1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines has vast potential as a blue economy. We are the world’s 
second largest archipelagic state. Our maritime domains, including our exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ), have a total area of 2.2 million sq. km.1 and compose 88% of our 
national territory. The Filipino is essentially a creature of the sea, descended from 
master maritime navigators. Almost 60 percent of our people live in coastal 
communities; 315 of our municipalities and 25 of our cities are coastal2.  That our basic 
political unit is named after the boat that brought our Austronesian ancestors to 
Philippine shores is testament to the centrality of the sea in our identity.  
Our maritime economy is driven by rich marine resources. The Philippines is 
at the heart of the Coral Triangle, one of the most diverse marine habitats in the world. 
Our total coral reef area is 797,719 hectares which host and nurture an amazing 
diversity of aquatic life. The Verde Island Passage alone, which lies between Batangas 
and Mindoro, is home to the highest concentration of marine species in the planet – 
nearly 60% of the world’s known fishes.  
The Philippines is one of the world’s leading fish producing countries. 
According to the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020 report of the Food 
and Agriculture Organization, the Philippines produced 1.89 million tons of marine 
capture fisheries in 2018, the 11th highest in the world. We are also 11th in aquaculture 
fish production. 
Our maritime economy is not only dependent on fisheries. Maritime freight 
and transportation, marine energy, and coastal and marine tourism are also pillars of 
our maritime economy. The Philippines is in fact one of the world’s top suppliers of 
seafarers. And our beaches are named one of the world’s best beaches. 
1 Fisheries Statistics of the Philippines 2018-2020. Philippine Statistics Authority. 
2 Legal and Jurisdictional Guidebook for Coastal Resource Management in the Philippines. 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, 
Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Coastal Resource 
Management Project. 1997.
July 2, 2025
5:01 pm
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Altogether, according to the NSOC, ocean-based industries generated 11.9 
billion USD in 2016 or 6.96% of Philippine GDP, and employed 2.2 million workers or 
about 5.3% of the country’s total employment. 
 
The challenge for us is to transform our ocean-based industries into sustainable 
activities. In the face of growing threat from climate change, we need to act now to 
transform our maritime economy into a low-carbon, blue economy. 
 
Sustainable management of our marine and coastal resources begins with 
recognizing and understanding their value, both economic, cultural and social. We 
cannot manage something without measuring it. We therefore need to institute an 
accounting system that puts monetary value on our marine and coastal resources, 
including their ecosystem services, or the gains that humankind derive from carbon 
sequestration and other natural processes that the ocean performs. 
 
This bill consolidates all interventions in a single framework that promotes a 
whole-of-nation approach to sustainably develop, manage, protect and preserve our 
marine and coastal resources.  
 
In view of the foregoing, we earnestly seek for the immediate enactment of this 
measure. 
 
 
 
JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


3 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR BLUE ECONOMY, PROMOTING 
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND 
MARINE 
ECOSYSTEMS 
AND 
RESOURCES, 
REORGANIZING 
AND 
RENAMING THE NATIONAL COAST WATCH SYSTEM AS THE NATIONAL 
MARITIME MONITORING SYSTEM, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Blue Economy Act.” 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to: 
(a)
Adopt the blue economy as a framework for equitable and sustainable
development and safe use of marine wealth within our maritime zones, as a pillar of 
our national economy and patrimony; 
(b)
Exercise stewardship of our seas and coasts, and protect and conserve
the health and resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats, through strong 
institutional mechanisms for maritime monitoring and regulatory enforcement, to 
promote the well-being, prosperity, and security of present and future generations; 
(c)
Preserve our maritime heritage, recognize the social, cultural, historical
value of our seas and coasts, and foster public understanding and respect of the value 
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of our seas and coasts to build a strong foundation for social responsibility; 
(d)
Enrich scientific understanding of marine and coastal ecosystems, the
benefits we gain from these ecosystems like carbon sequestration, their 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 multi-stakeholder engagement,
and exercise rights and jurisdiction in accordance with applicable international laws, 
including on freedom of navigation; 
(f)
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, nongovernmental organizations, 
the private sector, and the public; and 
(g)
Promote, support and monitor science, technology and innovation
programs of public and private academic and research institutions to strengthen 
interdisciplinary research in marine science, and to develop emerging technologies to 
catalyze the growth of new maritime sectors. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
(a)
Aquaculture refers to fishery operations involving all forms of raising
and culturing fish and other fishery species in fresh, brackish, and marine water areas; 
(b)
Aquasilviculture refers to a multi-purpose production system that allows
production of fish and other aquatic species in a mangrove reforestation project; 
(c)
Aquatic resources refer to fish and other living resources of the aquatic
environment that have or will have commercial value when utilized; 
(d)
Blue economy refers to the integrated, holistic, cross-sectoral, and cross-
stakeholder approach for the sustainable, resilient and inclusive use, governance, 
management and conservation of oceans, seas as well as marine and coastal
resources  and  ecosystems for  economic  growth,  leveraging  green 
infrastructure and technologies, innovative financing mechanisms and proactive 
institutional mechanisms, and improving human well-being and social equity, and 
reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities; 
(e)
Blue carbon refers to organic carbon that is captured by marine and
coastal ecosystems, such as algae, seagrass, mangroves, and other plants growing in 
salt marshes and coastal wetlands; 
(f)
Blue public expenditure refers to public expenditures that address issues


