PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
of pollutants in the air, share common interests
Presidential Decree (PD) 1586: Philippine
Environmental Impact Statement System
This law requires private corporations,
firms or entities including agencies and
instrumentalities of the government to prepare
an environmental impact statement (EIS) for
every proposed project and undertaking which
significantly affect the quality of the
environment. The EIS is a document that
provides a comprehensive study of the
significant impacts of a project on the
environment. It is prepared and submitted by
the project proponent and/or EIA Consultant as
an application for an Environmental Compliance
Certificate (ECC). In general, only projects that
pose potential significant impact to the
environment shall be required to secure an ECC.
In determining the scope of the EIS
System, two factors are considered: (i) the
nature of the project and its potential to cause
significant negative environmental impacts, and
(ii) the sensitivity or vulnerability of
environmental resources in the project area.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the
process that involves evaluating and predicting
the likely impacts of a projection the
environment during construction,
commissioning, operation and abandonment. It
is undertaken by, among others, the project
proponent and/or EIA Consultant, EMB, a
Review Committee, affected communities and
other stakeholders.
An ECC is a document issued by the
DENR/EMB after a positive review of an ECC
application, certifying that based on the
representations of the proponent, the proposed
project or undertaking will not cause significant
negative environmental impact. The ECC also
certifies that the proponent has complied with
all the requirements of the EIS System and has
committed to implement its approved
Environmental Management Plan.
Republic Act (RA) 8749: Clean Air Act (CAA) of
1999
Provides for a comprehensive air quality
management policy and program which aims to
achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.
The DENR Secretary, upon recommendation of
the EMB, will divide the country into different
airsheds. Airsheds are to be designated based
on climate, weather, meteorology, and
topology, which affect the mixture and diffusion
or face similar development problems. These
will be managed by multi-sectoral Governing
Boards chaired by the DENR Secretary with
representatives from concerned government
agencies, the private sector, NGOs and LGUs.
The Clean Air Act covers all potential
sources of air pollution, to wit:
(1) Mobile Sources (e g. motor
vehicles);
(2) Point or Stationary Sources (e g.
industrial plants); and
(3) Area Sources (e g. wood or coal
burning) Smoke belching vehicles on the road
will undergo emission testing.
Violators will be subject to the following
fines/penalties:
1st Offense P 1,000.00
2nd Offense P 3,000.00
3rd Offense P 5,000.00 plus a seminar
on pollution management.
In order to achieve clean air, we need
clean fuels. The CAA provides for the complete
phase-out of leaded gasoline; lowering of the
sulfur content of industrial and automotive
diesel; lowering of aromatics and benzene in
unleaded gasoline. Stationary sources must
comply with the National Emission Standards
for Source Specific Air Pollutants (NESSAP) and
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) and must secure their permit to
operate, prior to operation.
A business firm is fined of not more
than P100,000 for every day of violation until
such time that standards are met or
imprisonment of not less than 6 years but not
more than 10 years upon the discretion of the
court. The Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB)
adjudicates all environmental cases.
RA 9275: Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
The law aims to protect the country’s
water bodies from land-based pollution sources
(industries and commercial establishments,
agriculture and community/household
activities) It provides for a comprehensive and
integrated strategy to prevent and minimize
pollution through a multi-sectoral and
participatory approach involving all the
stakeholders.
Under the Act, discharges of
wastewater shall be controlled. Owners or
operators of facilities that discharge
wastewater are required to get a permit to
discharge from the EMB or the Laguna Lake
Development Authority. Domestic wastewater
will be addressed accordingly. The Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in
coordination with local government units
(LGUs) will prepare a national program on
sewage and septage management.
On the other hand, LGUs are to provide
the land including road right of the way for the
construction of sewage and/or septage
treatment facilities and raise funds for the
operations and maintenance of said facilities.
The Department of Health (DOH) will formulate
guidelines and standards for the collection,
treatment and disposal of sewage as well as the
guidelines for the establishment and operation
of centralized sewage treatment system.
The water district will provide water
supply and sewerage facilities and to connect
existing sewage lines, subject to the payment of
sewerage service charges/fees within five years
following effectivity of this Act. Anyone
discharging wastewater into a water body will
have to pay a wastewater charge. This
economic instrument will encourage
investments in cleaner production and pollution
control technologies to reduce the amount of
pollutants generated and discharged.
RA 6969: Philippine Toxic Substances and
Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Act
The Act provides the legal framework
for the Philippines to control and manage the
importation, manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, transport, treatment and
disposal of toxic substances and hazardous and
nuclear wastes.
A Chemical Control Order (CCO) is
issued by the DENR to prohibit, limit or regulate
the use, manufacture, import, export,
transport, processing, storage, possession and
wholesale of priority chemicals that are
determined to be regulated, phased-out, or
banned because of the serious risks they pose
to public health and the environment. Of the 48
toxic chemicals listed in the Priority Chemical
List (PCL), five have already been covered by
CCOs in the form of DAOs.
