Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representative STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Due to the effects of climate change, coastal communities are always at risk and are 
vulnerable to the devastation caused by extreme weather occurrences. The country can 
strengthen coastal communities' defenses against such devastation by creating coastal 
greenbelt zones. These zones serve as natural buffers that protect inland communities and 
ecosystems from the impacts of coastal hazards such as storm surges, coastal erosion, and 
sea-level rise. 
The establishment of coastal greenbelt zones is guided by the principles of 
environmental sustainability, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. 
In the Philippine context, the establishment and protection of coastal greenbelt 
zones are in line with the objectives of the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA9729), the 
disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (RA10121), and relevant 
environmental and coastal resource management policies. Local Government Units 
(LGUs), in collaboration with national agencies and communities, play a key role in 
identifying, restoring and managing these areas. Coastal greenbelt zones are a vital part of 
a holistic strategy to build resilient coastal communities, protect natural resources and 
ensure sustainable development.  
To accomplish this, this bill seeks to create coastal greenbelt zones composed of 
mangroves and beach forest regions. Through these zones, the coastal villages will be 
shielded from the harmful effects of climate change. 
STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN 
July 8, 2025
6:05 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representative STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL COASTAL GREENBELT PROGRAM, 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. — This act shall be known as the "National Coastal Greenbelt Act." 
SECTION 2. Policy. — The State shall ensure the protection of the rights of the people to a 
healthful and balanced ecology. Consistent with the Climate Change Act of 2009 (R.A. No. 
9729, as amended by R.A. No. 10174), the State shall encourage the participation of the 
national government, local governments, businesses, non-government organizations, 
local communities, and the public to prevent and reduce the adverse impact of climate change. 
The State shall also recognize that climate change and disaster risk reduction and 
management are closely interrelated. The State shall incorporate a gender-sensitive, pro-
children and pro-poor perspective in all plans for disaster risk reduction and management. 
These principles shall be further integrated into climate change programs and initiatives. 
Taking into account the effects of climate change and the need to conserve and develop the 
conditions of our environment, the State shall take appropriate measures to protect the lives 
and property of the people from the impacts in coastal areas of typhoons, tsunamis,s and similar 
natural events. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. 
a)
Coastal Greenbelts — A strip of natural or planted coastal vegetation, stretching at least
100 meters in width from the sea towards land, primarily of mangrove and beach forest
species, which are designed to prevent coastal erosion, and mitigate the adverse impacts
of natural coastal hazards on human lives and property; 
b)
Designated Area for Coastal Greenbelts — Cite specific stretches of vegetation in areas
with abandoned fishponds that required the reversion of these fishponds to mangroves
through natural regeneration or replanting with locally appropriate species. Designated
areas with illegal structures (such as breakwaters, permanent residential/commercial
structures, and the like) require the removal of such structures;
c)
National Coastal Greenbelt Action Plan (NCGAP) — The operational plan that shall
serve as the guide for the Local Greenbelt Action Plan (LCGAP). It shall contain the
implementing guidelines on how to go about Section 4 of this Act;
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d) Local Coastal Greenbelt Action Plan (LCGAP) — The local action plan shall be 
based on the NCGAP. it shall contain the specific goals and targets for the 
implementation of the program set in the NCGAP. 
 
SECTION 4. National Coastal Greenbelt Action Plan (NCGAP). — The Climate 
Change Commission shall, within six (6) months, identify and convene all national 
agencies responsible for foreshore management, mangrove and beach forest protection and 
utilization, coastal land and sea-use planning, coastal tourism development, social welfare 
of coastal communities, and other relevant mandates, to prepare an integrated 
National Greenbelt Action Plan (NCGAP). 
 