 
5 
related to coastal and marine resources, environmental degradation, and 
development aspirations that depend on marine resources and environments; 
 
(g) 
By-catch refers to fish or other marine species that a fisher does not 
intend to catch, including juveniles of commercially valuable species and biologically 
important species caught unintentionally while trying to catch a certain type of fish. 
 
(h) 
Commercial fishing refers to the taking of fishery species by passive or 
active gear for trade, business and profit beyond subsistence or sports fishing, to be 
further classified as: small-scale commercial fishing, or fishing with passive or active 
gear utilizing fishing vessels of three and one-tenth (3.1) gross tons (GT) up to twenty 
(20) GT; medium-scale commercial fishing or fishing utilizing active gears and vessels 
of twenty-one-tenths (20.1) GT up to one hundred fifty (150) GT; and large commercial 
fishing or fishing utilizing active gears and vessels of more than one hundred fifty 
(150) GT; 
 
(i) 
Contiguous zone refers to the contiguous zone of the Philippines to the 
waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent of twenty-four 
(24) nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is 
measured; 
 
(j) 
Continental shelf refers to the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas 
of the Philippines that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural 
prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a 
distance of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the baselines from which the 
breadth of the territorial sea is measured, where the outer edge of the continental 
margin does not extend up to that distance; 
 
(k) 
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; 
 
(l) 
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; 
 
(m) 
Environmental-economic accounts refer to statistical information, in 
physical or monetary terms, about the extraction of natural resources, 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; 
 
(n) 
Exclusive economic zone (EEZ) refers to the waters beyond and adjacent 
to its territorial sea and up to the extent of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the 
baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, as established by 


 
6 
Presidential Decree No. 1599, otherwise known as the "Philippine Exclusive Economic 
Zone of 1978", and to the extent consistent with the other provisions of this Act and 
with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 
(UNCLOS); 
 
(o) 
Fisheries refer to all activities relating to the science and act of business 
of fishing, culturing, preserving, processing, marketing, developing, conserving, and 
managing of aquatic resources, and environment; 
 
(p) 
Integrated 
coastal management (ICM) refers to 
a 
holistic
 
and integrative 
management that 
incorporates the 
following 
components: (1) connectivity of various ecosystems - environment and resources; (2) 
various sectors and stakeholders; (3) institutional arrangements that are relevant; and 
(4) assessment of drivers of coastal ecosystem degradation, management planning and 
implementation, including research and education, to address coastal degradation 
and biodiversity losses, and to improve the well-being of communities in coastal and 
interconnected areas; 
 
(q) 
Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM) refers to a 
participatory process for decision-making to prevent, control, or mitigate adverse 
impacts from human activities in the marine and coastal environment, and to 
contribute to the restoration of degraded coastal areas; 
 
(r) 
Internal 
waters  refer to waters on the landward side 
of 
the 
archipelagic baselines not forming part of archipelagic waters under Section 4 of this 
Act and delineated in accordance with Article 50 of the UNCLOS; and waters on the 
landward side of the baselines of the territorial sea of territories outside of the 
archipelagic baselines, drawn in accordance with Article 8 of the UNCLOS; 
 
