List of Classified/Reclassified Water Bodies in 2025

DENR Administrative Order No. 2025-28

Subject: List of Classified/Reclassified Water Bodies in 2025

Signed: September 12, 2025 . Published: The Manila Times, December 22, 2025 . Acknowledged: ONAR, U.P. Law Center, January 14, 2026

Legal Basis

DAO 2016-08 (Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards of 2016), DAO 2021-19 (updated WQG and GES for selected parameters), and the Manual of Procedure for Water Classification.

Why It Matters

Classification sets the minimum water quality for each waterbody's designated use and determines which effluent standards apply to anyone discharging into it. The Order covers all industrial, commercial, agricultural, and domestic dischargers, LGUs, and GOCCs. Existing discharges have 12 months to comply with the new classifications.

Water Classes (DAO 2016-08)

• Freshwater: AA (public water supply, disinfection only), A (public supply with conventional treatment), B (primary contact recreation), C (fishery, secondary recreation, agriculture), D (navigable).
• Marine: SA (protected waters and shellfish for direct consumption), SB (commercial shellfish, milkfish spawning, tourist zones, primary contact recreation), SC (commercial fishing, secondary recreation, mangrove sanctuaries), SD (navigable).

Newly Classified Water Bodies by Region

Where a river has different classes by segment (for example upstream versus downstream), both classes are shown. Refer to the official Order for station coordinates.

• Region 2 (Cagayan): Ballesteros Bay, Claveria Bay, Gonzaga Bay, Palaui Island-Santa Ana Bay, Pamplona Bay, and Sanchez Mira Bay (all SB).
• Region 3: Lawis River, Candelaria, Zambales (C); Bayating River, Tarlac (B/C).
• Region 4A: Biñan River (C); Guinhalingan River, Buenavista (B/C); Kinatakutan River, Tagkawayan (A/B); Laiya River and Puting Buhangin River, San Juan, Batangas (B); Pagsangahan River, San Francisco (B); Pandanan River, Lopez-Calauag (C); Pangil River, Laguna (B/C); Yabahaan River, San Andres (B); Lopez Bay/Inner Lamon Bay (SC).
• Region 4B: Alag-Malaylay River System, Oriental Mindoro (B/C); Batang-batang River, Narra (C); Barotuan-Taberna River System, El Nido (C/SC); Llabungan and Malatgao Rivers, Quezon, Palawan (C); Maasim and Tuguilan Rivers, Mamburao (C); Tiguion River, Gasan, Marinduque (B/C); Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa (SB, with an SA station); St. Paul's Bay, Puerto Princesa (SB, with an SA station); Tayamaan Bay, Mamburao (SC); Port Barton waters, San Vicente (SB).
• Region 5: Bicol River (B/C); Cagaycay, Manapot, Inarihan-Inamigan, Quinale, Pili/Nasipit, Senibaran, and Tinanogan Rivers, Yaba Creek, and Yabo River-Cararayan (B); Malisson Lake and River, Ligao (B); Cawayan River, Virac (A/B); Calapucan Creek, Langon River, Ogob Creek, Pacol River, San Antonio River, and Yabo River-Saday/Dacula (C); Matnog Bay (SB).
• Region 6: Agbalo River, Capiz (B/C); Abangay-Mananiw Watershed, Iloilo (A/C); Bacalan River, Antique (B); Buruanga River, Aklan (A/B/C); Ivisan River, Capiz (B/C); Sigangao Creek, Iloilo (C); Batan Bay, Aklan (SB); Boracay coastline facing the Sibuyan Sea (SB, with an SC mixing zone).
• Region 7: Amlan River, Negros Oriental (C); Basak River, Badian, and Montaneza and Saliring Rivers, Malabuyoc (A/B); Buswang Lake, Asturias (B); coastal waters of Liloan and Talisay (SB), Minglanilla and San Fernando (SB/SC), and San Remigio and Tabuelan (SA/SB).
• Region 8: Blanca Aurora River, San Jorge, Samar (B); San Pedro Bay (SC).
• Region 9: Dalupihan Point, Dumalinao (SA/SC); Dumanquillas Bay-Margosatubig (SB/SC); Malangas Beach (SA); Murcielagos Bay (SB); Tag-ulo Beach, Dapitan (SC); Tukuran coastal waters (SB).
• Region 11: Batutu, Labi, and Manat Rivers, Davao de Oro (C); Binoling River, Island Garden City of Samal (A/B); Dakung Banwa, Dumagook, Macangay, and Manay Rivers, Davao Oriental (B); Lamidan and Malalag Rivers, Davao del Sur (B); Pilan River, Santa Cruz (A/B); Baganga Bay (SB).
• Region 12: Bakngeb, Lagundi, Maligang, Palimbang, and Tual Rivers (B); Baliton, Calabanit, Kakal, Mani, and Saub Rivers (C).
• Caraga: Anao-aon River, Surigao del Norte (B); Babayan River, Agusan del Sur, and Pingaping River, Surigao del Norte (A); Taguibo River, Butuan City (A/B/C).

Reclassification and Implementation

DENR may reclassify these waterbodies on new information under Rule 19.11 of DAO 2005-10. Under Section 20 of RA 9275, LGUs monitor classified waterbodies and coordinate pollution control measures with DENR, which prioritizes areas needing immediate attention.

Effectivity

Takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication and upon filing with ONAR.

Signed by Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla. Summary prepared by EnviSynergy from the official DENR issuance; verify station-level classes against the official Order before use in permitting.