NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 2377
of rii?
23 AUB-1 PI 24
RECEI\VLD BV‘; 
'
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR BLUE ECONOMY, PROMOTING 
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND 
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND RESOURCES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to establish a framework that will employ a whole-of-nation 
approach and environmentally-sound and sustainable practices for the development, 
management, protection, and preservation of our marine and coastal resources. It 
seeks to rename and reconstitute the National Coast Watch Council as the National 
Maritime Council, expanding its function to include the formulation of an integrated 
strategy to promote blue economy and ecosystem-based management of coastal and 
marine resources.
Under the bill, the National Maritime Council is mandated to undertake 
environmental-economic accounting of maritime ecosystems and resources, 
contributing data on environmental-economic accounts and estimation on damage and 
sea level rise projections. The Council is also mandated to develop and implement the 
National Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM) Framework which 
will address human impacts on marine and coastal biological diversity, as well as the 
conservation and sustainable use of this biodiversity.


The bill sets a One hundred million peso (P100/000/000.00) initial funding for 
the Council which will be charged against the Contingency Fund of the Office of the 
President. The Coastal Watch Secretariat, created under Executive Order No. 57, 
Series of 2011, is renamed as the National Maritime Office and shall continue to 
provide technical and administrative support to the Council.
Our country Is host to vast marine resources. The Philippines has a total 
territorial water area, inclusive of our Exclusive Economic Zone, of 2.2 million square 
kilometers. Latest available data from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 
show that in 2020, total mariculture production amounted to some 150,507 metric 
tons1. The share of the Ocean Economy to our Gross Domestic Product In 2021 was 
at 3.6%, which amounted to PhP 707.80 billion2. Ocean-based industries also 
employed 1.99 million Filipinos in 2021, with a share of 4.5% to the total employment 
for the year.3
Drawing much from our marine resources, we need to transition into more 
sustainable maritime activities that will use, but not abuse our maritime wealth. It is 
imperative that we develop a policy framework and develop a system for ocean- 
economy environment accounting to assess the blue economy to properly record our 
ocean resources and its contribution to national wealth. There is also a need to ensure 
that the framework covers capacity development and protection for our coastal and 
marine environment ecosystems. The proposed bill will ensure that our marine 
resources will be developed and protected, helping address the pressing concern on 
food insecurity and employment for Filipinos.
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
1
OY EJERCITO ESTRADA
1 Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - Philippine Fisheries Profile 2020
2 Philippine Statistics Authority - 2021 Philippine Ocean Economy Satellite Accounts
3 Ibid.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 2377
gscnnte
23 AUG-1 PI :24
RliCtlVuD B\
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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 the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
1 
CHAPTER I
2 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
3 
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the Blue Economy Act.
4 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to:
5 
a. Adopt blue economy as a framework for sustainable and safe use and
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development of marine wealth within our Maritime Zones, as a pillar of our
7 
national economy and patrimony;
8 
b. Exercise stewardship of our seas and coasts, and protect and conserve the
9 
health and resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats to
10 
promote the well-being, prosperity, and security of present and future
11 
generations;
12 
c. Preserve our maritime heritage, recognize the social, cultural, and historical
13 
value of our seas and coasts, and foster public understanding and respect
14 
of the value of our seas and coasts to build 
a strong foundation for social
15 
responsibility;
16 
d. Enrich scientific understanding of marine and coastal ecosystems, the
17 
benefits we gain from these ecosystems (e.g. carbon sequestration), their


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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 international laws, including on freedom of navigation;
f. Strategically address the factors that adversely affect the oceans and the 
living and non-living resource 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. Aquacuiture refers to the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, 
mollusks, 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. Aquasiivicuiture refers to a multi-purpose production system that allows 
production of fish in a mangrove reforestation project;
c. Biue economy refers to a practical ocean-based economic model using 
green infrastructure and technologies, innovative financing mechanisms, 
and proactive institutional arrangements for meeting the goals of protecting 
our oceans and coasts and enhancing its protentional contribution to 
sustainable development, including improving human well-being, and 
reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities;
d. Commerciai fishing refers to the harvesting of fish, either in whole or in part, 
for sale, barter, or trade;