These CCOs are for: mercury (DAO 97-
38), cyanide (DAO 97-39), asbestos (DAO 2000-
02), ozone-depleting substances (DAO2000-18),
and polychlorinated biphenyls (DAO 2004-01).
RA 9003: Philippine Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act (PESWMA) of 2000
It provides the legal framework for the
country’s systematic, comprehensive, and
ecological solid waste management program
that shall ensure protection of public health and
the environment.
Key features of the Solid Waste
Management Act
1. Creation of the National Solid Waste
Management Commission (NSWMC), the
National Ecology Center (NEC), and the Solid
Waste Management Board (NSWMB) in every
province, city and municipality in the country.
The NSWMC shall be responsible in the
formulation of the National Solid Waste
Management Framework (NSWMF) and other
policies on solid waste (SW), in overseeing the
implementation of solid waste management
plans and the management of the solid waste
management fund.
The NEC, on the other hand, shall be
responsible for consulting, information, training
and networking services relative to the
implementation of R.A. No. 9003.The NSWMB
of provinces, cities, and municipalities shall be
responsible for the development of their
respective SW management plans.
2. Formulation of the NSWMF 10-year
SW plans by local government units;
3. Mandatory segregation of SW to be
conducted at the source;
4. Setting of minimum requirements to
ensure systematic collection and transport of
wastes and the proper protection of garbage
collectors' health;
5. Establishment of reclamation
programs and buy-back centers for recyclable
and toxic materials;
6. Promotion of eco-labeling and
prohibition on non-environmentally acceptable
products and packaging;
7. Establishment of Materials Recovery
Facility (MRF) in every barangay or cluster of
barangays;
8. Prohibition against the use of open
dumps and setting of guidelines/criteria for the
establishment of controlled dumps and sanitary
landfills;
9. Provision of rewards, grants and
incentives both monetary and non-monetary to
encourage LGUs and the public to undertake
effective SW management;
 10. Promotion of research on SWM and
environmental education in the formal and non-
formal sectors.
RA 9729: Climate Change Act of 2009
RA 9729 aims to systematically
integrate the concept of climate change in the
policy formulation and development plans of all
government agencies and units, to the end that
the government will be prepared for the impact
of climate change.
The law created the Climate Change
Commission, composed of the President, as
Chairperson, and three (3) commissioners to be
appointed by the President, which is tasked to
coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programs
and action plans of the government relating to
climate change. Government agencies have
likewise been assigned their respective roles
under RA 9729.
For instance, the Department of
Education is tasked to integrate climate change
into the primary and secondary education
curricula, including textbooks and other
education materials. Government Financial
Institutions are allowed to provide preferential
financial packages for climate change-related
projects.
RA 9512: Environmental Awareness and
Education Act of 2008.
It’s an Act to promote environmental
awareness through Environmental Education
(EE) and covers the integration of EE in the
school curricula at all levels, be it public or
private, including day care, preschool, non-
formal, technical, vocational, indigenous
learning, and out-of-school youth courses or
programs.
Section 6 of the Act says that the
DepEd, CHED, TESDA, DENR, DOST and other
relevant agencies, in consultation with experts
on the environment and the academe, shall
lead in the implementation of public education
and awareness programs on environmental
protection and conservation through
collaborative interagency and multi-sectoral
effort at all levels.
It also declares November as the
Environmental Awareness Month in the
Philippines.
Environmental Laws and Regulation
RA 8749 (Clean Air Act of 1999)
RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act)
PD 1586 (Environmental Impact Statement
System)
RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous
Waste Control Act)
RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management
Act)
RA 9512 (Environmental Education Act of 2008)
PD 1586 (Environmental Impact Statement
System) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT (EIA)
- is a PROCESS involving predicting and
evaluating the likely impacts of a project on the
environment during construction,
commissioning, operation and abandonment.
Section 4 of PD 1586 provides that no
person, partnership or corporation shall
undertake or operate any such declared
environmentally critical project (ECP) or area
(ECA) without first securing an Environmental
Compliance Certificate (ECC).
Environmental Compliance Certificate
(ECC) is a document issued by the DENR/EMB
after a positive review of an ECC application,
certifying that based on the representations of
the proponent, the proposed project or
undertaking has complied with all the
requirements of the EIS System and has
committed to implement its approved
Environmental Management Plan, EMP to
address the environmental impacts.
Content of an ECC Proponent's
Information List of conditions within EMB
mandate List of recommendation pertaining
compliance/ satisfaction to concerned LGUs/
agencies/ stakeholders.
ECC Validity ECC is valid throughout the
entire project lifetime provided:
1. There is no significant project
expansion
2. There is no change in technology
3. There is no change in location
4. Project was implemented within five
(5) years from the date of issuance Certificate of
Non-Coverage refers to the document issued by
DENR stating that the proposed project is not
covered by the Philippine Environmental Impact
Assessment System, therefore, the proponent is
not required to secure an ECC prior to
commencement of operation.
