COTABATO CITY – Deputy Speaker MP Atty. John Anthony “Jet” Lim is pushing for the inclusion of an environmental fee for all foreign vessels passing through the Sibutu Passage in Tawi-Tawi under the proposed Bangsamoro Revenue Code, a priority measure that he hopes will be enacted before the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections in October.
Lim said the measure aims to protect the marine environment from pollution while generating funds for ecological projects in the region. The Sibutu Passage, one of the country’s busiest maritime routes, sees an estimated five to seven foreign vessels every hour—or about 150 ships daily.
While clarifying that the proposed charge is not a toll fee, Lim explained that the environmental fee is intended to address the impact of vessel emissions and discharges on the marine ecosystem. “If institutionalized, this will not only safeguard our seas but also contribute significantly to the economy of Tawi-Tawi and the whole BARMM,” he said.
BTA Bill No. 286, or the proposed Bangsamoro Revenue Code, seeks to establish a systematic approach to taxation and revenue collection, empowering the Bangsamoro government to maximize its fiscal capacity. Lim stressed the importance of passing the bill within the remaining days of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament’s term.
Apart from the Revenue Code, Lim also highlighted the urgency of Parliament Bill No. 356, or the proposed Tawi-Tawi Maritime School Act of 2025. The measure seeks to bring specialized maritime education closer to local students, many of whom currently have to study outside the region or settle for unrelated courses offered in their provinces.