Summary
On 6 February 2026, third iteration of the Rights of Nature Bill (House Bill No. 7 and Senate Bill No. 558) was formally re-submitted in the 20th Congress of the Philippines by House Representative Arnan C. Panaligan, with a counterpart measure led in the Senate by Risa Hontiveros.
Background
In July 2019 several organizations convened a Rights of Nature People’s Congress in Quezon City. The participants created a coalition called Rights of Nature PH and mapped out a plan for drafting and passing a rights of nature bill. They issued a call to President Rodrigo Duterte to take decisive political action in protecting the environment through the recognition of rights of nature. That year, the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines adopted the rights of nature concept by integrating it into their 2019 pastoral letter.
Legal Timeline
In October 2019, a bill titled the ‘Rights of Nature Act’ was first filed in the Senate (No. 1097) by Senator Risa Hontiveros, followed by a similar bill in the House of Representatives (No. 5603) filed by Representative Christopher Belmonte one month later. Although the bills have slightly different language, both recognize rights of nature as legal entities.
The bill states: “It is hereby declared the policy of the State to recognize and protect natural ecosystems and processes, or distinct and identifiable portions thereof as legal entities possessing certain fundamental and inalienable rights.” The bills also empower the Filipino people themselves to act on behalf of nature and protects their individual right to defend nature.
Both bills’ progression in the legislature was stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2022, Senator Risa Hontiveros refiled the RoN Act in the Senate, and in February 2023, the bill was submitted to the newly elected House of Representatives by Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda.
Involved Organizations
Related Initiatives
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2026. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/philippines-rights-of-nature-act/.
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