Philippines: Ecocide bill introduced in Congress

Summary

Lawmakers in the Philippines have introduced new legislation that would criminalise ecocide, marking a significant step toward stronger protection for the country’s ecosystems and communities.

The proposed bill, titled “An Act Criminalizing Ecocide and Providing Penalties for the Commission Thereof,” was filed in the House of Representatives by Akbayan Representatives Percival V. Cendaña, Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno and Dadah Kiram Ismula together with Dinagat Islands Representative Kaka Bag-ao.

The bill adopts language closely aligned with the 2021 definition of ecocide proposed by the Independent Expert Panel convened by the Stop Ecocide Foundation: “any unlawful or wanton act or omission committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe, widespread, or long-term damage to the environment.”

The Philippines, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable and biodiversity-rich countries, faces increasing environmental pressure from deforestation, mining and other extractive activities.

Yolanda Esguerra of the Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. welcomed the development:

"For a country as ecologically rich and climate-vulnerable as the Philippines, recognising ecocide would be a powerful step toward ensuring that the destruction of nature and the communities that depend on it is treated as a serious crime. I am thrilled that my country is joining other forward-thinking jurisdictions such as India, Italy, Peru, Mexico and Scotland that are advancing legislation to establish new moral and legal thresholds for the most severe forms of environmental destruction, in the interests of nature, people and livelihoods."

The bill will now proceed through the Philippine legislative process, beginning with referral to a House committee for review and hearings. If approved, it will move to second and third readings in the House before it is transmitted to the Senate, which conducts its own three-reading process. If passed by both chambers, it is sent to the President to be signed into law. 

The full bill can be read in full here