(s) 
Investment promotion agencies (IPAs) 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), Bangsamoro Board of 
Investments, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Bases Conversion and 
Development Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Clark Development 
Corporation, John Hay Management Corporation, Poro  Point  Management  
Corporation,  Cagayan  Economic  Zone  Authority, Zamboanga  City  Special  
Economic  Zone  Authority,  PHIVIDEC  Industrial Authority, Aurora Pacific 
Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, 
Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and all other similar existing 
authorities that may be created by law; 
 
(t) 
Mariculture refers to the sea farming of aquatic plants and fishes; 
 
(u) 
Marine scientific research refers to any research activity, which is 


 
7 
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 UNCLOS 
 
(v) 
Maritime domain awareness refers to the effective understanding of any 
activity that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment; 
 
(w) 
Maritime spatial planning refers to a process by which human activities in 
maritime zones are analyzed and organized, based on best available scientific 
knowledge, to achieve economic, ecological, and social objectives; 
 
(x) 
Maritime zones refer to the maritime zones of the Philippines comprising 
the internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ, and 
continental shelf; 
 
(y) 
Ocean-based activities refer to activities that are undertaken in the ocean, 
such as fisheries and aquaculture, offshore oil and gas, mining, ocean energy, 
desalination, shipping and marine transportation, marine tourism, and marine 
construction; 
 
(z) 
Ocean-related activities refer to activities that use products from the ocean 
such as seafood processing, marine biotechnology, chemicals, salt, and produce 
products and services for the ocean and ocean-based activities such as shipbuilding
 
and 
repair, ports, tourist resorts, 
communication, maritime insurance 
and law, and maritime technical services; 
 
(aa) 
Subsistence fishing refers to fishing for personal consumption or 
traditional/ceremonial purposes; and 
 
(bb) 
Ocean literacy refers to an understanding of the ocean's influence on 
humans and human influence on the ocean. 
 
SEC. 4. Scope of Application. – For purposes of this Act, the Philippines shall 
exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, in accordance with 
commitments under the UNCLOS and other related treaties which the Philippines has 
ratified, in internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, 
exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, herein collectively referred to as 
“maritime zones”, including its seabed and subsoil, and any and all maritime features 
within the maritime zones and where appropriate, the relevant airspace above the 
territorial sea, internal waters and archipelagic waters now known or to be known in 
the future. 
 
 
CHAPTER II 
NATIONAL MARITIME MONITORING SYSTEM 
 


 
8 
SEC. 5. National Maritime Monitoring System. – The National Coast Watch 
System, established under Executive Order (EO) No. 57, series of 2011, is hereby 
renamed as the National Maritime Monitoring System. 
 
SEC. 6. National Maritime Council. – The National Coast Watch Council, 
created under EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby renamed and reconstituted as the 
National Maritime Council, herein referred to as the “Council”, and its functions 
expanded to include the formulation of an integrated strategy to promote blue 
economy and ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine resources.  
In addition to the powers and functions of the Council enumerated in Section 
3 of the same EO, the Council is likewise further mandated to: 
 
(a) 
Steer the development, research, and sustainable resource explorations 
in maritime zones, especially in areas with high economic potential such as the 
Philippine Rise and the West Philippine Sea; 
 
(b) 
Coordinate the maritime regulation or licensing, and law enforcement 
for strengthened preparedness and responsiveness to potential security threats or 
concerns in the country’s maritime areas and zones; and 
 
(c) 
Build capacities in monitoring, including the use of digital and 
innovative technologies for security and surveillance activities. 
 
SEC. 8. Composition of National Maritime Council. – The Council is composed 
of the Executive Secretary as Chairperson and the Secretaries of the following national 
agencies as members: 
 
(a) National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); 
(b) Department of Environment and Natural Resources; 
(c) Department of National Defense; 
(d) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); 
(e) Department of Justice; 
(f) Department of the Interior and Local Government; 
(g) Department of Agriculture; 
(h) Department of Tourism; 
(i) Department of Transportation; 
(j) Department of Trade and Industry; 
(k) Department of Energy; 
(l) Department of Science and Technology; 
(m) 
Department of Finance; 
(n) Department of Education (DepEd); 
(o) Department of Information and Communications Technology; 
(p) National Security Council; and 
(q) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
 
Department Secretaries may designate an alternative representative, whose 


 
9 
portfolio covers matters directly or principally relating to the development or 
management of coastal and marine resources and ecosystems, if applicable. They shall 
sit in a permanent capacity, and their acts shall be considered the acts of their 
principals. 
 
