Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
Introduced by Representative Ambrosio “Boy” C. Cruz, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
With the onset of climate change, sea levels are expected to rise progressively in the 
near future, endangering low coastal areas around the world. In the Philippines, the northern 
shores of the Manila Bay are already frequently flooded during heavy rainfall. This is because 
the Manila Bay is also the catch basin of the waters that flow downstream from the Pasig, 
Tullahan, and Pampanga Rivers. The northern Metro Manila cities of Valenzuela, Malabon, 
and Navotas, and the municipalities of Obando, Bulakan, Paombong, and Hagonoy in the 
Province of Bulacan, Masantol, Macabebe, Minalin, Guagua, Sasmuan, and Lubao in the 
Province of Pampanga, and Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga, and Pilar in the 
Province of Bataan, all situated at the northern shore of the Manila Bay, are susceptible to 
flooding and are the most dangerously exposed areas as the sea level rises. This danger is 
exacerbated by land subsidence caused by excessive groundwater extraction and rapid urban 
development, which has extended out of Metro Manila and into the nearby provinces of 
Regions III and IV-A. 
In order to address this danger, plans have already been made to establish a coastal 
defense system in the Manila Bay to protect the shoreline from future rises in the sea level. In 
2013, the New San Jose Builders, Inc. suggested a project involving a combination of flood 
control barriers in the northern shores of the Manila Bay and a Metro Manila to Bataan toll 
road, with a 50-year concession period, to be pursued by the private sector through a Public-
Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. In 2015, the San Miguel Corporation Holdings 
entered the project. Unfortunately, this project did not materialize. 
In the previous administration, the unsolicited proposal to build a coastal defense 
system in the northern shoreline of the Manila Bay was brought up again. According to the 
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), such a project required massive 
resources, and a thorough study of the project’s technical requirements and environmental 
impact. The enormity of the project’s scope may cause some hesitation on the part of both the 
private sector investors and the implementing agencies in the executive department. 
As such, it is time for government to take action by taking the lead in the pursuance of 
the project which will not only shield the coastal areas of the northern Manila Bay from 
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typhoon waves and flooding, but will also spur development in Metro Manila and the 
neighboring provinces, as well as unclog highways that connect these regions, through the 
construction of a new highway that will connect all of them through the Manila Bay. 
This is made even more imperative by the fact that these regions have been 
undergoing rapid growth in the past decade, necessitating the construction of new 
infrastructure to accommodate the transport of people and goods in these areas, and to protect 
coastal dwellers from the dangers caused by climate change. 
This bill seeks to establish the Manila Bay Integrated Flood Control Coastal Defense 
and Expressway and provide funds therefor, to kickstart its planning and construction. 
Considering the rationale stated above, urgent passage of this bill is sought. 
AMBROSIO “BOY” C. CRUZ, JR. 
Representative, Fifth District of Bulacan 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
Introduced by Representative Ambrosio “Boy” C. Cruz, Jr. 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MANILA BAY INTEGRATED FLOOD CONTROL 
COASTAL DEFENSE AND EXPRESSWAY, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared national policy to establish 
flood control systems in heavily-populated coastal areas to mitigate flooding caused by 
climate change. 
Section 2. Flood Control Coastal Defense System. – The Department of Public Works 
and Highways (DPWH) shall undertake the construction of a flood control coastal defense 
system in the northern shoreline of the Manila Bay: Provided, That any such construction is 
based on a program prepared by the DPWH and upon consultation with the National 
Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and local chief 
executives, as well as civil society groups representing residents of the said area. 
Section 3. Metro Manila to Bataan Expressway. – The DPWH shall also commence 
the construction of an expressway connecting Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan, 
on top of the flood control coastal defense system. 
Section 4. Submission of Reports. – Within ninety (90) days after the approval of this 
Act, and at the end of every calendar quarter thereafter, the Secretary of Public Works and 
Highways shall submit progress reports to each House of Congress on the implementation of 
this Act. 
Section 6. Funding. – The amount needed for the implementation of the construction 
of the flood control coastal defense system and expressway shall be included in the 
appropriations of the DPWH under the General Appropriations Act. Such funds may be 
augmented through loans, in accordance with the provisions of the law on government 
borrowing from financial institutions. 
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This project may also be funded through a Public-Private Partnership in accordance 
with the rules and regulations governing such partnerships.  
 
Section 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
 
Section 8. 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 are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
 
Section 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,