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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 abiotic, 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 statisticaI information, in physica I 
or monetary terms, about the extraction of natural resource, 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 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), 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


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Zone Authority (TIEZA), and all other similar existing authorities or that may 
be created by law;
j. 
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 brackish water areas;
k. 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;
l. 
Maritime domain awareness refers to the effective understanding of any 
activity that could impact upon the security, safety, economy, or 
environment;
m. Maritime spatiai pianning 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;
n. 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;
0. Ocean-reiated 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. shipbuilding and repair, ports, tourist resorts, communication, 
maritime insurance and law, maritime technical services, etc.);
p. Subsistence fishing refers to fishing for personal consumption or 
traditional/ceremonial purposes; and
q. Ocean iiteracy refers to an understanding of the ocean's influence on 
humans and human influence on the ocean.


1 
Sec. 4. Scope of Application. - For purposes of this Act, the Philippines shall
2 
exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, in accordance with
3 
international law, as appropriate, in internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial
4 
sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, herein
5 
collectively referred to as "Maritime Zones", including its seabed and subsoil, and any
6 
and all maritime features within the Maritime Zones now known or to be known in the
7 
future, without prejudice to the power, authority and right granted exclusively to the
8 
Bangsamoro Government under Republic Act No. 11054, also known as the "Organic
9 
Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao," or the powers of
10 
Protected Area Management Boards over protected seascapes to explore, develop,
11 
and utilized natural resources within its territorial jurisdiction.
12 
CHAPTER II
13 
NATIONAL MARITIME COUNCIL
14 
Sec. 5. National Maritime Council. - The National Coast Watch Council, created,
15 
series of under Executive Order No. 2011, is hereby renamed and reconstituted as the
16 
National Maritime Council, herein referred to as the "Council," and its functions
17 
expended to include the formulation of an integrated strategy to promote blue
18 
economy and ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine resources.
19 
Sec. 6. Composition. - The Council is composed of the following:
20 
a. Executive Secretary, as Chairperson;
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b. Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning;
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c. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources;
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d. Secretary of National Defense;
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e. Secretary of Foreign Affairs;
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f. Secretary of Justice;
26 
g. Secretary of the Interior and the Local Government;
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h. Secretary of Agriculture;
28 
i. Secretary of Tourism;
29 
j. Secretary of Transportation;
30 
k. Secretary of Trade and Industry;
31 
I. Secretary of Energy;
32 
m. Secretary of Science and Technology; and


1 
n. Secretary of Finance.
2 
Department Secretaries may designate an Undersecretary, whose portfolio
3 
covers matters directly or principally relating to the development or management of
4 
coastal and marine resources and ecosystems, if applicable. They shall sit in a
5 
permanent capacity, and their acts shall be considered the acts of their principals.
6 
Sec. 7. Secretariat - The Coastal Watch Council Secretariat, created under
7 
Section 4 of Executive Order No. 57, Series of 2011, is hereby renamed as the National
8 
Maritime Office and shall continue to provide technical and administrative support to
9 
the Council.
10 
Sec. 8. Support Agencies. - Section 6 of Executive Order No. 57, Series of 2011
11 
is hereby amended to include the following agencies to provide material or technical
12 
support to the Council, as may be deemed necessary:
13 
a. Climate Change Commission;
14 
b. Bangko Sentrai ng Pilipinas-,
15 
c. Board of Investments;
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d. Securities and Exchange Commission;
17 
e. Philippine Statistics Authority;
18 
f. National Mapping and Resources Information Authority;
19 
g. Environmental Management Bureau;
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h. Biodiversity Management Bureau-Coastal and Marine Division;
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i. Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards;
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j. Philippine Fisheries Development Authority;
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k. Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries;
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I. Maritime Industry Authority;
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m. Philippine Ports Authority;
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n. Philippine Reclamation Authority;
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0. Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research
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and Development;
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p. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
30 
Administration (PAGASA);
31 
q. Department of Foreign Affairs - Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office;
32 
r. National Museum - Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Division;


