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. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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 primarily seeks to improve the quality of beaches and coastal recreation water 
by adopting consistent criteria that would enhance public health and safety. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
August 3, 2023
12:01 pm
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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. 
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.” 
Sec. 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.
Sec. 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.
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(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. 
 
Sec. 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.  
 
Sec. 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.  
 
Sec. 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).  
 
Sec. 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.  
 
 
Sec. 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.  
 
Sec. 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.  
 


 
Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
Approved,