A lawmaker has moved to protect marine resources in the country by penalizing the dumping of sewage sludge and industrial wastes into the sea.

Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez filed House Bill No. 4105 seeking to impose a fine on violators of not less than P50,000 nor more than P500,000, or imprisonment of not less than 3 months but not more than 6 years, or both at the court’s discretion.

Dubbed as the “Sea Dumping Ban Act,” the bill wants to promote the natural balance of the environment for the protection of human health and safety.

“The dumping of wastes directly into the ocean pollutes our seawaters, harmfully affecting our rich marine resources,” Rodriguez said.

He urged for the immediate passage of the bill, stressing that the dumping of untreated sewage has already resulted in the pollution of coastal waters and an increase in the incidence of red tide rendering seafood unsafe for human consumption.

“The dumping of sewage sludge and industrial wastes threatens the health not only of the Filipino people, but also of marine life,” the solon added.

The Rodriguez measure mandates the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to provide a monitoring report, accounting the discharges in the waters of the territorial sea, economic zone and ocean. This will be done in consultation with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

“The country’s rich marine ecosystem is severely threatened by pollution from diverse sources and it is the government’s duty to double its efforts at protecting our marine resources,” Rodriguez said.