The Department does not interpose on the passage of the proposed measures that seek the

establishment of at least one (1) marine protected area (MPA) within the municipal waters of every
coastal municipalities and cities in the country. These MPAs shall have a minimum total area of ten (10)
hectares, unless the total area of the municipal waters is fifteen (15) hectares or less, in which case said
MPAs shall comprise fifteen percent (15%) of the municipal waters.

The proposal will ensure that the necessary measures to restore ecological balance and beauty of bodies
of water near and around these coastal municipalities and cities are maintained and managed by the
both the national government and local government units (LGUs). The said proposal will also ensure that
sustainable development are achieved by these coastal municipalities and cities while taking into
consideration the preservation of biological diversity and marine environment within their respective
localities.

Nonetheless, hereunder are the Department's comments and observations for the consideration of the
House Committee concerned, to wit:

In Section 10 of House Bill Nos. 48 and 2126, it provided that the Department of Agriculture (DA), in
collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the DILG, the
University of the Philippines - Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI), and other relevant academic and
research institutions, shall develop incentive and award mechanisms to promote the effective
management of MPAs and ensure their sustainability.

While in Section 11 of House Bill Nos. 48 and 2126, it provided that the aforementioned government
and non-government entities concerned, including local government leagues, the National Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMCs), and other concerned organizations, shall formulate
the rules and regulations for the implementation of these proposed measures.

With the above-cited responsibilities, rest assured that this Department would show its full cooperation
and support in the implementation of the subject measures, accomplishment of the aforementioned
responsibilities as provided therein, and monitor LGU’s compliance therewith.

In connection with this Department's responsibility under Section 10 of House Bill Nos. 48 and 2126,
may we inform the concerned House Committee that the DILG award, entitled “Seal of Good
Governance”, has its own established criteria as provided for in our Memorandum Circular (MC) No.
2014-39, entitled “2014 Seal of Good Local Governance: Pagkilala saKatapatan at Kahusayan ng
Pamahalaang Lokal”. Thus, the incentives and awards mentioned in the said section are different from
the “Seal of Good Governance” conferred by this Department to deserving LGUs.

It is also recommended that the proposed measures herein be referred to the DENR, DA, the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture (BFAR-DA) and the Biodiversity
Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (BMB-DENR) as the
same is within their competence and mandate.

Likewise, since the herein proposed measures involve the establishment of MPAs in every coastal
municipalities and cities in the country, may we also recommend that the positions of the the League of
Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) be solicited as
well.

Lastly, seeing that the proposed measures herein involve the same subject matter, the consolidation of
the same is hereby recommended.