PERTINENT LAWS IN URBAN PLANNING

1. BP 220
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS TO ESTABLISH AND
PROMULGATE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STANDARDS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
ECONOMIC AND SOCIALIZED HOUSING PROJECTS IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS FROM
THOSE PROVIDED UNDER PRESIDENTIAL DECREES NUMBERED NINE HUNDRED FIFTYSEVEN, TWELVE HUNDRED SIXTEEN, TEN HUNDRED NINETY-SIX AND ELEVEN HUNDRED
EIGHTY-FIVE
SECTION 1.
It is hereby declared a policy of the Government to promote and encourage the
development of economic and socialized housing projects, primarily by the private sector,
in order to make available adequate economic and socialized housing units for average
and low-income earners in urban and rural areas.
SECTION 2.
As used in this Act, economic and socialized housing refers to housing units which
are within the affordability level of the average and low-income earners which is thirty
percent (30%) of the gross family income as determined by the National Economic and
Development Authority from time to time. It shall also refer to the government-initiated
sites and services development and construction of economic and socialized housing
projects in depressed areas.
SECTION 3.
To carry out the foregoing policy, the Ministry of Human Settlements is authorized
to establish and promulgate different levels of standards and technical requirements for
the development of economic and socialized housing projects and economic and socialized
housing units in urban and rural areas from those provided in Presidential Decree
Numbered Nine hundred fifty-seven, otherwise known as the "Subdivision and
Condominium Buyers' Protective Decree," Presidential Decree Numbered Twelve hundred
and sixteen, "Defining Open Space in Residential Subdivision"; Presidential Decree
Numbered Ten Hundred and ninety-six, otherwise known as the "National Building Code of
the Philippines"; and Presidential Decree Numbered Eleven hundred and eighty-five,
otherwise known as the "Fire Code of the Philippines" and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, in consultation with the Ministry of Public Works and Highways,
the Integrated National Police, and other appropriate government units and
instrumentalities and private associations.
SECTION 4.
The standards and technical requirements to be established under Section three
hereof shall provide for environmental ecology, hygiene and cleanliness, physical, cultural
and spiritual development and public safety and may vary in each region, province or city
depending on the availability of indigenous materials for building construction and other
relevant factors.
SECTION 5.
The different levels of standards and technical requirements that shall be
established and promulgated by the Ministry of Human Settlements only after public

hearing and shall be published in two newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines
for at least once a week for two consecutive weeks and shall take effect thirty days after
the last publication.
2. Presidential Decree 957
REVISED RULES AND REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THE SUBDIVISION AND
CONDOMINIUM BUYER'S PROTECTIVE DECREE (PD 957) AND OTHER RELATED
LAWS
RULE I MINIMUM DESIGN STANDARDS
Section 1. Design Standards for Subdivision Residential subdivision projects shall conform
with the following minimum design standards, applicable local government units' (LGU)
zoning ordinances as well as pertinent provisions of the National Building Code if project is
with housing component:
Section 2. Design Standards and Guidelines for Residential Condominium Projects
Section 3. Conversion of Existing Structures to Condominium Projects. Existing structures
may be converted into condominium projects upon proper application there for with the
Board and compliance with the requirements of condominium laws and these rules and
standards.
Section 4. Variances These design standards and requirements may be modified or varied
by the Board in cases of large scale government and private residential subdivision or
condominium projects, housing in areas for priority development or urban land reform
zones, resettlement or social housing projects for low income groups, or housing projects
financed by any government financing institution, or in cases where strict observance
hereof will cause extreme hardship to the subdivision or condominium owner/developer.
RULE II APPROVAL OF SUBDIVISION PLAN
Section 5. Application for Approval of Subdivision Development Plan Every registered
owner or developer of a parcel of land who wishes to convert the same into a subdivision
project shall apply with the Board or the local government unit (LGU) concerned for the
approval of the subdivision development plan by filing the following:
RULE III APPROVAL OF CONDOMINIUM PLAN
Section 6. Application for Approval of Condominium Plan Any registered owner or
developer of a parcel of land who wishes to develop the same into a condominium project
shall apply with the Board by filing the following:

3. Executive Order 72

4. House Bill 587

LAWS RELATED TO URBAN PLANNING

1. PD 1151 | SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
SECTION 1 POLICY
It is hereby declared a continuing policy of the State (a) to create, develop, maintain, and
improve conditions under which man and nature can thrive in productive and enjoyable
harmony with each other.
SECTION 2 GOAL
Assure the people of a safe, decent, healthful, productive and aesthetic
Environment. Preserve important historic and cultural aspects of the Philippine heritage,
attain a rational and orderly balance between population and resource use, and improve
the utilization of renewable and non-renewable resources.
SECTION 3 RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIIRONMENT
In furtherance of these goals and policies, the Government recognizes the right of
the people to a healthful environment. It shall be the duty and responsibility of each
individual to contribute to the preservation and enhancement of the Philippine
environment.
SECTION 4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
All agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including governmentowned or controlled corporations, as well as private corporations, firms and entities shall
prepare, file and include in every action, project or undertaking which significantly affects
the quality of the environment a detailed statement on:
SECTION 5 AGENCY GUIDELINES
The different agencies charged with environmental protection as enumerated in
Letter of Instruction No. 422 shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Decree,
submit to the National Environmental Protection Council (NEPC), their respective
guidelines, rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of Sec. 4 hereof on
environmental impact assessments and statements.
SECTION 6 REPEALING CLAUSE
All Acts, Presidential Decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly

2. PD 1152 | SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL CODE

SECTION 1 SHORT TITLE
Decree shall be known and cited as the "Philippine Environment Code."

TITLE I
Air Quality Management
SECTION 2 PURPOSES
The purposes of this Title are:
a) To achieve and maintain such levels of air quality as to protect public health and
b) To prevent to the greatest extent practicable, injury and/or damage to plant and animal
life and property, and promote the social and economic development of the country.
CHAPTER 1
STANDARDS

SECTION
SECTION
SECTION
SECTION
SECTION

3
4
5
6
7

AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS
COMMUNITY NOISE STANDARDS
STANDARDS FOR NOISE-PRODUCING EQUIPMENT
AIRCRAFT EMISSION AND SONIC BOOM

CHAPTER 2
REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT

SECTION
SECTION
SECTION
SECTION

8 AIR QUALITY AND NOISE STANDARDS

9 AIRCRAFTS NOISE
10 VEHICULAR EMISSION
11 RADIOACTIVE EMISSION

TITLE II
Water Quality Management
SECTION 14 PURPOSES
It is the purpose of this Title to prescribe management guidelines aimed to protect and
improve the quality of Philippine water resources through:
a) Classification of Philippine waters,
b) Establishment of water quality standards;
c) Protection and improvement of the quality of Philippine water resources, and
d) Responsibilities for surveillance and mitigation of pollution incidents.
CHAPTER 1
CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS
SECTION 15 CLASSIFICATION OF PHILIPPINE WATERS
The National Pollution Control Commission, in coordination with appropriate government
agencies, shall classify Philippine waters, according to their best usage. In classifying said
waters, the National Pollution Control Commission shall take into account, among others,
the following:

a) The existing quality of the body of water at the time of classification;

b) The size, depth, surface area covered, volume, direction, rate of flow, gradient of
stream; and
c) the most beneficial uses of said bodies of water and lands bordering them such as
residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, navigational, recreational, and aesthetic
purposes.
CHAPTER 1

SECTION 16 RECLASSIFICATION OF WATERS BASED ON INTENDED BENEFICIAL USE

SECTION 17 UPGRADING WATER QUALITY
SECTION 18 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

CHAPTER 2
PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF WATER QUALITY

SECTION 19 ENFORCEMENT AND COORDINATION

SECTION 20 CLEAN-UP OPERATION
SECTION 21 WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE

TITLE III
Land Use Management
SECTION 22 PURPOSES
The purposes of this Title are:
a) To provide a rational, orderly and efficient acquisition, utilization and disposition of land
and its resources in order to derive therefrom maximum benefits; and
b) To encourage the prudent use and conservation of land resources in order to prevent an
imbalance between the nation's needs and such resources.
SECTION 23 NATIONAL LAND USE SCHEME
The Human Settlements Commission, in coordination with the appropriate agencies of the
government, shall formulate and recommend to the National Environmental Protection
Council a land use scheme consistent with the purpose of this Title. The Land Use Scheme
shall include among others, the following:
a) A science-based and technology-oriented land inventory and classification system;
b) A determination of present land uses, the extent to which they are utilized,
underutilized, rendered idle or abandoned;
c) A comprehensive and accurate determination of the adaptability of the land for
community development, agriculture, industry, commerce, and other fields of endeavor;
d) a method of identification of areas where uncontrolled development could result in
irreparable damage to important historic, cultural, or aesthetic values, or nature systems
or processes of national significance;
e) a method for exercising control by the appropriate government agencies over the use of
land in area of critical environmental concern and areas impacted by public facilities

including, but not limited to, airports, highways, bridges, ports and wharves, buildings and
other infrastructure projects;
f) a method to ensure the consideration of regional development and land use in local
regulations;
g) A policy for influencing the location of new communities and methods for assuring
appropriate controls over the use of land around new communities;
h) a system of controls and regulations pertaining to areas and development activities
designed to ensure that any source of pollution will not be located where it would result in
a violation of any applicable environmental pollution control regulations, and
i) A recommended method for the periodic revisions and updating of the national land use
scheme to meet changing conditions.

SECTION 24 LOCATION OF INDUSTRIES

In the location of industries, factories, plants, depots and similar industrial establishments,
the regulating or enforcing agencies of the government shall take into consideration the
social, economic, geographical and significant environmental impact of said
establishment.
TITLE IV
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION
SECTION 25 PURPOSES
It is the purpose of this Title are:
a) To provide the basics on the management and conservation of the country's natural
resources to obtain the optimum benefits therefrom and to preserve the same for the
future generations, and
b) To provide general measures through which the aforesaid policy may be carried out
effectively..

3. PD 1308 | SUBJECT: Regulating the Practice of the Profession of

Environmental Planning in the Philippines
4.

TITLE I: TITLE OF DECREE AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE

5.

SECTION 2 DEFINITION OF TERMS

6.
a. Environmental planning refers to activities concerned with the management and
development of land, as well as the preservation, conservation, and rehabilitation of the
human environment.
7.
b. The term environmental planner, as used in this Decree, refers to a person
engaged in the practice of environmental planning and duly registered with the Board of
Environmental Planning in the manner herein provided.
8.

SECTION 2 DEFINITION OF TERMS

9.
a. Environmental planning refers to activities concerned with the management and
development of land, as well as the preservation, conservation, and rehabilitation of the
human environment.
10.
b. The term environmental planner, as used in this Decree, refers to a person
engaged in the practice of environmental planning and duly registered with the Board of
Environmental Planning in the manner herein provided.
11.

SECTION 3 SCOPE OF PRACTICE

12.
The practice of environmental planning, within the meaning and intent of this
Decree shall embrace, inter alia, professional services in the form of technical
consultation, plan preparation, and/or implementation involving the following:
13.

a. Development of a community, town, city, or region;

14.
b. Development of a site for a particular need such as housing, centers for activities
concerned with research, education, culture, recreation, or government, industrial estates,
agriculture, and water resources, including creating a spatial arrangement of buildings,
utilities and communication routes;
15.
c. Land use and zoning plans for the management and development, preservation,
conservation, rehabilitation, and control of the environment; and d. Pre-investment, prefeasibility, and feasibility studies.

SECTION 8 POWERS AND FUNCTION OF THE BOARD

SECTION 9 FEES AND COMPESATION OF THE BOARD
SECTION 10 ANNUAL REPORT

16.

TITLE III

17.
(PHYSICAL PLANNING; SOCIAL PLANNING; ECONOMIC PLANNING;
PLANNING LAW AND ADMINISTRATION; AND SPECIAL PLANNING STUDIES)

18. SUMMARY
19.

PD 1151 | PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

20.
A PREDENTIAL DEGREE STATE THE POLICIES OF
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT.
21.

PD 1152 | PHILIPPNE ENVIRONTAL CODES

22.
A PREDENTIAL DEGREE STATE THE RULES AND
REGULATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT.
23.

PD 1308 | REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION

OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN THE
PHILIPPINES

24.
A PREDENTIAL DEGREE STATE THE PRACTICE OF BEING
AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER IN THE PHILIPPINES.
25.
26.
27.
28.