1 
s. University of the Philippines - Marine Science Institute; and
2 
t. Investment promotion agencies.
3 
In order to ensure the efficient and effective discharge of its responsibilities, the
4 
Council may create working groups, and call upon other departments, bureaus, offices,
5 
and instrumentalities of the Government, and academic and research institutions
6 
engaged in marine science and ocean-based or ocean-related activities to participate
7 
in working groups, as it may deem necessary.
8 
CHAPTER III
9 
POLICY FRAMEWORK ON BLUE ECONOMY
10 
Sec. 9. Policy Framework on Blue Economy. - The Council shall, within six (6)
11 
months from the effectivity of this Act, formulate a Policy Framework on Blue
12 
Economy, herein referred to as the Policy Framework. The Policy Framework shall
13 
serve as the basis for marine spatial planning, determination of investments to
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enhance maritime domain awareness, the preservation of value and sustainability of
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ocean resources and their protection from threats such as land-based pollution and
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overfishing and enforcement of economic and environmental regulations within our
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Maritime Zones. The Policy Framework shall be subject to mandatory review and
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modification every five (5) years.
19 
Sec. 10. Components of the Policy Framework on Blue Economy. - The Policy
20 
Framework shall include the following components:
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a. Review of all existing policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and
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regulations on ocean-based and ocean-related activities;
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b. Adherence to international maritime laws;
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c. Analysis of current and emerging trends and changes in demography,
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consumption, trade, technology, environmental quality and climate that
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show the interaction between the economy and the environment, present
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threats and pressures on coastal 
and marine environments and damage
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estimation;
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d. Environmental-economic accounting of coastal and marine assets and
30 
resources, and ecosystem services from coastal and marine environments,
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including assessment of losses due to degradation or major pollution events
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such as oil spills;


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e. Priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related economic
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activities, which may include:
3 
1) Fisheries, including commercial fishing, but with preference to
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subsistence fisheries, as mandated by Section 7, Art. XIII, of the
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1987 Constitution;
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2) Aquaculture, mariculture, and aquasilviculture;
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3) Marine and coastal tourism;
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4) Environmentally and hydrologically appropriate reclamation;
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5) Shipping, logistics, and maritime transport;
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6) Shipbuilding and ship repair;
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7) Exploration, exploitation, and extraction of oil and natural gas;
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8) Production of renewable energy from marine sources;
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9) Submarine mining or extraction of minerals and aggregates;
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10)Installation of submarine cables and pipelines;
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ll)Bioremediation, Marine biotechnology, and bioprospecting;
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12)Desalination; and
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13)Underwater cultural heritage and maritime 
archaeology.
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f. Guiding framework for integrated marine and coastal area management;
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g. Guiding framework for blue finance;
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h. Priority research and development agenda;
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i. Promotion of ocean literacy and social responsibility towards the protection
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of coastal and marine environments;
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j. Enhancement of capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and
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civilian agencies to enforce laws, rules and regulations to protect our marine
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wealth;
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k. Goals, targets, and indicators for growth, resilience and sustainability of
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priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related activities,
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including its contribution to Gross Domestic Product and job creation;
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CHAPTER IV
30 
ADHERENCE TO INTERNATIONAL MARITIME INSTRUMENTS
31 
Sec. 11. International Maritime Instruments Implementation and Reporting. -
32 
The Council shall establish mechanisms for the full and effective implementation and
8


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enforcement of the following maritime instruments and their subsequent amendments
2 
and the reporting of compliance and adherence to the President and Congress:
3 
a. Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and
4 
Fauna;
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b. UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage;
6 
c. International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended,
7 
and its Protocol of 1988 (SOLAS 74);
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d. International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and its
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Protocol of 1978 (MAPROL 73/78);
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e. Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,
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1972, as amended (COLREG 72);
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f. International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 and its Protocol of 1988, as
13 
amended (LL 66);
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g. International Convention on the Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969
15 
(TONNAGE 69);
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h. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of
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Maritime Navigation, 1988 (SUA) and its Protocol'
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i. International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and
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Cooperation 1990 (OPRC 1990);
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j. International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast
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Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM 2004);
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k. Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by dumping of Wastes and
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Other Matter, 1972, as amended, and its 1996 Protocol (LCP);
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I. Special Trade Passenger Ships Agreement, 1971 (STP 71)
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m. Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization, as amended
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(IMSO 1976) and its Operating Agreement (INMARSAT);
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n. International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
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Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, As Amended (STCW 78);
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0. International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on
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Ships, 2001 (AFS 2001);
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p. Protocol of 1992 to Amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for
32 
Oil Pollution Damage, 1969; and


