Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3254 
Introduced by Representative KRISTINE SINGSON-MEEHAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is the world’s second-largest archipelagic nation. Its aquatic resources 
are found in various coastal, marine, and inland water ecosystems across the archipelago and are 
some of the most productive and biologically rich in the world.  Given the Philippines’ 
archipelagic nature and vast resources, our nation is primed to benefit from a robust and 
sustainable blue economy framework. 
Our coastline of 36,289 km is the 5th longest in the world—longer than the coastlines of 
China (14,500 km), the United States (19,924 km) and Japan (29,751 km). It is geographically 
located at the apex of the Coral Triangle, which is the global center of marine diversity where 
76% of the world’s coral species live, and home to at least 2,228 species of reef fish.1  However, 
because of inadequate planning, budgeting, and investment, our marine and coastal ecosystems 
have degraded, to the detriment of potential competitive advantage in the utilization of our blue 
economy.  
This bill seeks to establish a national framework for a sustainable blue economy—one 
that ensures our marine and coastal resources are conserved, restored, and responsibly utilized 
for the benefit of present and future generations. This is in line with the mandate of Article XII, 
Section 2, of the 1987 Constitution which provides that “The State shall protect the nation’s 
1 Ronald U. Mendoza and Sheena A. Valenzuela, Growing the Philippines’ Blue Economy: Policy 
Challenges and Opportunities,  
August 6, 2025
3:11 pm


marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve 
its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.” 
It must also be noted that this bill was already approved on third reading in the 19th 
Congress, not just in House of Representatives, but in the Senate, as well. This shows the earnest 
desire of our legislators to support this bill and enact it as law. 
In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
KRISTINE SINGSON-MEEHAN


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3254 
Introduced by Representative KRISTINE SINGSON-MEEHAN 
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: 


2
 
1  
CHAPTER 
I 
2  
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
3
4  
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Blue Economy 
5 
Act.”  
6
7  
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to: 
 
8 
(a) Adopt blue economy as a framework for equitable and sustainable 
9 
development and safe use of marine wealth within our maritime zones, as a pillar 
10 
of our national economy and patrimony; 
 
11 
(b) Exercise stewardship of our seas and coasts, and protect and 
12 
conserve the health and resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats, 
13 
through strong institutional mechanisms for maritime monitoring and regulatory 
14 
enforcement, to promote the well-being, prosperity and security of present and 
15 
future generations; 
 
16 
(c) Preserve our maritime heritage, recognize the social, cultural, and 
17 
historical value of our seas and coasts, and foster public understanding and 
18 
respect of the value of our seas and coasts to build a strong foundation for social 
19 
responsibility; 
 
20 
(d) Enrich scientific understanding of marine and coastal ecosystems, 
21 
the benefits we gain from these ecosystems like carbon sequestration, their 
22 
changing conditions and the causes thereof, and use the best available scientific 
23 
knowledge to inform decisions affecting our seas and coasts and to enhance our 
24 
capacity to respond and adapt to changing maritime environments; 
 
25 
(e) Foster international cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement, 
26 
and exercise rights and jurisdiction in accordance with applicable international 
27 
laws, including on freedom of navigation; 
 
28 
(f) Ensure a whole-of-nation approach and a comprehensive, integrated 
29 
framework for the stewardship of our seas and coasts to facilitate cohesive action 
30 
of  the  national  government,  local  authorities,  academe,  nongovernmental 
31 
organizations, the private sector, and the public; and 
 
32 
(g) Promote, support and monitor science, technology and innovation 
33 
programs of public and private academic and research institutions to strengthen 
34 
interdisciplinary research in marine science, and to develop emerging technologies 
35 
to catalyze growth of new maritime sectors. 


3
 
1 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
 
2 
(a) Aquaculture refers to fishery operations involving all forms of raising 
3 
and culturing fish and other fishery species in fresh, brackish, and marine water 
4 
areas; 
 
5 
(b) Aquasilviculture  refers to a multi-purpose production system that 
6 
allows production of fish and other aquatic species in a mangrove reforestation 
7 
project; 
 
8 
(c) Aquatic  resources  refer to fish and other living resources of the 
9 
aquatic environment that have or will have commercial value when utilized; 
 
10 
(d) Blue economy refers to the integrated, holistic, cross-sectoral, and 
11 
cross-stakeholder approach for the sustainable, resilient and inclusive use, 
12 
governance, management and conservation of oceans, seas as well as marine and 
13 
coastal 
resources  and  ecosystems 
for  economic  growth,  leveraging  green 
14 
infrastructure and technologies, innovative financing mechanisms and proactive 
15 
institutional mechanisms, and improving human well-being and social equity, and 
16 
reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities; 
 
17 
(e) Blue carbon refers to organic carbon that is captured by marine and 
18 
coastal ecosystems, such as algae, seagrass, mangroves, and other plants growing 
19 
in salt marshes and coastal wetlands; 
20 
21 
(f)  Blue public  expenditure  refers to public expenditures that address 
22 
issues related to coastal and marine resources, environmental degradation, and 
23 
development aspirations that depend on marine resources and environments; 
24 
25 
(g) By-catch refers to fish or other marine species that a fisher does not 
26 
intend  to  catch,  including  juveniles  of  commercially-valuable  species  and 
27 
biologically-important species caught unintentionally while trying to catch a 
28 
certain type of fish. 
 
