TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES JUL 14 P2:54 First Regular Session SENATE Senate Bill No. Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA 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, MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION, AND OTHER CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FOR ITS REGULAR UPDATING, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to protect the people and promote their right to a balanced and healthful ecology. In a country as disaster-prone as the Philippines, this mandate cannot be realized without science- based planning, preparedness, and risk reduction. The Philippines consistently ranks among the most disaster-vulnerable nations in the world. According to the 2024 World Risk Report, the Philippines topped the World Risk Index (WRI) among 193 member states of the United Nations, scoring 46.91-a reflection of both extreme exposure and high vulnerability to natural hazards. 1 The World Bank's Climate Knowledge Portal further estimates that 60% of the country's land area and 74% of its population are exposed to floods, cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides.2 Bündnis Entwicklung Hilf. World Risk Index 2024. Published on 9 September 2024. Available at https://weltrisikobericht.de/worldriskreport/#iLightbox[efa5fa0bcb29544013c]/1 (Accessed on 8 July 2025) 2 World Bank. Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Available at https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/philippines/vulnerability (Accessed on 8 July 2025)
Since 1990, the country has experienced 565 natural disasters, resulting in over 70,000 deaths and $23 billion (around P1.3 trillion)3 in damages. With the exception of geologic events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, the intensity and frequency of these hazards-especially typhoons and flooding-are expected to worsen due to climate change. The Philippines' location in the Northwestern Pacific Basin, the most active tropical cyclone basin in the world, further compounds this risk.4 Despite these known dangers, many areas in the Philippines still lack updated, detailed, and accessible hazard maps. This absence of reliable risk information weakens the ability of communities and local governments to properly prepare for and respond to disasters, plan safe settlements, or enforce zoning laws. This bill seeks to address this urgent gap by establishing a comprehensive, centralized, and regularly updated National Hazard Mapping Program. The measure mandates relevant agencies to produce high-resolution, multi-hazard maps that are scientifically accurate, consistently updated, publicly accessible, and useful for local development planning, risk reduction, and emergency response. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. рими JOEL VILLANUEVA Y At $1 = P56.4460 based on the exchange rate as of 9 July 2025 (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Available at https://www.bsp.gov.ph/sitepages/statistics/exchangerate.aspx. Accessed on 9 July 2025).
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 14 P2:54 SENATE Senate Bill No. Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA 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, MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, DEPARMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION, AND OTHER CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FOR ITS REGULAR UPDATING, 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 the "Hazard Mapping
2 Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect the
safety and general welfare of the public. Towards this end, the State shall endeavor to formulate a science-based approach in planning, preparing, and reducing the risk of natural disasters through an orderly layout of the national land mass with the identification of low-lying areas vulnerable to rising sea levels as a result of climate change, and areas at high risk for natural disasters. The State shall likewise establish an organized and efficient 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 Act, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA), together with the 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 disaster map of the Philippines, identifying the low-lying areas vulnerable to rising sea levels as a resuit of climate change and areas at high risk for natural disasters. It shall also contain proper identification of lands bordering sea levels, exposed to volcanic eruption and lying earthquake faults, with the criteria for evacuation and illustration of recommended evacuation sites and routes. Information sources for the national disaster map should not be limited to scientific instrument-based data, but shall utilize a holistic approach which may include indigenous peoples' knowledge, fieldwork, and historical disaster data. The national disaster map shall be updated regularly to reflect the latest data and risk assessments, and shall be made available and easily accessible to the public and Local Government Units.
SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the implementing agencies under this Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriation Act.
SEC 5. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder hereof or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, rule, or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,