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q. Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on the
2 
Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution
3 
Damage, 1971.
4 
Sec. 12. Application. - Unless otherwise indicated, the international conventions
5 
enumerated in the preceding section shall apply to:
6 
a. All ships, whether seagoing or coastwise, which are registered under the
7 
Philippine flag;
8 
b. All persons, partnerships, corporations, firms, and other entities duly
9 
registered or licensed in the Philippines to engage in ocean-based or ocean­
ic 
related enterprise, or those acting on their behalf; and
11 
c. All foreign ships that are within the waters, ports, harbors and offshore
12 
terminals of the Philippines regardless of whether or not they are registered
13 
in, or belong to. State Parties to the conventions sought to be implemented
14 
by this Act.
15 
CHAPTER V
16 
ENVIRONMENTAL-ECONOMIC ACCOUNTING
17 
Sec. 13. Environmental-Economic Accounting. - The Council shall undertake
18 
environmental-economic accounting of maritime ecosystems and resources, based on
19 
the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting. Members of the
20 
Council and heads of support agencies shall contribute data on environmental-
21 
economic accounts relating to their mandates including damage estimation and sea
22 
level rise projections.
23 
Sec. 14. Framework. - The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shall develop a
24 
framework for the collection, compilation, processing, analysis, publication and
25 
dissemination of environmental-economic accounts and its integration in the national
26 
accounts: Provided, That PSA shall integrate the collection of environmental-economic
27 
accounts into the Community-Based Monitoring System for local government units
28 
(LGUs); Provided, further, That the PSA shall coordinate with and provide technical
29 
assistance to Members of the Council, support agencies, investment promotion
30 
agencies and LGUs to ensure compliance to standard environmental-economic
31 
accounting techniques, methodologies, concepts, definitions and classifications to
32 
prevent duplication in collection of statistical Information.
10


1 
CHAPTER VI
2 
INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT
3 
Sec. 15. Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM). - The
4 
Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM) shall be the framework to
5 
address human impacts on marine and coastal biological diversity, and for promoting
6 
conservation and sustainable use of this biodiversity.
7 
Sec. 16. Elements of the National IMCAM Framework. - The Council shall
8 
develop and implement the National IMCAM Framework within one (1) year from the
9 
effectivity of this Act to provide direction, support, and guidance to relevant member
10 
and support agencies, LGUs, and other stakeholders, according to the Elaborated
11 
Programme of Work on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity contained in the Annex
12 
to Decision VII/5 of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Environmental
13 
Programme Convention on Biological Diversity.
14 
Accordingly, the National IMCAM Framework shall consider the following
15 
elements:
16 
a. Building capacity of stakeholders, in both national and local levels, to apply
17 
relevant policy instruments to address legal issues, institutionalize
18 
participatory processes, and develop strategies to promote multidisciplinary
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and multisectoral ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine
20 
environments;
21 
b. Direct action to protect coastal and marine environments from negative
22 
impacts, such as:
23 
1) Identification, protection, prevention of alteration and destruction,
24 
and restoration of coastal and marine habitats, particularly areas
25 
important for reproduction, inter alia, coral reef systems;
26 
2) Prevention, reduction, or control of marine pollution;
27 
3) Protection of coastal and marine environments from land-based
28 
sources, including proper coastal land use and watershed
29 
management;
30 
4) Establishment of closed fishing areas; and
31 
5) Reduction of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, 
and by-
32 
catch.
11