29 
(h) Commercial fishing refers to the taking of fishery species by passive 
30 
or active gear for trade, business and profit beyond subsistence or sports fishing, 
31 
to be further classified as: small scale commercial fishing, or fishing with passive 
32 
or active gear utilizing fishing vessels of three and one-tenth (3.1) gross tons (GT) 
33 
up to twenty (20) GT; medium scale commercial fishing or fishing utilizing active 
34 
gears and vessels of twenty and one-tenth (20.1) GT up to one hundred fifty (150) 
35 
GT; and large commercial fishing or fishing utilizing active gears and vessels of 
36 
more than one hundred fifty (150) GT; 
 
37 
(i)  Contiguous zone refers to the contiguous zone of the Philippines to 
38 
the waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent of 
39 
twenty-four (24) nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the 
40 
territorial sea is measured; 


4
 
1 
(j)  Continental shelf refers to the seabed and subsoil of the submarine 
2 
areas of the Philippines that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the 
3 
natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental 
4 
margin, or to a distance of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the baselines 
5 
from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, where the outer edge of 
6 
the continental margin does not extend up to that distance; 
 
7 
(k) Ecosystem services refer to the flow of benefits which humans gain 
8 
from ecosystems, through biological processes and climate, hydrological and 
9 
biochemical cycles, and experiences that contribute to intangible culture; 
 
10 
(l)  Environmental-economic  accounting  refers  to  a  systematic  way  to 
11 
measure and report on stocks and flows of natural assets and resources – both 
12 
biotic and abiotic, renewable and non-renewable – and ecosystem services, to 
13 
determine the contribution of the environment to the economy and the impact of 
14 
the economy on the environment; 
 
15 
(m) Environmental-economic  accounts  refer to statistical information, in 
16 
physical or monetary terms, about the extraction of natural resources, their use 
17 
within the economy, natural resource stock levels, the changes in those stocks 
18 
during a specific period, and such other economic activities related to the 
19 
environment; 
 
20 
(n) Exclusive  economic  zone  (EEZ)  refers to the waters beyond and 
21 
adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent of two hundred (200) nautical 
22 
miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, 
23 
as established by Presidential Decree No. 1599, otherwise known as the 
24 
“Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone of 1978”, and to the extent consistent with 
25 
the other provisions of this Act and with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations 
26 
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); 
 
27 
(o) Fisheries refer to all activities relating to the science and act of 
28 
business of fishing, culturing, preserving, processing, marketing, developing, 
29 
conserving, and managing of aquatic resources, and environment; 
 
30 
(p) Integrated 
coastal 
management 
(ICM) refers 
to a holistic 
and 
31 
integrative 
management 
that 
incorporates 
the 
following 
components: 
32 
(1) connectivity of various ecosystems – environment and resources; (2) various 
33 
sectors and stakeholders; (3) institutional arrangements that are relevant; and 
34 
(4) assessment of drivers of coastal ecosystem degradation, management planning 
35 
and implementation, including research and education, to address coastal 
36 
degradation and biodiversity losses, and to improve the well-being of communities 
37 
in coastal and interconnected areas; 
 
38 
(q) Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM) refers to 
39 
a participatory process for decision-making to prevent, control, or mitigate adverse 


5
 
1 
impacts from human activities in the marine and coastal environment, and to 
2 
contribute to the restoration of degraded coastal areas; 
 
3 
(r) Internal 
waters 
refer 
to waters 
on the 
landward 
side 
of the 
4 
archipelagic baselines not forming part of archipelagic waters under Section 4 of 
5 
this Act and delineated in accordance with Article 50 of the UNCLOS; and waters 
6 
on the landward side of the baselines of the territorial sea of territories outside of 
7 
the archipelagic baselines, drawn in accordance with Article 8 of the UNCLOS; 
 