SEC. 8. National Maritime Secretariat. – The Coastal Watch Council 
Secretariat, established under Section 4 of EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby renamed as 
the National Maritime Secretariat and shall continue to provide technical and 
administrative support to the Council and perform its functions under the same EO. 
 
SEC. 9. National Maritime Coordination Center. – The National Coast Watch 
Center, established under Section 5 of EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby renamed as the 
National Maritime Coordination Center and shall continue to be the operational 
support unit of the National Maritime Monitoring System and perform its functions 
under the same EO. 
 
SEC. 10. Support Agencies. – In order to ensure the efficient and effective 
discharge of its responsibilities, in addition to the agencies enumerated under Section 
6 of EO 57, series of 2011, the Council may call upon other departments, bureaus, 
offices and instrumentalities of the government, representatives from maritime 
industries, and academic and research institutions engaged in marine science and 
ocean-based or ocean-related activities to participate in working groups, as it may 
deem necessary. 
 
 
CHAPTER III 
POLICY FRAMEWORK ON BLUE ECONOMY 
 
SEC. 11. Policy Framework on Blue Economy. – The Council shall, within six 
(6) months from the effectivity of this Act, formulate a Policy Framework on Blue 
Economy, herein referred to as the Policy Framework. The Policy Framework shall 
serve as the basis for marine spatial planning, determination of investments to 
develop modern physical infrastructure and build an enabling environment for blue 
economy to prosper, and enhance maritime domain awareness, and enforcement of 
economic and environmental regulations within our maritime zones. The Policy 
Framework shall be subject to mandatory review and modification every five (5) 
years. 
 
SEC. 12. Components of the Policy Framework on Blue Economy. – The 
Policy Framework shall include the following components: 
 
(a) Review of all existing policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and 
regulations on ocean-based and ocean-related activities in our maritime 
zones, including seafood processing and storage, and commercial research 
and development (R&D) activities for biomass resource and fish stock 
estimation, artificial intelligence for forecasting fish stocks and supply.  
 


 
10
(b) Compliance to local and international maritime laws; 
 
(c) Analysis of current and emerging trends in demography consumption, 
trade, technology and climate that show the interaction between the 
economy and the environment, and present threats and pressures on coastal 
and marine environments; 
 
(d) Environmental-economic accounting of coastal and marine assets and 
resources, and ecosystem goods and services from coastal and marine 
environments; 
 
(e) Priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related economic 
activities within our maritime zones, which may include the following: 
 
(1) 
Fisheries, including commercial fishing, but with preference to 
subsistence fisheries, as mandated by Section 7, Article XIII, of the 
Constitution; 
(2) 
Aquaculture, mariculture and aquasilviculture and support 
industries, including seafood processing and storage, and aquaculture feed 
milling; 
(3) 
Marine and coastal tourism; 
(4) 
Shipping, logistics and maritime transport; 
(5) 
Shipbuilding and ship repair; 
(6) 
Production of renewable energy from marine sources; 
(7) 
Installation of submarine cables and pipelines; 
(8) 
Marine biotechnology and bioprospecting; 
(9) 
Desalination; 
(10) Underwater cultural heritage and maritime archaeology; and 
(11) Commercial R&D activities and commercialization of new and 
emerging technologies developed from locally-undertaken R&D; 
 
 
CHAPTER IV 
COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL MARITIME INSTRUMENTS 
 
SEC. 13. International Maritime Instruments. – The Council shall direct the 
Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee, as created under EO No. 159, series of 2021, 
to Facilitate the Ratification of/Accession to and Implementation of Maritime 
Conventions (ICCRIMC) to establish mechanisms for the full and effective 
implementation and enforcement of the following international maritime instruments 
and their subsequent amendments, including, but not limited to the following: 
 
(a) 
1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; 
(b) 
Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora 
and Fauna; 
(c) 
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 