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c. Establishment of mechanisms and guidelines for research, monitoring,
2 
assessment, and valuation of coastal and marine ecosystems and resources,
3 
including indicators to measure natural and human-induced impacts.
4 
CHAPTER VII
5 
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES
6 
Sec. 17. Protection of Endangered Species. - The Council shall spearhead the
7 
conservation, protection, and rehabilitation of rare, threatened, and endangered
8 
aquation species as it may determine, including their habitats and migratory routes
9 
such as the East Asian Current. It shall recommend to the President and Congress the
10 
designation of coastal and marine areas a protected areas under the Expanded
11 
National Integrated Protected Areas System, or sanctuaries of local conservation areas
12 
under the Fisheries Code and the Local Government Code, and in compliance with the
13 
relevant provisions of international treaties and agreements such as, the Convention
14 
on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flore and Fauna, the United
15 
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and Convention on Biological Diversity.
16 
Sec. 18. Poiicy Coordination. - The Council shall harmonize rules and
17 
regulations of all relevant agencies responsible for the implementation and
18 
enforcement of laws to prevent and eliminate illegal fishing such as Republic Act No.
19 
8550, also known as the "Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998," as amended by RA 10654.
20 
CHAPTER VIII
21 
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
22 
Sec. 19. Maritime Spatiai Pianning. - The Council shall undertake a nationwide
23 
maritime spatial planning to identify the spatial and temporal distribution of priority
24 
activities and uses and the interactions thereof in Maritime Zones, in order to reduce
25 
conflict among uses, facilitate complementary uses, mitigate environmental impacts,
26 
prevent marine dead zones and preserve ecosystem services.
27 
Sec. 20. Industry Deveiopment Pians. - The Council, through working groups
28 
created for the purpose, shall prepare five-year and ten-year development plans for
29 
each priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related industry, in
30 
accordance with the Policy Framework.
31 
Sec. 21. Integration with Area and Nationai Deveiopment Pians. - The NationaI
32 
Economic and Development Authority shall integrate the maritime spatial plan and
12


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industry development plans into the Philippine Development Plan, the National Priority
2 
Plan, the National Physical Framework Plan, and Area Spatial Development
3 
Framework.
4 
Sec. 22. Inclusion in Strategic Investment Priority Plan. - The Council shall
5 
recommend to the Board of Investments the inclusion of identified priority strategic
6 
ocean-based or ocean-related activities in the Strategic Investment Priority Plan.
7 
Sec. 23. Blue Economic Zones. - Investment promotion agencies shall
8 
encourage the establishment of blue economic zones and the transformation of
9 
existing special economic zones (SEZs) into the same, where locator enterprises
10 
engaged in ocean-based or ocean-related activities shall enjoy the privileges, benefits,
11 
advantages, or exemptions granted to economic zones and freeports in accordance
12 
with their respective special laws.
13 
In addition, the incentives provided for under the following laws may be granted
14 
to blue SEZs:
15 
a. RA 9003, or the "Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000";
16 
b. RA 9275, or the "Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004";
17 
c. RA 9513, or the "Renewable Energy Act of 2008"; and
18 
d. RA 10771, or the "Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016".
19 
Blue SEZs may also qualify for financing provided for under RA 11293, or the
20 
"Philippine Innovation Act".
21 
CHAPTER IX
22 
BLUE FINANCE
23 
Sec. 24. Pole of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). - In the exercise of its
24 
regulatory powers over financial institutions, the BSP shall mandate banks and quasi-
25 
banks to adopt the United Nations Environment Programme's Sustainable Blue
26 
Economy Finance Principles as a foundation of corporate governance and risk
27 
management.
28 
Sec. 25. Pole of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). - The SEC shall
29 
encourage the issuance of blue bonds where proceeds will be exclusively applied to
30 
finance or refinance, in part or in full, strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-
31 
related activities, in accordance with ASEAN Green Bonds Standards and Green Bonds
13