8 
(s) Investment  promotion  agencies  (IPAs)  refer to  government entities 
9 
created by law, executive order, decree or other issuance, in charge of promoting 
10 
investments, granting and administering tax and non-tax incentives, and 
11 
overseeing the operations of the different economic zones and freeports in 
12 
accordance with their respective special laws. These include the Board of 
13 
Investments (BOI), Bangsamoro Board of Investments, Philippine Economic Zone 
14 
Authority, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan 
15 
Authority, Clark Development Corporation, John Hay Management Corporation, 
16 
Poro  Point  Management  Corporation,  Cagayan  Economic  Zone  Authority, 
17 
Zamboanga  City  Special  Economic  Zone  Authority,  PHIVIDEC  Industrial 
18 
Authority, Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, Authority of the 
19 
Freeport Area of Bataan, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, 
20 
and all other similar existing authorities that may be created by law; 
 
21 
(t)  Mariculture refers to the sea farming of aquatic plants and fishes; 
 
22 
(u) Marine scientific research refers to any research activity, which is 
23 
conducted for exclusively peaceful purposes, for the purpose of increasing scientific 
24 
knowledge about the marine environment, including all-natural resources, toward 
25 
the benefit of mankind and according to the UNCLOS; 
 
26 
(v) Maritime domain awareness refers to the effective understanding of 
27 
any activity that could impact upon the security, safety, economy or environment; 
 
28 
(w) Maritime  spatial  planning  refers to a process by which human 
29 
activities in maritime zones are analyzed and organized, based on best available 
30 
scientific knowledge, to achieve economic, ecological and social objectives; 
 
31 
(x) Maritime  zones  refer  to  the  maritime  zones  of  the  Philippines 
32 
comprising the internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous 
33 
zone, EEZ, and continental shelf; 
 
34 
(y) Ocean-based activities refer to activities that are undertaken in the 
35 
ocean, such as fisheries and aquaculture, offshore oil and gas, mining, ocean 
36 
energy, desalination, shipping and marine transportation, marine tourism, and 
37 
marine construction; 
 
38 
(z) Ocean-related activities refer to activities that use products from the 
39 
ocean such as seafood processing, marine biotechnology, chemicals, salt, and 


6
 
1 
produce products and services for the ocean and ocean-based activities such as 
2 
shipbuilding 
and 
repair, 
ports, 
tourist 
resorts, 
communication, 
maritime 
3 
insurance and law, and maritime technical services; 
 
4 
(aa) Subsistence  fishing  refers to fishing for personal consumption or 
5 
traditional/ceremonial purposes; and 
 
6 
(bb) Ocean literacy refers to an understanding of the ocean’s influence on 
7 
humans and human influence on the ocean. 
 
8 
SEC. 4. Scope of Application. – For purposes of this Act, the Philippines 
9 
shall exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, in accordance with 
10 
commitments under the UNCLOS and other related treaties which the Philippines 
11 
has ratified, in internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous 
12 
zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, herein collectively referred to 
13 
as “maritime zones”, including its seabed and subsoil, and any and all maritime 
14 
features within the maritime zones and where appropriate, the relevant airspace 
15 
above the territorial sea, internal waters and archipelagic waters now known or 
16 
to be known in the future. 
 
 
17 
CHAPTER II 
18 
NATIONAL MARITIME MONITORING SYSTEM 
 
19 
SEC. 5. National Maritime Monitoring System. – The National Coast 
20 
Watch System, established under Executive Order (EO) No. 57, series of 2011, is 
21 
hereby renamed as the National Maritime Monitoring System. 
 
22 
SEC. 6. National Maritime Council. – The National Coast Watch 
23 
Council, created under EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby renamed and reconstituted 
24 
as the National Maritime Council, herein referred to as the “Council”, and its 
25 
functions expanded to include the formulation of an integrated strategy to promote 
26 
blue economy and ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine resources. 
 
27 
In addition to the powers and functions of the Council enumerated in 
28 
Section 3 of the same EO, the Council is likewise further mandated to: 
 
29 
(a)  Steer the development, research, and sustainable resource explorations 
30 
in maritime zones, especially in areas with high economic potential such as the 
31 
Philippine Rise and the West Philippine Sea; 
 
32 
(b)  Coordinate the maritime regulation or licensing and law enforcement for 
33 
strengthened preparedness and responsiveness to potential security threats or 
34 
concerns in the country’s maritime areas and zones; and 
 
35 
(c) Build 
capacities 
in monitoring, 
including 
the 
use 
of digital 
and 
36 
innovative technologies for security and surveillance activities. 


7
 
1 
The  Council  is  likewise  authorized  to  convene  committees  or  sub- 
2 
committees to oversee the abovementioned functions. In this way, all strategic 
3 
maritime zones will be covered and will reduce the call for the creation of new 
4 
bodies or authorities to manage the same. 
 
