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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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Quezon City
3B: >,
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS G &
Third Regular Session 4

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Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

House Bill No, _8479

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Malay Municipal Tourism Office reported an increase in tourist arrivals in Boracay
Island in 2017 registering 2,001,974 tourists, 16% higher than the tourist arrivals in 2016
with 1,725,483. Likewise, the island of Boracay generated a total of P56,147,744,220.60 in
tourism receipts in 2017. However, while tourism presents tremendous benefits in terms of
economic stability to Boracay, tourism activities in the island resulted to extensive
environmental damage from over two decades of unbridled tourism.

Aside from the damage caused to the environment due to excessive tourism activity, Boracay
and other small islands and provinces are particularly vulnerable to climate change and the
consequences it already has on global temperatures, sea-level rises and extreme weather
events. Hence, there is a need for a comprehensive planning to reduce the vulnerability of
small islands to natural hazards, preserve socio-cultural and ecological integrity, and
determine the scale of development in relation to limitations in resources such as water and
coastal resources.

This legislative measure seeks to embody the principles of sustainable development,
economic growth, environmental protection, community development and involvement, and
institutional strengthening into the policy framework of our environmental laws in the
country. This proposed measure seeks to regulate the development and management of small
islands in the Philippines and provide for a comprehensive program on the use, development,
‘management, and conservation of small islands in the country whose area does not exceed
50,000 hectares.

The approval of this bill will ensure access of benefits from the management and
development of our small islands.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

‘Representative
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No. 8479

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
REGULATING THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF SMALL ISLANDS
IN THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Small Islands
Development and Management Act of 2018”.

SEC.2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure
the sustainable use, development, management, and conservation of the country’s small
island, including the protection and enhancement of the quality of the small islands for the
present and future generations, under the principles of viable, sound and broad-based
economic development, ecological soundness, social equity, and sustainability.

SEC3. Coverage. — In accordance with the aforesaid policy, this Act shall regulate
the use, development, management, and conservation of small islands as well as the activities
which impact the said resource.

This Act shall cover the islands of the Republic of the Philippines that fall under the
definition of a small island as described in Section S€ hereof.

SEC.4. Framework. — This Act shall embody the principles of sustainable
development, tourism development, economic growth, environmental protection, community
development and involvement, and institutional strengthening.

Its management framework shall include:

a) Inventory and assessment of prevailing conditions and resources of small islands;

b) Evaluation of carrying capacity;

©) Identification of conflicts in resource use;

4) Integration of horizontal and vertical plans;

) Adaptation to climate change;

f) Disaster Preparedness;

2) Review and monitoring of development initiatives/ resource development and

utilization of small islands; and
h) Capacity-building and active stakeholder participation.


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SEC. 5. Definition of Terms. — Under this Act, the following are hereby defined:

a) “Alienable and Disposable Lands (A and D)” refers to lands of the public domain
which have been classified and declared as such and available for disposition
under Commonwealth Act No. 141, as amended, otherwise known as the “Public
Land Act”.

b) “Carrying Capacity” refers to the number of individuals who can be supported in a
given area within natural resource limits and without degrading the natural, social,
cultural and economic environment for present and future generations,

©) “Development Activities” refers to activities that involve all forms of
improvement, construction or enhancement of land and other resources within the
islands or island groups that would likely impact the environment.
“Ecological Destination” refers to a site that shows a unique feature of a landscape
that benefits people because of its aesthetic, recreational and scientific value.
“Small Islands” refers to pieces of land completely surrounded by water in two (2)
dimensions, above highvtide and isolated from other land masses which have an
area of not more than fifty thousand (50,000) hectares.
f) “Sustainable Development” refers to the development objective of meeting the
needs and aspirations of the present generation of Filipinos without compromising
the capabilities and opportunities of future generations to fulfil theirs, consistent
with the principles of social equity, efficiency, and environmental integrity
“Tourism Development Areas” refers to specific sites for tourism development
located in areas identified as priorities in the national and regional tourism master
plans as well as those designated through legislative and executive issuances as
tourist spots and tourist zones which can be developed into tourism estates or
integrated resort, leisure and recreation complexes, and other tourism-related
facilities.

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SEC. 6. Creation of the Small Islands Development and Management Board
(SIDMB). ~ Upon the effectivity of this Act, the Small Islands Development and
Management Board shall be created in provinces that have small islands as part of their
territorial jurisdiction to exercise their powers and functions as stated in Section 8 hereof.

SEC. 7. Composition of the Small Islands Development and Management Board. —
‘The Board shall be headed by the governor of the province who shall serve as the chairman
of the Board, with the following representatives who shall serve as members:
a) The city or municipal mayor where such islands are within the said official's
territorial jurisdiction;
b) A representative from the Department of Tourism (DOT);
©) A representative from the National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA)
d) A representative from the Department of Environmental and Natural Reosurces
(DENR); and
€) Two (2) representatives from the local sectors which are affected by regulations
and development initiatives in the island.

SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Board. — The SIDMB shall be guided by the
framework stated in Section 4 hereof and shall have the following powers and functions:
a) Formulate and update the rules and regulations on the utilization and development
of small islands;
'b) Integrate and harmonize all laws and policies relevant to small island issue;


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Regulate the approval of development activities in order to maintain the carrying

capacity of small islands as mentioned in Section 5(b) hereof,

4) Ensure the protection of small islands covered by Republic Act No. 7586,
otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act
of 1992 and other areas outside NIPAS which include protection of forests,
rehabilitated and/ or reforested degraded mining areas, critical ecosystems,
environmentally-constrained areas, critical watershed areas, and all agricultural
lands that are ecologically fragile;

e) Ensure that the regulations will be consistent with other environmental laws; and

f) Approve and oversee the implementation of site specific work plans, action plans
and programs consistent with the framework

SEC. 9. Quorum. ~ A majority of all the members of the Board shall constitute a
quorum, The Board shall not transact business without a quorum.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause, — The provisions of this Act are hereby declared
separable and, in the event that one (1) or more of such provisions are held unconstitutional,
the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive issuances, rules and
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,