1 
Principles, as developed and may be revised from time to time by the ASEAN Capital
2 
Markets Forum and the International Capital Market Association, respectively.
3 
Sec. 26. Role of Government Financial Institutions. - The Land Bank of the
4 
Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines shall allocate five percent
5 
(5%) of its regular loan portfolio for credit to strategic and sustainable ocean-based
6 
or ocean-related enterprises.
7 
CHAPTER X
8 
MARINE SCIENCE AND OCEAN LITERACY
9 
Sec. 27. Marine Scientific Research. - The State recognizes marine science as
10 
a foundation of maritime governance, insofar as rules governing the use of coastal
11 
and marine resources must be based on the sound scientific understanding of the
12 
marine environment. In accordance with UNCLOS, the Philippines has the exclusive
13 
rights to regulate, authorize, and conduct marine scientific research in our internal
14 
waters, archipelagic waters and territorial sea; whereas, the Philippines has rights to
15 
regulate, authorize and conduct maritime research in our exclusive economic zone and
16 
continental shelf: Provided, That the marine scientific research activities shall not
17 
unjustifiably Interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea and shall not constitute the
18 
legal basis for any claim to any part of the marine environment or its resources.
19 
Sec. 28. Ocean Literacy Framework. - The Department of Education,
20 
Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development
21 
Authority and other government agencies implementing sector-specific literacy
22 
programs, in consultation with relevant Members of the Council or support agencies,
23 
shall integrate into the curricula of K-2, the Alternative Learning System, general
24 
education programs of higher education institutions, technical and vocational
25 
education and training, and other community-based training programs, the essential
26 
principles, and fundamental concepts of ocean sciences to develop the following
27 
competencies:
28 
a. Understanding the importance of the ocean to humankind;
29 
b. Communicating about the ocean in a meaningful way; and
30 
c. Making informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its
31 
resources.
14


1 
CHAPTER XI
2 
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION
3 
Sec. 29. Archipelagic Sea Lanes. - The Council shall designate sea lanes and
4 
air routes thereabove, suitable for the continuous and expeditious passage of foreign
5 
ships and aircrafts through or over the archipelagic waters and the adjacent territorial
6 
sea, and shall, where necessary as regards to the safety of navigation, require foreign
7 
ships exercising the right of innocent passage to use such lanes and traffic separation
8 
schemes in accordance with the UNCLOS.
9 
CHAPTER XII
10 
ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
11 
Sec. 30. Roie of Local Government Units. - Cities and municipalities shall
12 
continue to exercise jurisdiction over municipal waters, pursuant to RA 7160, also
13 
known as the "Local Government Code of 1991", as amended, and RA 8550, as
14 
amended. Consistent with this mandate, LGUs shall act as the frontline agencies in
15 
the formulation, planning, and implementation of IMCAM in their respective
16 
jurisdictions. LGUs shall integrate the National Maritime Spatial Plan and opportunities
17 
such as the National Sewage and Septage Management Plan and the funds under the
18 
Clean Water Act in their Comprehensive Development and Annual Investment Plans.
19 
Sec. 31. Inter-LGU Cooperation. - Consistent with the provisions of RA 7160,
20 
as amended, LGUs may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their efforts,
21 
services, and resources for the accomplishment of the objectives of this Act.
22 
CHAPTER XIII
23 
FINAL PROVISIONS
24 
Sec. 32. Congressional Oversight - For the effective implementation of this
25 
Act, a Congressional Oversight Committee is created to be known as the Blue Economy
26 
Oversight Committee. The Blue Economy Oversight Committee shall be composed of
27 
five (5) Senators and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President
28 
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The Minority shail be
29 
entitled to pro rata representation. The Blue Economy Oversight Committee shall be
30 
jointly chaired by the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs and
31 
the Chairperson of the House Committee on Economic Affairs.
15


1 
Sec. 33. Appropriations. - The amount of One hundred million pesos
2 
(P100f000,000.00) as initial funding for the Council to be charged against the
3 
unexpended Contingency Fund of the Office of the President is hereby appropriated.
4 
Thereafter, such amount needed for the implementation of this Act shall be included
5 
in the annual General Appropriations Act.
6 
Sec. 34. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within sixty (60) days from
7 
the approval of this Act, the Council shall promulgate and issue the rules and
8 
regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act: Provided, That the
9 
failure to issue rules and regulations shall not in any manner affect the executory
10 
nature of the provisions of this Act.
11 
Sec. 35. Separabiiity Ciause. - Should any provision herein be declared
12 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
13 
Sec. 36. Repeating Ciause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
14 
other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
15 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
16 
Sec. 37. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
17 
publication in the Officiai Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
18 
circulation.
Approved,
16