5 
SEC. 7. Composition of National Maritime Council. – The Council is 
6 
composed of the Executive Secretary as Chairperson and the Secretaries of the 
7 
following national agencies as members: 
 
8 
(a) 
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); 
9 
(b) 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources; 
10 
(c) 
Department of National Defense; 
11 
(d) 
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); 
12 
(e) 
Department of Justice; 
13 
(f) 
Department of the Interior and Local Government; 
14 
(g) 
Department of Agriculture; 
15 
(h) 
Department of Tourism; 
16 
(i) 
Department of Transportation; 
17 
(j) 
Department of Trade and Industry; 
18 
(k) 
Department of Energy; 
19 
(l) 
Department of Science and Technology; 
20 
(m) 
Department of Finance; 
21 
(n) 
Department of Education (DepEd); 
22 
(o) 
Department of Information and Communications Technology; 
23 
(p) 
National Security Council; and 
24 
(q) 
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
 
25 
Department Secretaries may designate an alternative representative, 
26 
whose portfolio covers matters directly or principally relating to the development 
27 
or management of coastal and marine resources and ecosystems, if applicable. 
28 
They shall sit in a permanent capacity, and their acts shall be considered the acts 
29 
of their principals. 
 
30 
SEC. 8. National Maritime Secretariat. – The Coastal Watch Council 
31 
Secretariat, established under Section 4 of EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby 
32 
renamed as the National Maritime Secretariat and shall continue to provide 
33 
technical and administrative support to the Council and perform its functions 
34 
under the same EO. 
 
35 
SEC. 9. National Maritime Coordination Center. – The National Coast 
36 
Watch Center, established under Section 5 of EO 57, series of 2011, is hereby 
37 
renamed as the National Maritime Coordination Center and shall continue to be 
38 
the operational support unit of the National Maritime Monitoring System and 
39 
perform its functions under the same EO. 
 
40 
SEC. 10. Support Agencies. – In order to ensure the efficient and effective 
41 
discharge of its responsibilities, in addition to the agencies enumerated under 
42 
Section 6 of EO 57, series of 2011, the Council may call upon other departments, 


8
 
1 
bureaus, offices and instrumentalities of the government, representatives from 
2 
maritime industries, and academic and research institutions engaged in marine 
3 
science and ocean-based or ocean-related activities to participate in working 
4 
groups, as it may deem necessary. 
 
5 
CHAPTER III 
6 
POLICY FRAMEWORK ON BLUE ECONOMY 
 
7 
SEC. 11. Policy Framework on Blue Economy. – The Council shall, 
8 
within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, formulate a Policy 
9 
Framework on Blue Economy, herein referred to as the Policy Framework. The 
10 
Policy  Framework  shall  serve  as  the  basis  for  marine  spatial  planning, 
11 
determination of investments to develop modern physical infrastructure and build 
12 
an enabling environment for blue economy to prosper, and enhance maritime 
13 
domain awareness, and enforcement of economic and environmental regulations 
14 
within our maritime zones. The Policy Framework shall be subject to mandatory 
15 
review and modification every five (5) years. 
 
16 
SEC. 12. Components of the Policy Framework on Blue Economy. – 
17 
The Policy Framework shall include the following components: 
 
18 
(a) Review of all existing policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and 
19 
regulations on ocean-based and ocean-related activities in our maritime zones, 
20 
including 
seafood 
processing 
and 
storage, 
and 
commercial 
research 
and 
21 
development (R&D) activities for biomass resource and fish stock estimation, 
22 
artificial intelligence for forecasting fish stocks and supply; 
 
23 
(b) Compliance to local and international maritime laws; 
 
24 
(c) Analysis 
of 
current 
and 
emerging 
trends 
in 
demography, 
25 
consumption, trade, technology and climate that show the interaction between 
26 
the economy and the environment, and present threats and pressures on coastal 
27 
and marine environments; 
 
28 
(d) Environmental-economic accounting of coastal and marine assets 
29 
and resources, and ecosystem goods and services from coastal and marine 
30 
environments; 
 
31 
(e) Priority  strategic and  sustainable  ocean-based and  ocean-related 
32 
economic activities within our maritime zones, which may include the following: 
 
33 
(1) Fisheries, including commercial fishing, but with preference to 
34 
subsistence fisheries, as mandated by Section 7, Article XIII, of the 
35 
Constitution; 
36 
(2) Aquaculture, mariculture and aquasilviculture and support 
37 
industries, including seafood processing and storage, and aquaculture feed 
38 
milling; 
39 
(3) Marine and coastal tourism; 


