National Mangrove Forest Protection and Preservation Act of 2025

the tell TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) First Regular Session JUL -7 P1:34 SENATE S. No. 224 Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PRESERVATION, REFORESTATION, AFFORESTATION, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MANGROVE FORESTS IN THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The Philippines faces an alarming rate of mangrove destruction, losing 50% of its mangrove cover since 2018. While historical data cited 500,000 hectares, recent estimates from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and ongoing monitoring suggest that the country's mangroves are now significantly depleted, impacting vital ecosystems.' Globally, mangrove forests are disappearing at a rate of three to five times higher than average deforestation rates, with Southeast Asia alone losing 628 square kilometers annually in recent decades.3 Mangroves are indispensable. They are crucial for food security, supporting approximately 75% of commercial fish species during part of their lifecycle, * providing 1 Rappler, Mangroves are PH's best shield vs climate change, Published on 02 October 2013, Available at stories/story/mangroves-spotlight, Accessed on June 30, 2025 3 Rappler, Ibid. * UNEP, Tbid.

essential forest products, and serving as natural buffers against storm surges, tsunamis, and coastal erosion. Furthermore, these "blue carbon" ecosystems sequester vast amounts of carbon estimated at 22.8 million tons annually, & playing a critical role in climate mitigation. Human-induced threats including unsustainable aquaculture, illegal logging, pollution and coastal development, continue to imperil these vital habitats.? Interventions from government agencies and non-governmental organizations focus on rehabilitation and protection of mangroves but it is crucial to establish a consolidated legal framework to fully implement essential interventions. This legislation aims to strengthen these efforts by promoting the preservation, reforestation, afforestation, and sustainable development of the country's mangrove forests. It also proposes the establishment of the National and Local Councils for the Preservation of Mangrove Forests to lead the implementation of comprehensive programs and policies, ensuring the long-term survival of this invaluable natural resource. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. FRANCIS W. PANGILINAN SENATOR The Maritime Revlew, Mangrove forests in the Philippines, Published on 22 November 2017, Available ttps://maritimereview.ph/2017/11/22/mangrove-forests-in-the-philippines/, Accessed on June 30, 202 6 UNEP, ibid. 7 The Maritime Review, Ibid.

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) First Regular Session JUL -7 P1:34 SENATE S. No. - Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PRESERVATION, REFORESTATION, AFFORESTATION, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MANGROVE FORESTS IN THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR, 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 "National Mangrove Forest

Protection and Preservation Act of 2025."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

4 protect and preserve the country's natural resources. Towards this end, the 5 preservation, reforestation, afforestation, and sustainable development of the mangrove forests shall be pursued through the establishment of reservation areas 7 exclusively for mangrove trees.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a) Afforestation refers to the establishment of a mangrove forest in an area that did not carry such forest within the pasty fifty (50) years or within living memory; b) Coastal area refers to the band of dry land and adjacent ocean space (water and submerged land) in which terrestrial processes and uses directly affect oceanic processes and uses and vice versa; its geographic extent may include areas within a landmark limit of one (1) kilometer from the shoreline at high tide to include mangrove swamps, brackish water ponds, nipa

swamps, estuarine rives, sandy beaches, and other areas within a seaward limit of two hundred (200) meters isobath to include coral reefs, algae flats, seagrass beds, and other soft bottom areas; c) Mangrove forest refers to a type of forest occurring on a tidal flat along the sea coast, extending along streams where the water is brackish; d) Reservation area refers to the portion of coastal areas which have been set aside exclusively for reforestation, afforestation, conservation, and preservation purposes; and e) Reforestation refers to the planting of mangrove trees along the denuded coastal areas.

Sec. 4. Establishment of Mangrove Reservation Areas. - There shall be

established and set aside in all coastal areas in each municipality within the Philippine portions of land solely for the preservation, protection, reforestation, afforestation, and sustainable management of mangrove forests. All existing mangrove forests shall automatically form part of the reservation areas.