 
11
(UNESCO) Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage; 
(d) 
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, 
and its Protocol of 1988 (SOLAS 74); 
(e) 
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and 
its Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78);  
(f) 
Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions 
at Sea, 1972, as amended (COLREG 72); 
(g) 
International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 and its Protocol of 1988, 
as amended (LL 66); 
(h) 
International Convention on the Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 
(TONNAGE 69);  
(i) 
Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of 
Maritime Navigation, 1988 (SUA) and its Protocol; 
(j) 
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and 
Co-operation 1990 (OPRC 1990); 
(k) 
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ 
Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM 2004); 
(l) 
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by dumping of 
Wastes and Other Matter, 1972, as amended, and its 1996 Protocol (LCP); 
(m) 
Special Trade Passenger Ships Agreement, 1971 (STP 71); 
(n) 
Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization, as 
amended (IMSO 1976) and its Operating Agreement (INMARSAT); 
(o) 
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and 
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, As Amended (STCW 78); 
(p) 
International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling 
Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS 2001); 
(q) 
Protocol of 1992 to Amend the International Convention on Civil 
Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969; 
(r) 
Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on the 
Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 
1971; and 
(s) 
Other relevant maritime treaties, conventions, or instruments as may be 
agreed upon in the future. 
 
SEC. 14. Application. – Unless otherwise indicated, the international 
conventions enumerated in the preceding section shall apply to: 
(a) 
All ships, whether seagoing or coastwise, which are registered under the 
Philippine flag; 
(b) 
All persons, partnerships, corporations, firms and other entities that 
engage in ocean-based or ocean-related enterprise, or those acting on their behalf; and 
(c) 
All foreign ships that are within the waters, ports, harbors and offshore 
terminals of the Philippines regardless of whether or not they are registered in, or 
belong to, State Parties to the conventions sought to be implemented by this Act. 
 
SEC. 15. Reciprocity. – The rights and privileges of foreign vessels and aircraft 
in Philippine archipelagic waters herein provided are recognized under conditions of 


 
12
reciprocity and mutual respect. The President of the Philippines is hereby authorized 
to institute countermeasures and other appropriate steps as may be recommended by 
the DFA in response to foreign states that do not abide by, or that act inconsistently 
with the UNCLOS, or which do not ensure that vessels and aircraft under their 
authority comply with their rights and obligations under the convention. 
 
 
CHAPTER V 
ENVIRONMENTAL-ECONOMIC ACCOUNTING 
 
SEC. 16. Environmental-Economic Accounting. – The Philippine Statistics 
Authority shall include the environmental-economic accounting of marine 
ecosystems, as part of the Philippine ecosystem and natural capital accounting 
system, in the generation of the Philippine ocean economy satellite accounts. 
 
 
CHAPTER VI 
INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT 
 
SEC. 17. Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management. – The IMCAM 
shall be the framework to address human impacts on marine and coastal ecosystem, 
and for promoting its conservation and sustainable use. The Integrated Coastal 
Management Framework, principles, and mechanisms shall be aligned and shall be 
an integral part of the IMCAM framework to be developed under this Act. 
 
SEC. 18. Elements of the National IMCAM Framework. – The Council shall 
develop and implement the National IMCAM Framework within one (1) year from 
the effectivity of this Act to provide direction, support and guidance to relevant 
member and support agencies, local government units and other stakeholders, 
according to the Elaborated Programme of Work on Marine and Coastal Biological 
Diversity contained in the Annex to Decision VII/5 of the Conference of the Parties to 
the United Nations Environmental Programme Convention on Biological Diversity. 
 
Accordingly, the National IMCAM Framework shall consider the following 
elements: 
 
(a) 
Build the capacity of stakeholders, at both the national and local levels, 
to apply relevant policy instruments to address legal issues, institutionalize 
participatory processes, and develop strategies to promote multidisciplinary and 
multisectoral ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine environments; 
 
(b) 
Direct action to protect coastal and marine environments from negative 
impacts, such as: 
(1) 
Identification, 
protection, 
prevention 
of 
alteration 
and 
destruction, and restoration of coastal and marine habitats, particularly areas 
important for reproduction, inter alia, coral reef systems; 
(2) 
Prevention, reduction or control of marine pollution; 


 
13
(3) 
Protection of coastal and marine environments from land-based 
sources, including proper coastal land use and watershed management; 
(4) 
Establishment of closed fishing areas, and closed seasons, in 
accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 8550, also known as the “Philippine Fisheries 
Code of 1998”, as amended by RA 10654; and  
(5) 
Reduction of by-catch. 
 
(c) 
Establish mechanisms and guidelines for research, monitoring and 
assessment of coastal and marine ecosystems and resources, including indicators to 
measure natural and human-induced impacts; and 
 
(d) 
Establish guidelines and mechanisms on green and blue businesses. 
 