9
 
1 
(4) Shipping, logistics and maritime transport; 
2 
(5) Shipbuilding and ship repair; 
3 
(6) Production of renewable energy from marine sources; 
4 
(7) Installation of submarine cables and pipelines; 
5 
(8) Marine biotechnology and bioprospecting; 
6 
(9) Desalination; 
7 
(10) Underwater cultural heritage and maritime archaeology; and 
8 
(11) Commercial R&D activities and commercialization of new and 
9 
emerging technologies developed from locally-undertaken R&D; 
 
10 
(f) Principles and indicators to guide environmental impact assessment of 
11 
ocean-based and ocean-related economic activities, taking into account the 
12 
environmental-economic accounting of marine resources and ecosystem services 
13 
that will be affected; 
 
14 
(g) Adoption of integrated marine and coastal area management; 
 
15 
(h) Strategies to promote blue finance; 
 
16 
(i) Priority research and development agenda, including development of 
17 
innovative technologies, and human capital to support the blue economy; 
 
18 
(j) Promotion of ocean literacy and social responsibility towards the 
19 
protection of coastal and marine environments; 
 
20 
(k) Enhancement of capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
21 
and civilian agencies to enforce laws, rules and regulations to protect our marine 
22 
wealth; 
 
23 
(l) Goals, targets and indicators for growth, resilience and sustainability 
24 
of priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based and ocean-related activities, 
25 
including its contribution to Gross Domestic Product and job creation; and 
 
26 
(m) Such other components as may be determined by the Council as a 
27 
result of its periodic review, to ensure that the Policy Framework is continually 
28 
updated and adapted to the needs of the times. 
 
 
29 
CHAPTER IV 
30 
COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL MARITIME 
INSTRUMENTS 
31 
SEC. 13. International Maritime Instruments. – The Council shall 
32 
direct the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee, as created under EO No. 159, 
33 
series of 2021, to Facilitate the Ratification of/Accession to and Implementation of 
34 
Maritime Conventions (ICCRIMC) to establish mechanisms for the full and 
35 
effective implementation and enforcement of the following international maritime 
36 
instruments and their subsequent amendments, including, but not limited to the 
37 
following: 


10
 
1 
(a) 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; 
2 
(b) Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of 
3 
Flora and Fauna; 
4 
(c) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 
5 
(UNESCO) Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage; 
6 
(d) International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as 
7 
amended, and its Protocol of 1988 (SOLAS 74); 
8 
(e) International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 
9 
and its Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78); 
10 
(f) Convention 
on 
the 
International 
Regulations 
for 
Preventing 
11 
Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended (COLREG 72); 
12 
(g) International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 and its Protocol of 
13 
1988, as amended (LL 66); 
14 
(h) International Convention on the Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 
15 
1969 (TONNAGE 69); 
16 
(i) Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety 
17 
of Maritime Navigation, 1988 (SUA) and its Protocol; 
18 
(j) International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response 
19 
and Co-operation 1990 (OPRC 1990); 
20 
(k) International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ 
21 
Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM 2004); 
22 
(l) Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by dumping of 
23 
Wastes and Other Matter, 1972, as amended, and its 1996 Protocol (LCP); 
24 
(m) Special Trade Passenger Ships Agreement, 1971 (STP 71); 
25 
(n) Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization, as 
26 
amended (IMSO 1976) and its Operating Agreement (INMARSAT); 
27 
(o) International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification 
28 
and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, As Amended (STCW 78); 
29 
(p) International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling 
30 
Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS 2001); 
31 
(q) Protocol of 1992 to Amend the International Convention on Civil 
32 
Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969; 
33 
(r) Protocol 
of 1992 
to 
amend 
the 
International 
Convention 
on 
34 
the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution 
35 
Damage, 1971; and 
36 
(s) Other relevant maritime treaties, conventions, or instruments as 
37 
may be agreed upon in the future. 
38 
SEC. 14. Application. – Unless otherwise indicated, the international 
39 
conventions enumerated in the preceding section shall apply to: 
40 
(a) All ships, whether seagoing or coastwise, which are registered under 
41 
the Philippine flag; 
42 
(b) All persons, partnerships, corporations, firms and other entities that 
43 
engage in ocean-based or ocean-related enterprise, or those acting on their behalf; 
44 
and 
45 
(c) All foreign ships that are within the waters, ports, harbors and 
46 
offshore terminals of the Philippines regardless of whether or not they are 


11
 
1 
registered in, or belong to, State Parties to the conventions sought to be 
2 
implemented by this Act. 
3 
SEC. 15. Reciprocity. – The rights and privileges of foreign vessels and 
4 
aircraft in Philippine archipelagic waters herein provided are recognized under 
5 
conditions of reciprocity and mutual respect. The President of the Philippines is 
6 
hereby authorized to institute countermeasures and other appropriate steps as 
7 
may be recommended by the DFA in response to foreign states that do not abide 
8 
by, or that act inconsistently with the UNCLOS, or which do not ensure that 
9 
vessels and aircraft under their authority comply with their rights and obligations 
10 
under the convention. 
 
