Which code mandates a 20-meter easement on the shorelines of seas and lakes?

• A. Forestry Code (P.D. 705)
• B. Water Code (R.A. 1271)
• C. Urban Planning Act
• D. National Environmental Code

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is the shoreline buffer established by law as part of forest land. Under the Forestry Code, a foreshore reserve extending 20 meters inland from the shorelines of seas and lakes is designated as a public forest area. This 20-meter easement acts as a protected strip to safeguard watershed functions, prevent erosion, preserve habitat, and ensure public access and forest management. Development or occupancy within this strip is restricted and typically requires forest authority oversight, reflecting its status as part of the public forest resource.

The Water Code focuses on the management and use of water resources and does not set this fixed shoreline easement. The Urban Planning Act concerns planning and land-use for urban areas, not a universal 20-meter foreshore buffer. The National Environmental Code addresses broader environmental policies and protections but does not establish this specific 20-meter shore easement.