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Title
Paci!c Steam Laundry, Inc. vs. Laguna Lake Development Authority

Case Ponente Decision Date

G.R. No. 165299 CARPIO, J Dec 18, 2009

LLDA is granted the power to impose !nes for water pollution violations,
a"rming its authority and dismissing the petition against Paci!c Steam
Laundry, Inc.

water pollution violations laundry services inspection report

black smoke emission laboratory analysis Show all keywords

Case Digest (G.R. No. 165299)

Facts:

Petitioner: Paci!c Steam Laundry, Inc.

Respondent: Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA)

Date and place: Not speci!ed

Brief account of events:

Complaint of black smoke emission from petitioner's plant was

endorsed by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to LLDA.

LLDA conducted an investigation and found that untreated wastewater

 generated from petitioner's laundry washing activities was discharged
directly to the San Francisco Del Monte River.

LLDA issued a Notice of Violation to petitioner, stating that their e#uent

failed to conform with the e#uent standards.

Petitioner submitted its application for LLDA Clearance and Discharge

Permit and informed LLDA that it would undertake measures to abate
water pollution.

Compliance monitoring was conducted, but petitioner still failed to

comply with e#uent standards.

A pollution control and abatement case was !led against petitioner, and
LLDA informed petitioner of its continuous non-compliance.

Another wastewater sampling was conducted, and compliance with

e#uent standards was !nally achieved.

LLDA issued an Order to Pay, imposing penalties on petitioner.

Issue:

1. Does LLDA have the implied power to impose !nes as set forth in PD 984?

2. Does the grant of implied power to LLDA to impose penalties violate the rule
on non-delegation of legislative powers?

Ruling:

LLDA has the power to impose !nes.

The grant of implied power to LLDA to impose penalties does not violate the
rule on non-delegation of legislative powers.

Ratio:

LLDA's power to impose !nes can be implied from its authority to make,
alter, or modify orders requiring the discontinuance of pollution.

The power to impose administrative !nes was originally granted to the

National Pollution Control Commission (NPCC), but LLDA was created to
manage and develop the Laguna Lake region and was granted additional
 powers and functions.

LLDA's power to impose !nes is not unrestricted and there are statutory
limitations in place.

Conclusion:

The court a"rmed LLDA's authority to impose !nes for water pollution
violations and dismissed the petition.