REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6739

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN UL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Presidential Decree (PD) No. 979 states that it is the policy of the State to prevent and control
the pollution of seas caused by the dumping of wastes and other matter. These actions may
create hazards to human health, harm living resources and marine life, damage amenities, or
interfere with the legitimate uses of the sea within the territorial jurisdiction of the
Philippines. However, PD No. 979, having been enacted in 1979, provides only a fine of
P200 to P10,000 and imprisonment of not less than thirty days. Evidently, there is a need to
update PD No. 979 to give more gravity on the penalties it imposes.

It is only just and imperative to provide stiffer civil and criminal penalties against polluters of
our marine environment considering our dependence on the sea and other bodies of water for
our transportation, livelihood and other related industries. This bill seeks to increase the
penalties being imposed and provided for under the present law to a fine of not less than Five
Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than 8 years and 1 day to 12 years,
or both such fine and imprisonment. It is hoped that this measure would provide deterrence
on activities causing marine pollution.

The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly recommended.

MANUEL DGJCABOCHAN II
Representative
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _ 8739

Introduced by MAGDALO Party List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN IIL

AN ACT

INCREASING THE PENALTY IMPOSED AGAINST POLLUTERS OF
NAVIGABLE WATERS BY AMENDING SECTION 7 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE
NO. 979 PROVIDING FOR THE REVISION OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 600
GOVERNING MARINE POLLUTION

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 7 of Presidential Decree No. 979 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

"SEC. 7. Penalties for Violations. — Any person who violates Section 4 of this Decree
or any regulations prescribed in pursuance thereof, shall be liable for a fine of not less
than [Two Hundred Pesos nor more than Ten Thousand Pesos] FIVE MILLION
PESOS or by imprisonment of not less than [thirty days] EIGHT YEARS AND
ONE DAY nor more than fone year] TWELVE YEARS or both such fine and
imprisonment, for each offense, without prejudice to the civil liability of the offender
in accordance with existing laws.

Any vessel from which oil or other harmful substances are discharged in violation of
Section 4 or any regulation prescribed in pursuance thereof, shall be liable for the
penalty of fine specified in this section, and clearance of such vessel from the port of
the Philippines may be withheld until the fine is paid.

In addition to the penalties above prescribed, the Philippine Coast Guard shall provide
in its rules and regulations such reasonable administrative penalties as may be
necessary for the effective implementation of this Decree.”

SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, including rules
and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


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SEC. 3. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to
be in fun force and effect.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,