THE STATE OF PHILIPPINE FORESHORE 

LAND MANAGEMENT
Orientation on the Processing of Applications for
Various Permits under DENR for
Energy Projects of National Significance (EPNS)
March 14, 2019 / Cebu City

Engr. Rolando R. Pablo
Chief, Land Management Division
DENR – LMB
The Philippines is composed of Almost 60% of the 
more than 7,100 islands, and with country’s total 
population resides in 
the coastline of approximately
the coastal zone.
36,289 kilometers long.
About 70% of the total 
Being an archipelago, the municipalities & cities 
Philippines has one of the longest are located in the 
SHORELINE in the world. coastal zone.
 DEFINITIONS
FORESHORE ‐ a string of land margining a body of water; 
the part of a seashore between the low‐water line 
usually at the seaward margin of a low tide terrace and 
the upper limit of wave wash at high tide usually marked 
by a beach scarp or berm.                                                              
(Section 4 [48] of Republic Act No. 8550 
The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998)
‐ Refers to that part of the shore, which is alternately
covered and uncovered by the ebb and flow of the
tide.
(DENR Administrative Order No. 2004‐24,
August 24, 2004)
Salvage Zone/ Easement:
Area falls within either agricultural land;
forest land; mineral land
-40 meters for forest areas
-20 meters for agricultural areas
-3 meters for urban areas 15 kms

shoreline Municipal Waters

Highest tide

Lowest
tide
Salvage zone

foreshore
Easement of
coast police
(6 m.)
 POWERS & FUNCTIONS
DENR
EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE MANAGEMENT &
DISPOSITION OF ALL LANDS OF PUBLIC DOMAIN AND SHALL
CONTINUE TO BE THE SOLE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR
CLASSIFICATION, SUB‐CLASSIFICATION, SURVEYING & TITLING
OF LANDS IN CONSULTATION WITH APPROPRIATE AGENCIES.
(EXECUTIVE ORDER 192, JUNE 10, 1987)

DIRECTOR OF LANDS
SHALL HAVE DIRECT EXECUTIVE CONTROL OF THE
SURVEY, CLASSIFICATION, LEASE, SALE OR ANY OTHER FORM
OF CONCESSION OR DISPOSITION AND MANAGEMENT OF
THE LANDS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN….
(PUBLIC LAND ACT, CA 141 AS AMENDED, NOV. 7, 1936)
 POWERS & FUNCTIONS

Supreme Court Decision (G.R. No. 133250, July

9, 2002) – asserted that the “DENR exercises
supervision and control over A&D public lands”

‐ and that the DENR also “exercises

exclusive jurisdiction on the management &
disposition of all lands of the public domain”.
1) EXISTING MODES OF DISPOSITION OF FORESHORE LANDS
M O D E S L E G A L   B A S I S
1. Foreshore/Miscellaneous Lease 1. Section 58 of C.A. No. 141
Contract
“Any tract of land of the public domain
Is an agreement executed bywhich being neither timber nor mineral
and between the DENR and the land is intended to be used for residential
applicant to occupy, develop, purposes, or for commercial, industrial or
other productive purposes other than
utilize, and manage the foreshore
lands. It may also cover marshy agricultural and is open for disposition or
land or lands covered with the concession shall be disposed of under
water bordering upon the shores Chapter 9.”
or banks of navigable lakes or
2. Section 59, foreshore lands are
rivers.
disposable through lease.
Duration : 25 Years 3. DAO DENR 2004‐24 entitled : “Revised
Rules and Regulations Governing the
Administration and Management of
Foreshore Lands”
 EXISTING MODES OF DISPOSITION OF FORESHORE LANDS
M O D E S L E G A L   B A S I S
2. Permits 1. Section 68 of C.A. No. 141
*Approving authority:  Regional              The Secretary of Agriculture and Natural
Executive Director Resources may grant to qualify persons
temporary permission, upon payment of
Provisional Permit a reasonable charge, for the use of any
A permit used for the portion of the lands covered by this
temporary occupation and use of a chapter for any lawful private purpose,
tract of land covered by a prescribed subject to revocation at any time when,
public land application. in his judgment, the public interest shall
Duration : 1 Year require it.
2. DANR Lands Administrative Order
Revocable Permit No. 8‐3 entitled : “Rules and Regulations
A permit used for the Governing the Issuance of temporary
temporary occupation and use of a Permits of Occupation and Use of Non‐
tract of land not covered by a regular Mineral, Non‐Timber Public Lands, and of
public land application. Lands and Other Real Properties of the
Duration : 1 Year Commonwealth of the Philippines”
Foreshore Lease Application – the type of
application covering foreshore lands, marshy lands
and other lands bordering bodies of water for
commercial, industrial or other productive purposes
other than agriculture.
Miscellaneous Lease Application – the type of
application covering either a combination of dry land
(part of the shore), foreshore land or permanently
underwater land depending on the limitations as
certified by PPA, PRA, DOT and DPWH.
Regulatory Jurisdictions of Other Agencies over 
Foreshore Areas
 DENR – survey and management of alienable and
disposable public land, issuance of leases and
permits & over matters of forestry, mining and
environmental concerns (C.A. 141/EO 192)
DPWH – over cases involving construction and
developments along foreshore areas. (C.A. 141,
Sec.66)
PPA – issuance of permit regarding construction
of pier/port. (PD No. 857, Dec. 23, 1975)
BFAR – issues or cancels Fishpond Lease
Agreements. (Fisheries Code of 1998)
PRA – responsible over activities pertaining to
reclamation. (E.O. 525 & 654)
DOT – responsible over the development of an area
as a tourism zone and marine reserves. (LGC 81, June
4, 1981)
LGU – regulate the use such as constructions and
building activities covered by ordinances; prepare
comprehensive land use plan; issue building permits.
(LGC 57, August 10, 1979 & R.A. 7160)
HLURB – promulgates zoning and land use
standards & guidelines governing land use plans and
zoning ordinances of LGUs. (E.O. 648 & 72, R.A. 7279)
 COMMON USES OF FORESHORE LANDS
 wharves, piers, ports, docking or dockyard
 fish canneries, ice plants, warehouses, fixed 
industrial machineries & other related 
structures
 beach resorts, including hotels, rest houses, 
restaurants
 recreational places, parks
 village(residential), commercial & industrial 
estates developed by cities, municipalities, 
lately by PRA (reclamation)
 fishponds in bays along the shores of 
navigable lakes & rivers
 drying of copra, fishes & fishnets
 bathing, plantation, hydropower
 Etc.
 Process Steps for the Issuance of Lease Contract :
1.    Acceptance of Application (CENRO)
1.1 Verification, recording, numbering and filing.
1.2 Encoding and scanning of application.