The issuance of this certificate shall not
exempt the grantee from compliance with
applicable environmental laws, rules and
regulations including permitting requirements
of other government agencies.
Pollution Control Officer
- A technical person competent in
pollution control and environmental
management, performing the duties and
responsibilities in a particular establishment
and officially accredited by the Environmental
Management Bureau Regional Office to perform
such responsibilities See DAO 2014-02: Revised
Guidelines for Pollution Control Officer
Accreditation
When is a PCO required?
Establishment that discharge solid,
liquid or gaseous wastes to the environment or
whose activities, products or services are actual
and/or potential sources of land, air, water or
air pollution Local Government Units
Development Authorities Government owned
and controlled corporations, and Other public
establishments PCO not required:
Ambulant vendors and stall owners as
defined under RA 6977 (An act to promote,
develop and assist small and medium
enterprises through the creation of the Medium
Enterprise Development Council; MRF operated
by Barangays that do not handle hazardous
wastes
Categorization of PCO Depends on the
following criteria:
• Chemical Usage
• Hazardous waste generated/handled
• Air emission
• Waste water discharge
• Solid waste generated/handled
• Sludge generated/handled
Duties and Responsibilities of PCO
Ensure compliance with the
requirements of PD 1586, RA 6969, RA 8749, RA
9003, RA 9275, their respective implementing
rules and regulations, and other pertinent rules
and regulations;
Attend to all permitting and registration
requirements of the establishment prior to the
construction, installation, or operation sources
and control facilities;
Attend technical conferences, hearings,
and meetings especially on matters pertaining
to pollution cases of the establishment where
he/ she is employed;
Initiate and intensify environmental
management activities including awareness
campaign within their organization.
RA 9275 - Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
Water Quality Standards
General Effluent Standards
Designation of Water Quality Management Area
Who may apply for discharge permit?
Any person that shall discharge in any
manner wastewater into Philippine waters
and/or land shall secure a wastewater discharge
permit from the Regional Office of the Bureau.
RA 9275 Prohibited Acts
Discharging, depositing or causing to be
deposited material of any kind directly or
indirectly into water bodies or along the margin
of any surface water
Discharging regulated water pollutants
without the valid required discharge permit
Refusal to allow entry, inspection and
monitoring as well as access to reports and
records
Disposal of potentially infectious
medical wastes into seawater by vessels
Refusal or failure to submit reports
and/or designate Pollution Control Officer
RA 6969 - Toxic Substances and Hazardous and
Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990
Chemical Management PCL, PICCS, SQI,
PMPIN, CCO
Hazardous Waste Management “from
cradle to grave”
Philippine Inventory of Chemicals & Chemical
Substances
It is a list of all existing chemicals &
chemical substances used, sold, distributed,
imported, processed, manufactured, stored,
exported, treated or transported in the
Philippines.
Pre-Manufacturing & Pre-Importation
Notification Purpose
is to screen harmful substances before
they enter the Philippine’s commerce
Polymer Exemption
Priority Chemical List
It is a list of existing & new chemicals
that DENR has determined to potentially pose
unreasonable risk to public health, workplace &
the environment.
Chemical Control Order
Prohibits, limit, or regulate the use,
manufacture, import, export, transport,
processing, storage, possession, and wholesale
of those priority chemicals that DENR
determined to be regulated, phased- out, or
banned due to the serious risks they pose to
public health, workplace & environment.
Hg, Pb, CN, PCB, ODS, AS, Cd*, Vinyl Cl*,
Benzene*, Chromium*

DAO 2013-22: Revised Procedures and

Standards for the Management of Hazardous
Wastes
Classification of Hazardous Wastes (A-
M)
Online Manifest System Waste
Management:
Proper Storage,
Packaging,
Labelling,
Transport and Treatment
RA 9003: Ecological Solid Waste Management
Act of 2000
Creation of the National Solid Waste
Management Commission (NSWMC), the
National Ecology Center (NEC) and the Solid
Waste Management Board in every province,
city and municipality in the country.
Formulation of the National Solid Waste
Management Framework; 10-year solid waste
management plans by local government units
consistent with the National Solid Waste
Management Framework;
Establishment of Materials Recovery
Facility in every barangay or cluster of
barangays;
Prohibition against the use of open
dumps;
Setting of guidelines/criteria for the
establishment dumps and sanitary landfills
RA 9003: Ecological Solid Waste Management
Act of 2000
Provision of rewards, incentives both
fiscal and non-fiscal, financial assistance, grants
and the like to encourage LGUs and the general
public to undertake effective solid waste
management;
Mandatory segregation of solid waste
to be conducted primarily at the source such as
household, institutional, industrial, commercial
and agricultural sources;
Setting of minimum requirements to
ensure systematic collection and transport of
wastes and the proper protection of the health
of garbage collectors;