: Senate Office of the Secretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) NOV -6 A8:26 First Regular Session ) RECEIVED BY: SENATE S. No. 1481 Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A LIST OF LOW-LYING AREAS OF THE PHILIPPINE TERRITORY VULNERABLE TO RISING SEA LEVELS AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND AREAS AT HIGH RISK FOR NATURAL DISASTERS, ESTABLISHING NO-BUILD ZONES THEREIN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Article II Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. Pending the passage of a National Land Use Law, this representation is taking the initiative to legislate a part of its component referring to appropriate land use planning in terms of veering our people away from natural hazards. Particularly, the creation of a National Hazard Map that will be the basis for identifying no build zones across all local government units exposed to various environmental hazards. As a country that has lost millions of lives to earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters, the Philippines urgently needs effective disaster risk management measures. Being an archipelagic nation situated along a volcanic belt and in a region prone to extreme weather events, the country faces heightened vulnerability, particularly as climate change accelerates ecological decline, causes rising sea levels, and exacerbates destructive weather patterns. The rapid expansion of infrastructure and population growth further intensify these risks, leaving coastal and inland communities exposed to significant harm. Compounding this challenge is
the increased vulnerability of rescue personnel, who are often deployed to high-risk areas where power and communication systems are disrupted, complicating emergency response efforts. In the face of the looming threat of the predicted big earthquake and other disasters, immediate and comprehensive action is imperative to ensure preparedness, resilience, and the protection of lives and property. The least we can do for our people is to identify high risk areas and to adopt modern information communication technologies in launching an effective information dissemination campaign so as not to waste resources in constructing houses or infrastructures therein or even result in the loss of lives and properties. Once identified, the State, through its local government units, shall implement targeted measures to prepare high-risk areas for disaster response and protection. In addition to identifying these areas, hazard mapping will play a crucial role in the development of evacuation routes, presenting this information in a clear and visual format that can be easily communicated to and comprehended by the Filipino people. In the exercise of the police power of the State, it is high time to enforce a no build policy on areas identified to be highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Let the government enact policies towards prevention rather than preparation because recent experiences of various local government units have shown us unprecedented damage and losses. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ROBINHOSE PADILA Senator M
Sentate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) NOV -6 A8:26 SENATE RECEIVED BY: _ S. No. 1481 Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A LIST OF LOW-LYING AREAS OF THE PHILIPPINE TERRITORY VULNERABLE TO RISING SEA LEVELS AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND AREAS AT HIGH RISK FOR NATURAL DISASTERS, ESTABLISHING NO-BUILD ZONES THEREIN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 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 "National Hazard Mapping
2 Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the public
4 health, safety and general welfare. Towards this end, the State shall endeavor to formulate an orderly layout of the national land mass with identification of low-lying areas vulnerable to rising sea levels as a result of climate change, and areas at high 7 risk for natural disasters. The State shall otherwise establish an organized and efficient 8 system of evacuation from these areas in the event of imminent danger.
Sec. 3. National Disaster Map. - Within one (1) year after the effectivity of this
10 Act, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA), together with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Climate Change Commission and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) are directed to provide and issue a national 15 disaster map of the Philippines, identifying the low-lying areas vulnerable to rising sea 16 levels as a result of climate change and areas at high risk for natural disasters such
as but not limited to floods, landslides and storm surges. It shall also contain proper identification of lands bordering sea levels, exposed to volcanic eruption and lying on earthquake faults, with the criteria for evacuation and illustration of recommended 4 evacuation sites and routes. Information sources for the national disaster map should not be limited to 6 scientific instrument-based data, but shall utilize a holistic approach which may include indigenous peoples' knowledge.
Sec. 4. Establishment of No Build Zones. - The identified low-lying areas
9 vulnerable to rising sea levels as a result of climate change and areas at high risk for natural disasters appearing in the resulting national disaster map are hereby declared as no build zones. The supervision, enforcement and monitoring of compliance herein shall be vested in the local government units concerned where these areas are situated.
Sec. 5. Updating of the National Disaster Map. - The agencies mentioned in
Section 3 herein shall undertake the updating of the national disaster map every five
(5) years from the passage of this Act to ensure the accurateness of the details contained therein.
Sec. 6. Role of the Philippine Information Agency. - The Philippine Information
19 Agency, together with the DILG, shall come up and maintain a massive information 20 dissemination campaign on the contents of the national disaster map; Provided, that the information shall likewise be relayed using the local dialect of the local government unit concerned.
Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this
Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the implementing agencies under the General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its 26 continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - In the event that any provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected by such declaration.
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,
other issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect 15 days following its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation. Approved,