2.    Referral to Land Investigator/Deputy Public Land Investigator
2.1 Conduct of Ocular Inspection/Investigation/Geo‐tagged.
2.2 Preparation and submission of Report.

3.   Conduct of Appraisal
3.1 Research (zonal value and market value).
3.2  Preparation and submission of Appraisal Committee Report.

4.   Indorsement/Transmittal of Application with Appraisal Report to PENRO
4.1 Checking/review of requirements.
4.2   Preparation and Transmittal of Appraisal Report to PENRO.
5.    Indorsement/Transmittal of Regional Executive Director to Land 
Management Bureau.
5.1 Review and evaluation of documents.
5.2 Transmittal and recommendation of Appraisal Report in CSW form.

6.    Indorsement/Transmittal of Land Management Bureau to the Secretary.          
6.1 Final review and evaluation of documents.
6.2  Transmittal and recommendation of Appraisal Report in CSW form.

7.    Approval of Appraisal and grant of authority to lease thru bidding by the   
Secretary.
8.  Indorsement/Transmittal of approved Appraisal Report to Regional Office.
9.  Indorsement/Transmittal of approved Appraisal Report to PENRO.
10.  Indorsement/Transmittal of approved Appraisal Report to CENRO.     
11. Indorsement/Transmittal of PENRO to the Regional Executive Director.
12. Public Bidding and Issuance of Order of Award.
13.1 Act of Bidding
13.2 Preparation of Report of Bidding and Recommendation of Bid of  
Award
13.3   Preparation of Order of Award and Lease Contract
14.   Indorsement/Transmittal of Order of Award and Lease Contract to     
PENRO.
15. Indorsement/Transmittal of Order of Award and Lease Contract to    
Regional Executive Director.
16.  Indorsement/Transmittal of Order of Award and Lease Contract to LMB.
16.1 Final review and evaluation of documents, Order of Award and Lease    
Contract
16.2 Transmittal and recommendation of Order of Award and Lease    
Contract in CSW form
17.   Approval of Order of Award (1,000 square meters and above) and Lease    
Contract by the Secretary.
18.   Transmittal of the Approved Order of Award and Lease Contract to   
Regional Executive Director.
19.   Transmittal of the Approved Order of Award and Lease Contract to   
PENRO.
20. Transmittal of the Approved Order of Award and Lease Contract to    
CENRO.
21. Transmittal of the Approved Order of Award and Lease Contract to the   
applicant.
DAMAGES/ EXPLOITATION OF 
FORESHORE AREAS

Berm Damaged
 Sink of Human 
Refuse & Wastes 
Over‐Exploitation
Climate Change Phenomenon
Invasion of Private Properties by the Movement of the 
Sea/Rising Sea Levels
Illegal Construction of Improvement from 
Foreshore to Offshore.
Uncontrolled Influx of Informal Settlers 
 • Lack of Access
• Informal Occupation
Unauthorized or Illegal Reclamation Activities 
THANK YOU!!!