 
CHAPTER VII 
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF COASTAL 
AND MARINE RESOURCES 
 
SEC. 19. Protection of Endangered Species. – The Council shall spearhead the 
conservation, protection and rehabilitation of rare, threatened and endangered 
aquatic species as it may determine, including their habitats. It shall recommend to 
the President of the Philippines and Congress the designation of coastal and marine 
areas as protected areas under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas 
System or under RA 8550, as amended, and in compliance with the relevant provisions 
of international treaties and agreements such as, the Convention on the International 
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, the UNCLOS, and Convention 
on Biological Diversity. 
 
SEC. 20. Policy Coordination. – The Council shall harmonize rules and 
regulations of all relevant agencies responsible for the implementation and 
enforcement of laws to prevent and eliminate illegal fishing such as RA 8550, as 
amended. 
 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING 
 
SEC. 21. Maritime Spatial Planning. – The Council, in consultation with 
relevant agencies, regional bodies and local government units (LGUs), shall undertake 
a nationwide maritime spatial planning, guided by the standards of the 
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, to identify the spatial and temporal 
distribution of priority activities and uses and the interactions thereof in maritime 
zones, in order to reduce conflict among uses, facilitate complementary uses, mitigate 
environmental impacts, and preserve ecosystem services. 
 
SEC. 22. Industry Development Plans. – The Council, through working groups 
created for the purpose, shall prepare five-year and ten-year development plans for 


 
14
priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related industry, in 
accordance with the Policy Framework and in consideration of the existing 
development plans and strategies formulated by agencies involved in coastal and 
marine protection and development. The Council shall also ensure the integration of 
the framework in existing industry plans. 
 
SEC. 23. Integration with Area and National Development Plans. – The NEDA 
shall integrate the maritime spatial plan and industry development plans into the 
Philippine Development Plan, the National Priority Plan, the National Physical 
Framework Plan, and Area Spatial Development Framework.  
 
SEC. 24. Inclusion in Strategic Investment Priority Plan. – The Council shall 
recommend to the BOI the inclusion of identified priority strategic ocean-based and 
ocean-related activities in the Strategic Investment Priority Plan. 
SEC. 25. Blue Economic Zones. – Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) shall 
encourage the establishment of blue economic zones and the transformation of 
existing special economic zones into the same: Provided, That Registered Business 
Enterprises (RBEs) engaged in ocean-based or ocean-related activities in these blue 
economic zones, duly registered by an IPA, may be entitled to the incentives under 
Title XIII (Tax Incentives) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.  
 
In addition, the incentives provided under this Act shall be without prejudice 
to the following laws: 
 
(a) 
RA 9003, otherwise known as the “Ecological Solid Waste Management 
Act of 2000”; 
(b) 
RA 9275, otherwise known as the “Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004”; 
(c) 
RA 9513, otherwise known as the “Renewable Energy Act of 2008”; and 
(d) 
RA 10771, otherwise known as the “Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016”. 
 
The RBEs operating within blue economic zones may also qualify for financing 
provided under RA 11293, otherwise known as the “Philippine Innovation Act”, as 
applicable. 
 
 
CHAPTER IX 
BLUE FINANCE 
 
SEC. 26. Role of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). – In the exercise of its 
regulatory powers over financial institutions, the BSP shall mandate banks and quasi-
banks to adopt the United Nations Environment Programme Sustainable Blue 
Economy Finance Principles as a foundation of corporate governance and risk 
management. 
 
SEC. 27. Role of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). – The SEC shall 
encourage the issuance of blue bonds where proceeds will be exclusively applied to 


 
15
finance or refinance, in part or in full, eligible Blue Economy activities, in accordance 
with SEC Guidelines, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Green 
Bonds Standards and Green Bonds Principles, as developed and may be revised from 
time to time by the SEC, ASEAN Capital Markets Forum, and the International Capital 
Market Association, respectively. All designated Blue Projects or Activities must 
provide clear benefits to ocean health and the blue economy or must contribute 
substantially to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) 6 or 14, 
which shall be assessed and, where feasible, quantified by the Issuer. 
 
SEC. 28. Role of Government Financial Institutions. – The Land Bank of the 
Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines shall provide credit to 
strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related enterprises.  
 
SEC. 29. Blue Public Expenditures. – The Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM) shall allocate funds to implement blue economy programs, 
activities and projects (PAPs), in consonance with Section 15 of Republic Act No. 9729, 
as amended. The DBM shall include blue public expenditures as part of its efforts to 
increase convergence in programming and implementation of climate change and 
disaster risk reduction PAPs through the Risk Resiliency Program. 
 
