Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

ENTH CONGRE
Regular Session

08915

Firs

HOUSE BI

Introduced by Representative Maria Vida Espinosa Bravo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill aims to implement policy direction in the formulation of programs for the
protection and sustainable management of our mangrove forests.

Mangrove forests are recognized as the world’s richest ecosystems for it serves as
barrier against strong winds, waves, storm surges and erosions. The same prevents silt,
sediments and pollutants from reaching fragile habitats such as sea grass meadows and
coral reefs.

Basically, mangroves are salt tolerant trees that have adapted to living in salt and
brackish water conditions. The same serves as a shelter, spawning and breeding grounds
for birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks and other organisms. It has a unique community
which forms a link between the land and sea. Mangroves are rich habitat which serve as
life support systems to about 75% of fish species and as well as to indeterminate numbers
of crustaceans and wildlife.

Our country has about 18,000 km of shorelines and vast areas of mangroves. Aside
from its ecological significance, mangroves have economic importance which gives
benefits to the locale along the community.

Continued depletions have been observed due to disturbances and perturbations
cither naturally occurring or man-made. Over exploitation, land conversions and rampant
wood extractions mainly contributed to the declining population of mangroves.


Hence, this Representation secks to impose an increase the awareness of true value
of mangrove ecosystems in order to prevent the inclination of its degradation and
vulnerability, It is crucial to adopt a systematic, coherent and responsive forest
management system to restore the integrity of our mangrove forest ecosystems.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is urgently sought.

(A VIDA ESPINOSA BRAVO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL.No,_ 8915

Introduced by Representative Maria Vida Espinosa Bravo

AN ACT.
PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION, REHABILITATION AND SUSTAINABLE.
MANAGEMENT OF MANGROVE ECOSYSTEMS IN TICAO AND BURIAS
ISLANDS, PROVINCE OF MASBATE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the Ticao-Burias
Sustainable Mangrove Forest Management Act of 2016.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.- Pursuant to the provisions
of the Constitution to promote the general welfare and social justice in all phases of national
development, protect and advance the right of the Filipino people to a balance and healthful
ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature, and to conserve and develop the
patrimony of the nation, the State hereby adopts the following policies in accordance with
the management, development and conservation of forest ecosystem and resources:

a.) Categorization of Mangrove Forest Mangrove Forest shall be categorized as
protection or production forest lands in order to guide managers on the intent
of development;

b.) Permanency of Mangrove Forest- ‘The specific limits of mangrove forest shall
be fixed, delineated and demarcated and thereafter, shall not be altered except
through an Act of Congres

¢.) Mangrove Forest Resourc
conservation of mangrove forest therein shall bear
and economic functions, responsibility, accountabil

4.) Protection and Rehabilitation of Mangrove Forest Ecosystem as a priority
concern- The protection of mangrove forest ecosystem, as well as the
rehabilitation through reforestation and afforestation of the degraded mangrove
forest ecosystem, shall be given priority to mitigate climate change, improve

as Promotion for the Common Good- The use and
cial, ecological, biological



and conserve biodiversity, enhance ecosystem functions and services and
provide long-term economic benefits;

SECTION 3. ‘ope and Coverage- ‘The provision of this Act shall
apply to all mangrove forests therein. Provided, that all mangrove forests in Ticao and
Burias Islands in the province of Masbate should be in protected areas (PA) as established
under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) shall sustainably managed
and developed the following provisions of Republic Act No. #7586 or the NIPAS Act of
1992

SECTION 4, __ Permanent Mangrove Forest Areas- All mangrove areas in
Ticao and Burias Islands, Masbate classified by the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Office V, including the remaining unclassified shall
comprise and be maintained as permanent mangrove areas. The reclassification of the
mangrove forests shall require an Act of Congress.

SECTION 5. _Jurisdiction and Control of Mangrove Forests Areas and Its
Resources- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall be the
primary lead agency responsible for the conservation, management, development and
utilization of all mangrove forests including resources found therein. In coordination with
the LGU’s and other government agencies, the DENR shall ensure that the mangrove
forests are managed, conserved, developed, utilized and protected consistent with the
policies and strategies promulgated in this Act. The utilization and development of
mangroves including the natural resources therein shall be undertaken in accordance with
the Department-approved management plans which shall be prepared in accordance with
the provisions of the NIPAS Act.

SECTION 6. Mangrove Development Management- The rehabi on of
degraded mangrove forests through reforestation/afforestation/enrichment planting of
appropriate mangrove species shall be intensified. Fishery production in duly designated
mangrove production zones shall promote productivity of fisher resources and shall be

accomplished without cutting the naturally growing mangroves. Establishment of new
mangrove plantations in tandem with fishpond developments may be allowed in mangrove
production zones. Provided, that not more than 20% of areas to be developed shall be

devoted to fishpond farming activities. ‘The mangrove plantations established within the
fishpond projects may be permitted to selectively harvest for domestic purposes only on a
sustainable basis as deemed appropriate and that the privilege to harvest shall be granted
only to private individual, group of individuals or entity which established the fishpond

project,

SECTION 7. _Role of the Department of Natural Resources- The DENR
shall coordinate closely with the LGU’s concerned to ensure the sound management and
conservation of the Mangrove Forests in Ticao and Burias Islands respectively.



a.) On Strict implementation of regulatory techniques by enforcing of mangrove
laws and other applicable laws to regulate mangrove pond conversions and
extractions;

b.) Rehabilitation and protection of mangrove habitat for their natural regeneration.
Selecting areas which are greatly devastated by natural and man-made
deterioration of mangrove forests;

c.) Regulations and laws must be backed up with enforcement;

d.) Conducting a program on mangrove awareness;

¢.) Settlement of land conflicts and delineation of boundaries between private and
mangrove protected areas;

SECTION 8. Prohibited Acts of Dumping Waste and Littering and
Sanctions.~ It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and knowingly to dump waste
of all sorts inside the mangrove forest areas. It shall likewise be unlawful to clean and
change the oil of water vessels within the mangrove forest areas.

Violation of this provision shall be punished, upon conviction with imprisonment
of six (6) months to one (1) year plus a penalty of two hundred fifty thousand pes:
(P250,000.00) to Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) and order the violator to
clean up the all the waste with all costs against the violator.

SECTION 9. _ Unlawful Destruction of Mangrove Forests.-_ Any person
who without authority from the DENR and LGU concerned, enters and occupies or engages
in kaingin or related activities or in any manner destroy such mangrove forest or part
thereof or causes any damage thereto, or sets a fire, or negligently permits a fire to be set
therein, shall be punished, upon conviction, with imprisonment of not less than six (6) years
and one (1) day not more than twelve (12) years plus penalty of five hundred thousand
(P500,000.00) to one million pesos (P1,000,000.00) and order the violator to rehabilitate
the mangrove forest area concerned.

SECTION 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- In consultation with
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and other relevant agencies and
stakeholders, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) shall formulate the rules and regulations to implement the provision of this Act.

SECTION 11. Congressional Oversight Committee.- There is hereby
created a Congressional Oversight Committee to oversee the implementation of this Act
composed of seven (7) members from the House of Representatives Committee on Natural
Resources.

The Secretariat of the oversight committee shall be drawn from the existing
secretariat personnel of the committees comprising the oversight and the funding shall be
taken from the appropriations of House of Representatives.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause- If any provisions of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not affect by such
declaration,



SECTION 13. Repealing Clause.- All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act shall be deemed repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect immediately

after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation,

Approved,