 
11 
CHAPTER V 
12 
ENVIRONMENTAL-ECONOMIC ACCOUNTING 
 
13 
SEC. 16. Environmental-Economic Accounting. – The Philippine 
14 
Statistics Authority shall include the environmental-economic accounting of 
15 
marine ecosystems, as part of the Philippine ecosystem and natural capital 
16 
accounting system, in the generation of the Philippine ocean economy satellite 
17 
accounts. 
 
 
18 
CHAPTER VI 
19 
INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT 
 
20 
SEC. 17. Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management. – The 
21 
IMCAM shall be the framework to address human impacts on marine and coastal 
22 
ecosystem, and for promoting its conservation and sustainable use. The Integrated 
23 
Coastal Management Framework, principles, and mechanisms shall be aligned 
24 
and shall be an integral part of the IMCAM framework to be developed under this 
25 
Act. 
 
26 
SEC. 18. Elements of the National IMCAM Framework. – The Council 
27 
shall develop and implement the National IMCAM Framework within one (1) year 
28 
from the effectivity of this Act to provide direction, support and guidance to 
29 
relevant member and support agencies, local government units and other 
30 
stakeholders, according to the Elaborated Programme of Work on Marine and 
31 
Coastal Biological Diversity contained in the Annex to Decision VII/5 of the 
32 
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Environmental Programme 
33 
Convention on Biological Diversity. 
 
34 
Accordingly, the National IMCAM Framework shall consider the following 
35 
elements: 
 
36 
(a) Build capacity of stakeholders, in both national and local levels, to apply 
37 
relevant policy instruments to address legal issues, institutionalize participatory 


12
 
1 
processes, and develop strategies to promote multidisciplinary and multisectoral 
2 
ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine environments; 
 
3 
(b) Direct  action  to  protect  coastal  and  marine  environments  from 
4 
negative impacts, such as: 
5 
(1) Identification, 
protection, 
prevention 
of 
alteration 
and 
6 
destruction, and restoration of coastal and marine habitats, particularly 
7 
areas important for reproduction, inter alia, coral reef systems; 
8 
(2) Prevention, reduction or control of marine pollution; 
9 
(3) Protection of coastal and marine environments from land-based 
10 
sources, including proper coastal land use and watershed management; 
11 
(4) Establishment of closed fishing areas, and closed seasons, in 
12 
accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 8550, also known as the “Philippine 
13 
Fisheries Code of 1998”, as amended by RA 10654; and 
14 
(5) Reduction of by-catch. 
 
15 
(c) 
Establish mechanisms and guidelines for research, monitoring and 
16 
assessment of coastal and marine ecosystems and resources, including indicators 
17 
to measure natural and human-induced impacts; and 
 
18 
(d) 
Establish guidelines and mechanisms on green and blue businesses. 
 
 
19 
CHAPTER VII 
20 
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF COASTAL 
21 
AND MARINE RESOURCES 
 
22 
SEC. 19. Protection of Endangered Species. – The Council shall 
23 
spearhead the conservation, protection and rehabilitation of rare, threatened and 
24 
endangered aquatic species as it may determine, including their habitats. It shall 
25 
recommend to the President of the Philippines and Congress the designation of 
26 
coastal and marine areas as protected areas under the Expanded National 
27 
Integrated Protected Areas System or under RA 8550, as amended, and in 
28 
compliance with the relevant provisions of international treaties and agreements 
29 
such as, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild 
30 
Flora and Fauna, the UNCLOS, and Convention on Biological Diversity. 
 
31 
SEC. 20. Policy Coordination. – The Council shall harmonize rules and 
32 
regulations of all relevant agencies responsible for the implementation and 
33 
enforcement of laws to prevent and eliminate illegal fishing such as RA 8550, as 
34 
amended. 


13
 
1 
CHAPTER VIII 
2 
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING 
 
3 
SEC. 21. Maritime Spatial Planning. – The Council, in consultation 
4 
with relevant agencies, regional bodies and local government units (LGUs), shall 
5 
undertake a nationwide maritime spatial planning, guided by the standards of the 
6 
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, to identify the spatial and 
7 
temporal distribution of priority activities and uses and the interactions thereof 
8 
in 
maritime 
zones, 
in 
order 
to 
reduce 
conflict 
among 
uses, 
facilitate 
9 
complementary uses, mitigate environmental impacts, and preserve ecosystem 
10 
services. 
 