Sec. 5. Establishment of the National Council for the Preservation of Mangrove

Forest. - There is hereby established a National Council for the Preservation of Mangrove Forests, hereinafter referred to as the National Council, which shall be an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The National Council shall be composed of twelve (12) members consisting of: 1) The Secretary of the DENR who shall act as Chairman; 2) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) who shall act as Vice- Chairman; 3) The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); 4) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); 5) The Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); 6) The Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); 7) The Director of the Forest Management Bureau (FMB); 8) The Director of the Ecosystem and Research Development Bureau;

9) The Administrator of the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority; 10) A representative from the academe to be appointed by the President of the Philippines; 11) A representative from the research institutions conducting researches on sustainable mangrove forest management to be appointed by the President of the Philippines; and 12) A representative from an accredited non-government organization (NGO) conducting programs on sustainable mangrove forest management to be appointed by the President of the Philippines.

Sec. 6. Powers and Functions of the National Council. - The National Council

shall have the following powers and functions: a) To review existing relevant policies and conducts studies on mangrove forest and its preservation; b) To prepare a comprehensive program for the preservation, reforestation; afforestation, and sustainable development of mangrove forests; c) To establish the guidelines in identifying the areas to be declared as mangrove forest reservations; d) To identify and delineate the boundaries of coastal areas which shall form part of the mangrove reservation areas; e) To exercise control and supervision over all the local councils; and f) To promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 7. The Local Council for the Preservation of Mangrove Forests. - A local

council for the preservation of mangrove forests, hereinafter referred to as the Local Council, shall be established in each of the municipalities where a mangrove reservation area has been identified. Each Local Council shall be chaired by the Regional Executive Director of the DENR under whose jurisdiction the reservation area is located, with the following members: (a) a representative of the municipal government concerned; (b) a representative each from the barangays under whose territory the reservation area is located; (c) a representative from an accredited NGO; and (d) a representative from the private sector.

Sec. 8. The Powers and Functions of the Local Council. - The Local Council shall

have the following powers and functions: 1) To implement and enforce all the programs and policies laid down by the National Council; 2) To carry out the general administration and day-to-day planning of the program; 3) To secure the mangrove reservation area from illegal and destructive activities which would endanger the successful implementation and viability of the program; and 4) To perform such other powers and functions as may be designated by the National Council. In order to secure the mangrove reservation area from illegal and destructive 13 activities, the Local Council and the local government, under whose jurisdiction the reservation area is located, shall employ the services of forest guards who shall be tasked with the responsibility to guard and police the areas. They shall have the authority to arrest those caught violating the provisions of this Act and the rules and 17 regulations issued pursuant thereto. In the event that any of the forest guards are found to be guilty of nonfeasance, misfeasance or malfeasance, the forest guard or guards concerned and the officials of the Local Council and the local government, by virtue of the principle of command responsibility, shall be held liable for such violations and shall be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of this Act, without prejudice to any liability provided for under existing laws of the country.

Sec. 9. Prohibited Acts. - The following acts are hereby prohibited within the

mangrove reservation areas: a) Cutting, uprooting or destroying any mangrove tree; b) Dumping of waste; c) Construction or reclamation activity; d) Illegal fishing activities that will result in the damage and/or destruction of the mangrove forest; and e) Other acts or activities that will result in the damage and/or destruction of the mangrove forest.

Sec. 10. Penalties. - Any person, natural or juridical, found guilty of violating any

2 provision of this Act or the rules and regulations issued by the National Council shall, 3 after due notice and public hearing by the regular courts of competent jurisdiction, be 4 fined in the amount of not less than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP200,000.00) 5 but not more than One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000.00) or imprisonment of not less 6 than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years, or both, at the discretion of the 7 court: Provided, That if the area requires rehabilitation or restoration as determined 8 by the court, the offender shall also be required to restore or compensate for the 9 restoration of the damage. If the offender is an association or corporation, the president or manager and the officer who has direct knowledge over the offense shall be held liable under this 12 Act.

Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or

unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, administrative orders,

and rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 21 circulation. Approved,