The NCGAP shall, at the minimum, contain the following: 
 
a. Spatial representation, or if feasible, quick/rapid inventory of the status of 
coastlines and foreshores, including the status of mangroves, beach 
forests, settlements, structures, and fishponds within 100 meters therein; 
 
b. Assessment of priority areas to be declared as coastal greenbelts, for each 
coastal province, city, and municipality, to protect using mangroves and 
beach forests, based on vulnerability to storm surges, waves, tsunamis, 
and the like. The action plan shall indicate that the assessment of priority 
areas shall be completed within twelve (12) months from the adoption of 
the NCGAP; 
 
 
c. Designation of priority areas for coastal greenbelts that are already 
included as either a protected area under the National Integrated Protected 
Areas System (R.A. No. 7586), or as a fish refuge or sanctuary under the 
Fisheries Code of 1998 (R.A. NO. 8550), or as a local marine protected 
area as may be declared by municipalities and cities through ordinances. 
The designation shall be completed within six (6) months from the 
completion of the assessment. The designation shall also be done through 
a proposal to the appropriate agency, municipality, or city as may be 
deemed necessary. If an area is designated as a priority area, no structure 
shall be allowed in the said area unless it is approved by the DENR or 
BFAR, as may be appropriate;   
 
d. Operational plan for the rehabilitation, reforestation, or afforestation of 
designated priority coastal greenbelts with ecologically appropriate 
mangrove and beach forest species, not less than 100 meters minimum 
target area of twenty percent (20%) of the designated priority areas in the 
first five (5) years for maximum protection of the most vulnerable 
communities in the city or municipality. The remaining priority areas must 
be completed within ten (10) years, the designation of the priority area; 
 
 
e. Operational Plan for the reversion of all abandoned fishponds to 
mangroves through natural regeneration or replanting with locally 
appropriate species. The NCGAP shall indicate that the identification and 
recovery of possession from the delinquent fishpond lease agreement 
holders shall be completed within twelve (12) months from the adoption 
thereof. All fishpond areas to be reverted to mangroves shall form part of 
the minimum target for the first year of implementation of the Action Plan 
 
f. Operational Plan for the removal of illegal structures (such as breakwaters, 
permanent residential/commercial structures, and the like), in the 
identified priority coastal greenbelts. The NCGAP shall indicate that the 
declaration of and notice to persons responsible for the removal of illegal 


structures shall be completed within twelve (12) months thereof. The 
removal of illegal structures in and the start of rehabilitation, reforestation, 
or afforestation of these areas shall form part of the minimum target for 
the first year of implementation of the Action Plan; 
 
g. Monitoring and evaluation plan. with quantitative and qualitative targets 
consistent with (d), (e), and (f) above, appropriate indicators, and 
reasonable means of verification. The plan shall become an integrated part 
of the Action Plan and Annual Report to Congress. 
 
SECTION 5. Key Implementing Agencies. — The following agencies shall take the 
lead in implementing components of the Program and Action Plan that are relevant 
to their mandates: 
 
a) The Climate Change Commission (CCC) shall be responsible for the 
congregation of relevant government agencies, facilitation of public 
participation in the preparation of the NCGAP, integration of the NCGAP into 
the Local Action Plans including the power of approving putting up necessary 
structures in the Designated Areas, and the preparation of the integrated report 
to Congress especially about the expenditure of the appropriation and other 
pertinent matters under Section 8 of this Act;  
 
 
b) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its 
relevant offices, shall be responsible for the (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of 
Section 4 of this Act in line with existing laws and mandates, and it shall 
provide the CCC all relevant information to aid in the monitoring and 
evaluation of the NCGAP. In particular, the DENR shall identify the 
Designated Areas that will need to be expropriated by the government and 
recommend the expropriation plan to the CCC;   
 
c) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Department of 
Agriculture (DA) shall coordinate with DENR for (e) in Section 4 above all 
the Operational Plan that provides for the reversion of all abandoned 
fishponds to mangroves through natural degeneration or replanting with 
locally appropriate species in the line with existing laws and mandates, and it 
shall provide the CCC all relevant information to aid in the monitoring and 
evaluation of the NCGAP;    
 
d) The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through its 
relevant office, shall provide the technical guidance for provinces, cities, and 
municipalities to develop Local Coastal Greenbelt Action Plans, design and 
implement community-based and ecologically appropriate rehabilitation, 
reforestation, and afforestation programs, and monitor and evaluate their 
programs. In particular, the Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC) shall 
coordinate with the Local Government Unit in implementing the action plans. 
 
In addition, the National Housing Authority (NHA) shall provide an appropriation 
for the relocation of the families or individuals who will be affected by the 
Designated Areas. The other agencies that participated in the preparation of the 
Action Plan shall implement their commitments, as provided therein. The actions 
required of implementing agencies are immediately executable based on the agreed 
National Coastal Greenbelt Action Plan, and on their existing mandates, programs, 
or budgets that are aligned with the Action Plan, without the need for formulating 
implementing guidelines, rules, and regulations for this Act. 
 
