Republic Act No.

7160 (Local Government Code of 1991)

Section 131. Definition of Terms. – When used in this Title, the term:
(r) “Municipal Water” includes not only streams, lakes and tidal waters within the
municipality, not being the subject of private ownership and not comprised with the
national parks, public forests, timberlands, forest reserves or fishery reserves, but also
marine waters included between two lines drawn perpendicularly to the general
coastline from points from where boundary lines of the municipality or city touch the
sea at low tide and a third line parallel with the general coastline and fifteen (15)
kilometers from it. Where two municipalities are so situated on the opposite shores that
there is less than fifteen (15) kilometers of marine waters between them, the third line
shall be equally distant from opposite shores of their respective municipalities.

Republic Act No. 8550 (Fisheries Code)

Section 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Code, the following terms and phrases
shall mean as follows:

58. Municipal waters - include not only streams, lakes, inland bodies of water and
tidal waters within the municipality which are not included within the protected areas
as defined under Republic Act 7586 (the NIPAS Law), public forest, timber lands, forest
reserves or fishery reserves, but also marine waters included between two (2) lines
drawn perpendicular to the general coastline from points where the boundary lines of
the municipality touch the sea at low tide and a third line parallel with the general
coastline including offshore islands and fifteen (15) kilometers from such coastline.
Where two (2) municipalities are so situated on opposite shores that there is less than
thirty (30) kilometers of marine waters between them, the third line shall be equally
distant from opposite shore of the respective municipalities

DENR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2001 – 17 (Guidelines for

Delineating/Delimiting Municipal Water)

Section 1. Basic Policy

It is the policy of the State to protect the rights of the people, especially the local
communities with priority to marginal fisherfolks, in the preferential use of the
municipal waters. The delineation/delimitation of municipal waters will define the
geographic extent of the city or municipality’s taxation or revenue-generating powers,
its law enforcement jurisdiction, resource allocation, and general management powers.

Section 3. Coverage
The coverage of this administrative order shall be all the municipal waters as defined by
Sec. 4(58) of RA 8550, which include, not only streams, lakes, inland bodies of water and
tidal waters within the municipality which are not included within the protected areas
as defined under RA 7586 (The NIPAS Law), public forest, timber lands, forest reserves
or fishery reserves, nut also marine waters included between two (2) lines drawn
perpendicular to the general coastline from points where the boundary lines of the
municipality touch the sea at low tide and a third line parallel with the general coastline
including offshore islands and fifteen (15) kilometers from such coastline. Where two
(2) municipalities are situated on opposite shores that there is less than thirty (30)
kilometers of marine waters between them, the third line shall be equally distant from
opposite shore of the respective municipalities. This administrative order shall not be
construed to preclude special agencies or offices in exercising their jurisdiction over
municipal waters by virtue of special laws creating these agencies such as, but not
limited to, the Laguna Lake Development Authority and the Palawan Council for
Sustainable Development, pursuant to Sec. 17 of RA 8550.

Section 4. Role/Responsibility of Agencies

In order to have an efficient and effective flow of activities in the delineation/
delimitation of municipal waters, the role of the agencies involved are herein provided:

C. Local Government Units

1. Request the NAMRIA to delineate/delimit the boundaries of their
municipal waters;
2. Conduct public hearings arid consultations in relation to the proposed
delineation/delimitation;
3. Settle disputes with adjacent or opposite municipalities arising from the
delineation/delimitation through the Sangguniang Bayan/Panlungsod or
Panlalawigan or in any appropriate body;
4. Enact ordinances setting forth the extent of its municipal waters,
incorporating thereof the maps or charts and technical descriptions.

Photo source: Land Management Bureau

Proclamation No. 41, s. 1954

Upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources

as Chairman of the Commission on Parks and Wildlife, and pursuant to the provisions
of section one of Act Numbered Thirty-nine hundred and fifteen, as amended, and of
section two of Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred and twenty-six, I, Ramon
Magsaysay, President of the Philippines, do hereby withdraw from sale or settlement
and reserve for national park purposes to be known as “Manila Bay Beach Resort”
under the administration of the Commission on Parks and Wildlife, subject to private
rights if any there be, the following parcel of land of the public domain, situated in the
cities of Manila and Pasay and the municipality of Parañaque, Province of Rizal, Island
of Luzon, and more particularly described as follows, to wit:

Beginning at a point marked 1 on plan N. P. No. 34 being S. 40″ 48′

W., 86.24 meters from M.B.M. 1, Pasay Cadastre 259, thence N. 12° 52′ W.,
727.26 meters to point 2; thence N. 15° 10′ W., 343.48 meters to point 3;
thence N. 17° 34′ W., 238.63 meters to point 4; thence N. 21° 36′ W., 224.00.
meters to point 5; thence N. 27° 37′ W., 216.00 meters to point 6; thence S.
61° 24′ W., 1,028.00 meters to point 7; thence S, 14° 15′ E., 1,200.00 meters
to point 8; thence S. 14° 04′ E.„ 718.00 meters to point 9; thence S. 9° 02,’ E.,
1,200.00 meters to point 10; thence S. 8° 00′ E. 344.00 meters to point 11;
thence S. 2° 14′ E., 728.00 meters to point 12; thence S. 87° 26′ E., 1,019.99
meters to point 13; thence N. 0° 24′ W., 352.00 meters to point 14; thence N.
7° 06′ W., 1,200.00 meters to point 15; thence N. 6° 36′ W., 867.00 meters to
point 16; thence ‘ N. 9° 14′ W., 586.42 meters to the point of beginning.
Bounded on the North, by Manila Bay; on the east, by Dewey Boulevard;
and on time south and west, by Manila Bay. Containing an approximate
area of 4,646,612 square meters, more or less.

Republic Act No. 7586

SECTION 5. Establishment and Extent of the System – The establishment and

operationalization of the System shall involve the following:

1. All areas or islands in the Philippines proclaimed, designated or set aside, pursuant to a law,
presidential decree, presidential proclamation or executive order as national park, game refuge,
bird and wildlife sanctuary, wilderness area, strict nature reserve, watershed, mangrove reserve,
fish sanctuary, natural and historical landmark, protected and managed landscape/seascape as
well as identified virgin forests before the effectivity of this Act are hereby designated as initial
components of the System. The initial components of the System shall be governed by existing
laws, rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this Act;