EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2181
DATE
TH.lE
INDEX
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF BEACHES AND COASTAL RECREATION 
WATER
EXPLANATORY NOTE
World class beaches are one of the things that our country is truiy proud of. 
The Phiiippines is known for its prime beaches and rest and recreation facilities. Not 
only does this give pride to our country but it also provides for employment and income 
for many of our kababayans.
This bill seeks to improve and maintain the quality of beaches and coastal 
recreation waters in the country. If successfully attained this will not only conserve 
our ecology but will also sustain the source of income of our kababayans.
Among the provisions of this bill are: (1) adoption Coastal Recreational Water 
Quality Criteria, and (2) promulgation of Coastal Beach Water Quality Monitoring. 
Further, it also mandates the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR) to submit a report to Congress of the implementation of the law, specifically 
possible recommendations for improvement.
For the purpose of protecting public safety and improvement of environmental 
quality, consideration of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMOI^ONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2181
DATE
T»ME
INDEX
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF BEACHES AND COASTAL RECREATION 
WATER
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short title. - This Act shall be known as the "Beaches
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Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act".
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Sec. 2. Purposes. - The purpose of this Act is to require uniform criteria and
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procedures for testing, monitoring, and notifying users of public coastal recreation
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water and beaches:
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A. To protect public safety; and
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B. To improve environmental quality.
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Sec. 3. Definitions. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
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mean:
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A. Coastal recreation water- means water adjacent to public beaches and
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marine coastal water (including bays, lagoon mouths, and coastal
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estuaries within the tidal zone) used by the public for:
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a. swimming;
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b. bathing;
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c. surfing; or
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d. 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:
a. Plastic;
b. Aluminum cans;
c. Wood;
d. Bottles;
e. Paper products; and
f. 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:
a. 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;
b. Appropriate and effective Indicators for improving direct 
: detection of the presence of pathogens found harmful to
human health in coastal recreational water;
c. 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


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d. Guidance for the application of the criteria Issued under 
subsection (B) 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:
a. issue revised water quality criteria for pathogens In coastal 
recreation water that ae harmful to human health, including a 
revised list of indicators and testing methods; and
b. 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
a. In General. - Not later than one (1) year and one hundred 
eighty (180) days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall promulgate regulations for the monitoring by 
the Department for:
i. compliance with applicable water quality criteria; and
ii. maintenance of public safety.
b. Contents of Requirements. - Monitoring requirements 
established under this section shall specify, at a minimum -
i. Available monitoring methods to be used; and
ii. the frequency and location of monitoring based on:
1. the periods of recreational use of coastal 
recreation water and beaches;
2. the extent and degree of recreational use during 
the periods described in clause (1);
3. the proximity of coastal recreation water to 
known or identified point and non-point sources 
of pollution; and


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4. the relationship between the use of pubiic 
recreation water and beaches to. storm events;
iii. Methods for:
1. Detecting ieveis of pathogens that are harmfui 
to human heaith; and
2. Identifying short-term increases in pathogens 
that are harmfui to human heaith in coastai 
recreation water, inciuding the reiationship of 
short-term increases in pathogens to storm 
events; and
iv. Conditions and procedures under which discrete areas 
of coastai recreation water may be exempted by the 
Secretary from the monitoring requirements under this 
subsection, if the Secretary determines that an 
exemption wiii not:
1. Impair compiiance with the appiicabie water 
quaiity criteria for that water; and
2. compromise pubiic safety 
B. Notification Requirements
a. In Generai - Reguiations promuigated under subsection (a) 
shaii require provinces to provide notification of a faiiure or 
the iikeiihood of a faiiure to meet appiicabie water quaiity 
criteria for provinciai coastai recreation water, to"
Locai governments; 
the pubiic; and 
the Secretary.
b. information inciuded in Notification. - Notification under this 
subsection shaii require, at a minimum:
i. the prompt communication of the occurrence, nature, 
extent and iocation of, and substance, inciuding 
pathogens, invoived in a faiiure or immediate iikeiihood 
of a faiiure to meet water quaiity criteria, to a


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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 
ii. 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:
1. of failure to meet applicable water quality 
criteria for the water; and
2. 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
a. 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 (A) and (B).
b. Revision of Program. - Not later than two (2) years after the 
date of publication of any revision by the Secretary under 
subsection (C), each province shall revise the program 
established under paragraph (A) to incorporate the revisions.
E. Guidance: Delegation of Responsibility
a. 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:
i. Core performance measures for testing, monitoring, 
and notification programs under this section; and


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ii. The delegation of testing, monitoring and notification
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programs under this section to the iocai government
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authorities.
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b. Deiegation of Responsibiiity to Locai Governments. - If a
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responsibiiity described the above paragraph is deiegated by
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a province to a iocai government authority, or is deiegated to
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a iocai government authority before the date of enactment of
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this section, resources, inciuding grants made, shaii be made
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avaiiabie to the deiegated authority for the purpose of
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impiementing the deiegated program in a manner that is
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consistent with the guidance issued by the Secretary.
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F. Fioatabie Materiais Monitoring; Technicai Assistance. - Not later than
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one (1) year and one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of
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enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
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a. provide technical assistance for uniform assessment and
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monitoring procedures for floatable materials In coastal
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recreation water; and
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b. specify the conditions under which the presence of floatable
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material shall constitute a threat to public health and safety.
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G. Occurrence Database. - The Secretary shall establish, maintain, and
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make available to the public by electronic and other means -
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a. A national coastal recreation water pollution occurrence
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databse using reliable information, including the information
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reported under paragraph (A); and
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b. A listing of communities conforming to the regulations
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promulgated under paragraphs (A) and (B).
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Sec. 7. Report to Congress. - Not later than four (4) years after the date of the
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enactment of this title and periodically thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to
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Congress a report that contains:
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A. Recommendations concerning the need for additional water quality
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criteria and other actions that are necessary to improve the quality of
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coastal recreation water; and


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B. An evaluation of efforts to implement this Act.
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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. If any portion of this Act is deciared
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unconstitutional or Invalid, the portions or provisions which are not affected shall
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continue to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. Ail laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and
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regulations or parts thereof which are Inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed
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or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
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Approved.