11 
SEC. 22. Industry Development Plans. – The Council, through working 
12 
groups created for the purpose, shall prepare five-year and ten-year development 
13 
plans for priority strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related industry, 
14 
in accordance with the Policy Framework and in consideration of the existing 
15 
development plans and strategies formulated by agencies involved in coastal and 
16 
marine protection and development. The Council shall also ensure the integration 
17 
of the framework in existing industry plans. 
 
18 
SEC. 23. Integration with Area and National Development Plans. – 
19 
The NEDA shall integrate the maritime spatial plan and industry development 
20 
plans into the Philippine Development Plan, the National Priority Plan, the 
21 
National Physical Framework Plan, and Area Spatial Development Framework. 
 
22 
SEC. 24. Inclusion in Strategic Investment Priority Plan. – The 
23 
Council  shall  recommend  to  the  BOI  the  inclusion  of  identified  priority 
24 
strategic ocean-based and ocean-related activities in the Strategic Investment 
25 
Priority Plan. 
 
26 
SEC. 25. Blue Economic Zones. – Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) 
27 
shall encourage the establishment of blue economic zones and the transformation 
28 
of existing special economic zones into the same: Provided, That Registered 
29 
Business Enterprises (RBEs) engaged in ocean-based or ocean-related activities 
30 
in these blue economic zones, duly registered by an IPA, may be entitled to the 
31 
incentives under Title XIII (Tax Incentives) of the National Internal Revenue Code 
32 
of 1997, as amended. 
 
33 
In addition, the incentives provided under this Act shall be without 
34 
prejudice to the following laws: 
 
35 
(a) RA 9003, otherwise known as the “Ecological Solid Waste Management 
36 
Act of 2000”; 
37 
(b) RA 9275, otherwise known as the “Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004”; 
38 
(c) RA 9513, otherwise known as the “Renewable Energy Act of 2008”; and 
39 
(d) RA 10771, otherwise known as the “Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016”. 


14
 
1 
The RBEs operating within blue economic zones may also qualify for 
2 
financing provided under RA 11293, otherwise known as the “Philippine 
3 
Innovation Act”, as applicable. 
 
 
4 
CHAPTER IX 
5 
BLUE FINANCE 
 
6 
SEC. 26. Role of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). – In the 
7 
exercise of its regulatory powers over financial institutions, the BSP shall 
8 
mandate banks and quasi-banks to adopt the United Nations Environment 
9 
Programme Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles as a foundation of 
10 
corporate governance and risk management. 
 
11 
SEC. 27. Role of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). – The 
12 
SEC shall encourage the issuance of blue bonds where proceeds will be exclusively 
13 
applied to finance or refinance, in part or in full, eligible Blue Economy activities, 
14 
in accordance with SEC Guidelines, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
15 
(ASEAN) Green Bonds Standards and Green Bonds Principles, as developed and 
16 
may be revised from time to time by the SEC, ASEAN Capital Markets Forum, 
17 
and the International Capital Market Association, respectively. All designated 
18 
Blue Projects or Activities must provide clear benefits to ocean health and the blue 
19 
economy  or  must  contribute  substantially  to  United  Nations  Sustainable 
20 
Development Goals (UN SDG) 6 or 14, which shall be assessed and, where feasible, 
21 
quantified by the Issuer. 
 
22 
SEC. 28. Role of Government Financial Institutions. – The Land Bank 
23 
of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines shall provide 
24 
credit to strategic and sustainable ocean-based or ocean-related enterprises. 
25 
26 
SEC. 29. Blue Public Expenditures. – The Department of Budget and 
27 
Management (DBM) shall allocate funds to implement blue economy programs, 
28 
activities and projects (PAPs), in consonance with Section 15 of Republic Act No. 
29 
9729, as amended. The DBM shall include blue public expenditures as part of its 
30 
efforts to increase convergence in programming and implementation of climate 
31 
change and disaster risk reduction PAPs through the Risk Resiliency Program. 
 
32 
CHAPTER X 
33 
MARINE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION (STI) 
34 
AND OCEAN LITERACY 
 
35 
SEC. 30. Marine Scientific Research. – The State recognizes marine 
36 
science as a foundation of maritime governance, insofar as rules governing the use 
37 
of  coastal  and  marine  resources  must  be  based  on  the  sound  scientific 
38 
understanding of the marine environment. In accordance with UNCLOS, the 
39 
Philippines has the exclusive rights to regulate, authorize and conduct marine 
40 
scientific research in our internal waters, archipelagic waters and territorial sea; 
41 
whereas, the Philippines has rights to regulate, authorize and conduct maritime 


15
 
1 
research in our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf: Provided, That the 
2 
marine scientific research activities shall not unjustifiably interfere with other 
3 
legitimate uses of the sea and shall not constitute the legal basis for any claim to 
4 
any part of the marine environment or its resources. 
 