 


SECTION 6. National Technical Advisory Committee. — The Climate Change 
Commission shall convene a National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) 
composed of: 
 
a) A technical representative from the Climate Change Commission (CCC) 
 
b) A technical representative from the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR) 
 
c) A technical representative from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources (BFAR) 
 
d) Two (2) known experts in mangroves and beach forest ecosystems, 
oceanography, or other related disciples 
 
e) A representative from a non-government organization or a people's 
organization that demonstrates the capacity to promote the public interest and 
with identifiable leadership, membership, and structure that has been actively 
involved in mangrove research and has produced actual publication in 
mangrove research as among the criteria that shall be set by the DENR, BFAR, 
and CCC. 
 
The National Technical Advisory Committee shall provide scientific guidance in the 
design, implementation, and evaluation of actions under the NCGAP. The experts 
shall serve in the Committee without compensation but may be reimbursed for basic 
expenses to attend meetings and prepare technical reports. 
 
SECTION 7. Local Coastal Greenbelt Action Plan. — Each coastal municipality 
and city in the identified priority coastal greenbelt areas in the Action Plan shall 
prepare a Local Greenbelt Action Plan (LCGAP) to facilitate the implementation of 
mandated actions in the NCGAP. The roles of the municipality or city, as provided 
in the local LCGAP shall be to: 
 
a) Facilitate the implementation of the mandates of the national agencies under 
Section 4, by providing local data and other supporting measures; 
 
b) Implement complimentary programs to assist the local communities and local 
businesses that are affected by the actions under Section 4, such as relocation 
sites with basic services such as livelihood and transportation programs, 
zoning or re-zoning of the priority coastal greenbelt areas, as appropriate, and 
the like; 
 
c) Provide the actual inventory of affected families in Designated Areas and 
ensure that a just and humane process of relocation is done; 
 
d) Lead in the actual implementation of rehabilitation, reforestation, and 
afforestation, through the coastal barangays; 
 
e) Integrate the identified coastal greenbelts in the Comprehensive Land-Use Plan; 
 
f)  Provide data and qualitative feedback to the Key Implementing Agencies, as 
may be relevant. 
 
The provincial government shall provide technical and budgetary support to 
component coastal cities and municipalities sharing a common priority coastal 
greenbelt area. 


 
SECTION 8. Enforcement Actions. — 
 
a) In addition to the penalties provided under existing law, any person who 
obstructs the DENR in the removal of illegal structures, or BFAR in the process 
of reversion of abandoned fishponds, shall be liable to that agency for an 
administrative fine of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) per day that the agency 
is prevented from performing its function. 
 
b) No structures shall be built within the identified coastal greenbelts without a 
permit from DENR or BFAR, consistent with their mandates. Any person who 
violates this prohibition shall be liable to the agency for an administrative fine 
of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) per day from the time the structure was built 
until its removal. 
 
c) Proceeds from the administrative fines under this Section shall be retained by 
the agency imposing such fines and used exclusively for the implementation 
of its mandate under this Act. 
 
d) Legal actions filed in the exercise of rights and enforcement of obligations 
under this Act shall be covered by the Rules of Procedure for Environmental 
Cases. 
 
SECTION 9. Appropriations. — The Key Implementing Agencies shall draw from 
their existing programs and budgets to implement their responsibilities under the 
Action Plan, and through the People's Survival Fund, where appropriate, subject to 
additional funding in the annual national appropriations, to meet the targets agreed 
in the Action Plan. 
 
SECTION 10. Annual Report to Congress. — The Key Implementing Agencies 
shall report to Congress on their progress in meeting the quantitative and qualitative 
targets under Action Plan for each fiscal year. The reports shall be consolidated by 
the Climate Change Commission for presentation to the appropriate Committee in 
Congress at a meeting called for the purpose. 
 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the 
other provisions not affected thereby. 
 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. —All laws, parts of laws, decrees, presidential 
decrees, issuances, proclamations, orders, and administrative regulations in conflict 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified, or repealed 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
publication in the Official Gazette and two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,