 
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within a landmark limit of one (1) kilometer from the shoreline at high tide to 
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include mangrove swamps, brackish water ponds, nipa swamps, estuarine 
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rivers, sandy beaches and other areas within a seaward limit of 200 meters to 
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include coral reefs, algal flats, sea grass beds and other soft-bottom areas. 
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(c) Department shall refer to the Department of Environment and Natural 
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Resources. 
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SECTION 4. Reforestation of Coastal Areas. - Coastal areas shall be reforested 
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with mangroves according to standards set by the Department. The Department shall 
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identify the areas that are most vulnerable to storm surges and flooding and shall 
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prioritize these areas in terms of reforestation. 
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For the areas that are most affected by typhoons and other natural disasters, the 
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Department shall, as much as practicable, hire local workers for the projects to be 
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completed under this Act. 
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SECTION 5. Fish Refuge and Sanctuaries. - The Department may establish fish 
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refuge and sanctuaries. At least fifty (50%) of bays, foreshore lands, continental shelf or 
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any fishing ground shall be set aside for the cultivation of mangroves to strengthen the 
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habitat and the spawning grounds of fish. Within these areas no commercial fishing shall 
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be allowed. All marine fishery reserves, fish sanctuaries and mangrove swamp 
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reservations already declared or proclaimed by the President or legislated by the 
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Congress of the Philippines shall be continuously administered and supervised by the 
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Department. 
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SECTION 6. Conversion or unauthorized utilization of Mangroves. -- It shall be 
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unlawful for any person to convert mangroves into fishponds or for any other purposes or 
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to cut down or utilize mangroves without a license from the Department. 
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SECTION 7. Appropriations. - For the first three (3) years of this Act, the amount 
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of one hundred million pesos (P 1 00,000,000) shall be appropriated for its initial stages. In 
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the succeeding years, there shall be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry 
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out the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof: is held invalid 
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or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 9. 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 is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/dpm 
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