 
CHAPTER X 
MARINE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION (STI) 
AND OCEAN LITERACY 
 
SEC. 30. Marine Scientific Research. – The State recognizes marine science as a 
foundation of maritime governance, insofar as rules governing the use of coastal and 
marine resources must be based on the sound scientific understanding of the marine 
environment. In accordance with UNCLOS, the Philippines has the exclusive rights to 
regulate, authorize and conduct marine scientific research in our internal waters, 
archipelagic waters and territorial sea; whereas, the Philippines has rights to regulate, 
authorize and conduct maritime research in our exclusive economic zone and 
continental shelf: Provided, That the marine scientific research activities shall not 
unjustifiably interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea and shall not constitute the 
legal basis for any claim to any part of the marine environment or its resources. 
 
Marine scientific research by foreign states and competent international 
organizations may only be conducted with the express consent of and the conditions 
set forth by the Council, in accordance with the UNCLOS. 
 
SEC. 31. Marine Technology and Innovation. – The State recognizes that 
science, technology, and innovation have a critical role in harnessing ocean resources 
for the blue economy while ensuring sustainability. Marine technology and 
innovations are needed to address technical and logistical constraints that impede the 
development of Philippine blue industries. Among these technologies are advanced 
materials, subsea engineering and technology, sensors and imaging, big data 


 
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analytics, autonomous systems, biotechnology, nanotechnology, marine spatial 
planning, and circular blue economy. The government shall also support the 
development and adoption of locally-developed marine-related technologies. 
 
SEC. 32. Ocean Literacy Framework. – The DepEd, Commission on Higher 
Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and other 
government agencies implementing sector-specific literacy programs, in consultation 
with relevant members of the Council or support agencies, shall integrate into the 
curricula of K-12, the Alternative Learning System, general education programs of 
higher education institutions, technical and vocational education and training, and 
other community-based training programs, the essential principles and fundamental 
concepts of ocean sciences to develop the following competencies: 
(a) Understanding the economic, socio-cultural, spiritual, scientific and 
political importance/significance of the ocean to humankind in general 
and the Filipinos in particular; 
(b) Communicating about the ocean in a meaningful way; and 
(c) Making informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its 
resources. 
 
 
CHAPTER XI 
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION 
 
SEC. 33. Archipelagic Sea Lanes. – The President of the Philippines shall 
designate sea lanes and air routes thereabove, suitable for the continuous and 
expeditious passage of foreign ships and aircrafts through or over the archipelagic 
waters and the adjacent territorial sea, and shall, where necessary as regards the safety 
of navigation, require foreign ships exercising the right of innocent passage to use 
such lanes and traffic separation schemes in accordance with the UNCLOS. 
 
 
CHAPTER XII 
ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 
 
SEC. 34. Role of Local Government Units. – Cities and municipalities shall 
continue to exercise jurisdiction over municipal waters, pursuant to RA 7160, 
otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991”, as amended, and RA 8550, 
as amended subject to the jurisdiction and authority of national government agencies 
as stated in the provisions of special laws as the case may be. Consistent with this 
mandate, LGUs shall act as the frontline agencies in the formulation, planning, and 
implementation and enforcement of the law of IMCAM in their respective 
jurisdictions. The LGUs shall integrate the National Maritime Spatial Plan in their 
Comprehensive Development and Annual Investment Plans. 
 
SEC. 35. Inter-LGU Cooperation. – Consistent with the provisions of RA 7160, 
as amended, LGUs may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their efforts, 
services, and resources for the accomplishment of the objectives of this Act. 


 
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CHAPTER XIII 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
SEC. 36. Joint Congressional Oversight. – For the effective implementation of 
this Act, a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee is created, to be known as the 
Blue Economy Oversight Committee, which shall be composed of five (5) Senators 
and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, respectively. The Minority shall be entitled to pro 
rata representation. The Blue Economy Oversight Committee shall be jointly chaired 
by the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs and the Chairperson 
of the House Committee on Economic Affairs. 
 
SEC. 37. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations 
of the Office of the President. Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 38. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Council shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations to efficiently carry out the provisions of this Act 
within sixty (60) days from its effectivity. 
 
SEC. 39. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected shall remain in full force and 
effect. 
 
SEC. 40. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, executive orders, and 
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 41. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,