Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution recognizes the need to protect and advance a balance and healthful ecology 
in the country, especially for a country so rich in natural resources. However, despite having 
one of the richest marine sanctuaries in the world, the country lacks environmental policies 
that tackle the preservation of this resource. This is especially alarming as Filipinos heavily 
rely on seawaters and marine life as an economic resource. 
This bill intends to address this lack of foresight in the protection of our environment by 
prohibiting the dumping of sewage and industrial waste into Philippine seawaters. The 
protection of our waters from pollution has become imperative.  
Through the passage of this bill, the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, is mandated to report to Congress the 
comprehensive accounting of the discharges into waters of our territorial sea, the contiguous 
zone and the ocean. This ensures that there is check and balances in place in the 
implementation of this law, if passed. 
In the hopes that our natural resources are never again abused, this representation earnestly 
seeks the approval of this bill. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
July 22, 2022
4:34 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT  
PROHIBITING THE DUMPING OF SEWAGE SLUDGE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE 
INTO SEA WATERS 
Be it 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 “Anti-Sea Dumping Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to promote 
the natural balance of the environment for the protection of human health and safety. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall be 
construed to mean as follows: 
a. Alternative System – means any method for the management of sewage sludge
or industrial waste which does not require a permit under this Act;
b. Excluded Material – means
a. Any dredged material discharged by the Philippine Marine Corps of
Engineers or discharged pursuant to a permit issued by the Secretary of
Environment and Natural Resources;
b. Any waste from any industrial operation located in the Philippines
discharged pursuant to a permit issued by the Secretary of Environment
and Natural Resources.
c. Industrial Waste – means any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste generated by a
manufacturing or processing plant other than an excluded material;
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d. Interim Measure – means any short-term method for the management of 
sewage sludge or industrial waste which: 
a. Is used before implementation of an alternative system; and 
b. Does not require permit under this Act. 
e. Sewage Sludge – means any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste generated by a 
wastewater treatment plant, other than an excluded material. 
 
SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts. – No person shall dump into sea waters or transport 
for the purpose of dumping into sea water sewage sludge or industrial waste unless 
said person has obtained a permit issued by the Secretary of Environment and Natural 
Resources authorizing the transportation and dumping of said sewage sludge or 
industrial waste. 
 
The Secretary of Transportation shall not issue any permit under this Act which 
authorizes a person to dump into ocean waters, or to transport for the purpose of 
dumping into sea waters, sewage sludge or industrial waste, unless that person was 
authorized by a permit issued by him or by a court order to dump into sea waters or to 
transport for the purpose of dumping into ocean waters sewage sludge or industrial 
waste. 
 
SECTION 5. Penalties. – Any person who dumps into ocean waters for transports for 
the purpose of dumping into ocean waters, sewage sludge or industrial waste shall be 
liable in the amount of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) 
or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months or both upon discretion of the court. If 
the offence is committed by a corporation, trust, firm, partnership or association, or 
other entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the guilty officer or officers of such 
corporation, trust, firm, partnership or association or entity. 
 
SECTION 6. Enforcement Monitoring Report. – Not later than six (6) months after 
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources, in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, 
shall submit a report to Congress. The report under this section shall contain an 
accounting of the discharges into waters of the territorial sea, the contiguous zone and 
the ocean indicating: 


 
a. The total number of discharges; 
b. The location, source, volume, and potential environmental effects of each 
discharge; 
c. The date of original issuance, review and reissuance of each discharge permit; 
d. The date of discharges that have been determined by the Secretary of 
Environment and Natural Resources; 
e. A schedule for implementing this Act and achieving compliance with the 
guidelines promulgated hereunder as expeditiously as practicable, and an 
estimate of the resources required to meet such schedule; and 
f. Recommendations for any additional legislative authorities needed to achieve 
compliance with such guidelines. 
 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. – Should any provision herein be declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this 
Act. 
 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or 
other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after 
publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
 
Approved,