5 
Marine scientific research by foreign states and competent international 
6 
organizations may only be conducted with the express consent of and the 
7 
conditions set forth by the Council, in accordance with the UNCLOS. 
 
8 
SEC. 31. Marine Technology and Innovation. – The State recognizes 
9 
that science, technology, and innovation have a critical role in harnessing ocean 
10 
resources for the blue economy while ensuring sustainability. Marine technology 
11 
and innovations are needed to address technical and logistical constraints that 
12 
impede the development of Philippine blue industries. Among these technologies 
13 
are advanced materials, subsea engineering and technology, sensors and imaging, 
14 
big data analytics, autonomous systems, biotechnology, nanotechnology, marine 
15 
spatial planning, and circular blue economy. The government shall also support 
16 
the development and adoption of locally-developed marine-related technologies. 
 
17 
SEC. 32. Ocean Literacy Framework. – The DepEd, Commission on 
18 
Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and 
19 
other government agencies implementing sector-specific literacy programs, in 
20 
consultation with relevant members of the Council or support agencies, shall 
21 
integrate into the curricula of K-12, the Alternative Learning System, general 
22 
education programs of higher education institutions, technical and vocational 
23 
education and training, and other community-based training programs, the 
24 
essential principles and fundamental concepts of ocean sciences to develop the 
25 
following competencies: 
 
26 
(a) Understanding the economic, socio-cultural, spiritual, scientific and 
27 
political importance/significance of the ocean to humankind in general 
28 
and the Filipinos in particular; 
29 
(b) Communicating about the ocean in a meaningful way; and 
30 
(c) Making informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its 
31 
resources. 
 
 
32 
CHAPTER XI 
33 
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION 
 
34 
SEC. 33. Archipelagic Sea Lanes. – The President of the Philippines 
35 
shall designate sea lanes and air routes thereabove, suitable for the continuous 
36 
and expeditious passage of foreign ships and aircrafts through or over the 
37 
archipelagic waters and the adjacent territorial sea, and shall, where necessary as 
38 
regards the safety of navigation, require foreign ships exercising the right of 
39 
innocent passage to use such lanes and traffic separation schemes in accordance 
40 
with the UNCLOS. 


16
 
1 
CHAPTER XII 
2 
ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 
 
3 
SEC. 34. Role of Local Government Units. – Cities and municipalities 
4 
shall continue to exercise jurisdiction over municipal waters, pursuant to RA 7160, 
5 
otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991”, as amended, and RA 
6 
8550, as amended subject to the jurisdiction and authority of national government 
7 
agencies as stated in the provisions of special laws as the case may be. Consistent 
8 
with this mandate, LGUs shall act as the frontline agencies in the formulation, 
9 
planning, and implementation and enforcement of the law of IMCAM in their 
10 
respective jurisdictions. The LGUs shall integrate the National Maritime Spatial 
11 
Plan in their Comprehensive Development and Annual Investment Plans. 
 
12 
SEC. 35. Inter-LGU Cooperation. – Consistent with the provisions of RA 
13 
7160, as amended, LGUs may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their 
14 
efforts, services, and resources for the accomplishment of the objectives of this Act. 
 
 
15 
CHAPTER XIII 
16 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
17 
SEC. 
36. 
Joint 
Congressional 
Oversight. 
– For 
the 
effective 
18 
implementation of this Act, a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee is created, 
19 
to be known as the Blue Economy Oversight Committee, which shall be composed 
20 
of five (5) Senators and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the Senate 
21 
President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The 
22 
Minority shall be entitled to pro rata representation. 
The Blue Economy 
23 
Oversight Committee shall be jointly chaired by the Chairperson of the Senate 
24 
Committee on Economic Affairs and the Chairperson of the House Committee on 
25 
Economic Affairs. 
 
26 
SEC.  37.  Appropriations.  –  The  amount  necessary  for  the  initial 
27 
implementation  of  this  Act  shall  be  charged  against  the  current  year’s 
28 
appropriations of the Office of the President. Thereafter, such amount shall be 
29 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
30 
SEC. 38. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Council shall 
31 
issue the necessary rules and regulations to efficiently carry out the provisions of 
32 
this Act within sixty (60) days from its effectivity. 
 
33 
SEC. 39. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held invalid 
34 
or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected shall remain in full force 
35 
and effect. 
 
36 
SEC. 40. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, executive orders, 
37 
and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this 
38 
Act are repealed or modified accordingly. 


17
 
1 
SEC. 41. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
2 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,