REPUBLIC ACT NO.

8749

PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT OF

1999

Chapter 1
General Provisions
Article One
Basic Air Quality Policies
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall
be known as the Philippine Clean Air
Act of 1999.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Principles. - The
State shall protect and advance the
right of the people to a balanced and
healthful ecology in accord with the
rhythm and harmony of nature.
The State shall promote and protect the
global environment to attain sustainable
development while recognizing the
primary responsibility of local
government units to deal with
environmental problems.
The State recognizes that the
responsibility of cleaning the habitat
and environment is primarily area-based.
The State also recognizes the principle
that polluters must pay.
Finally, the State recognizes that a
clean and healthy environment is for the
good of all and should, therefore, be
the concern of all.
SEC. 3. Declaration of Policies. - The
State shall pursue a policy of balancing
development and environmental
protection. To achieve this end, the
frame work for sustainable development
shall be pursued. It shall be the policy
of the State to:
[a] Formulate a holistic national
program of air pollution
management that shall be
implemented by the government
through proper delegation and
effective coordination of
functions and activities;
[b] Encourage cooperation and
self-regulation among citizens
and industries through the
application of market-based
instruments;
[c] Focus primarily on pollution
prevention rather than on control
and provide for a comprehensive
 management program for air
pollution;
[d] Promote public information
and education and to encourage
the participation of an informed
and active public in air quality
planning and monitoring; and
[e] Formulate and enforce a
system of accountability for
short and long-term adverse
environmental impact of a
project, program or activity.
This shall include the setting up
of a funding or guarantee
mechanism for clean-up and
environmental rehabilitation and
compensation for personal
damages.
SEC. 4. Recognition of Rights. -
Pursuant to the above-declared
principles, the following rights of
citizens are hereby sought to be
recognized and the State shall seek to
guarantee their enjoyment:
[a] The right to breathe clean
air;
[b] The right to utilize and
enjoy all natural resources
according to the principles of
sustainable development;
[c] The right to participate in
the formulation, planning,
implementation and monitoring of
environmental policies and
programs and in the decision-
making process;
[d] The right to participate in
the decision-making process
concerning development policies,
plans and programs projects or
activities that may have adverse
impact on the environment and
public health;
[e] The right to be informed of
the nature and extent of the
potential hazard of any activity,
undertaking or project and to be
served timely notice of any
significant rise in the level of
pollution and the accidental or
deliberate
release into the atmosphere of
harmful or hazardous substances;
[f] The right of access to public
records which a citizen may need
to exercise his or her rights
effectively under this Act;
 [g] The right to bring action in
court or quasi-judicial bodies to
enjoin all activities in
violation of environmental laws
and regulations, to compel the
rehabilitation and cleanup of
affected area, and to seek the
imposition of penal sanctions
against violators of
environmental laws; and
[h] The right to bring action in
court for compensation of
personal damages resulting from
the adverse environmental and
public health impact of a project
or activity.
Article Two
Definition of Terms
SEC. 5. Definitions.- As used in this
Act:
a) Air pollutant means any matter
found in the atmosphere other than
oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor,
carbon dioxide, and the inert gases
in their natural or normal
concentrations, that is detrimental
to health or the environment, which
includes, but not limited to smoke,
dust, soot, cinders, fly ash, solid
particles of any kind, gases, fumes,
chemical mists, steam and
radioactive substances;
b) Air pollution means any
alteration of the physical, chemical
and biological properties of the
atmospheric air, or any discharge
thereto of any liquid, gaseous or
solid substances that will or is
likely to create or to render the air
resources of the country harmful,
detrimental, or injurious to public
health, safety or welfare or which
will adversely affect their
utilization for domestic,
commercial, industrial,
agricultural, recreational, or other
legitimate purposes;
c) Ambient air quality guideline
values means the concentration of
air over specified periods
classified as short-term and long-
term which are intended to serve as
goals or objectives for the
protection of health and/or public
welfare. These values shall be used
for air quality management purposes
such as determining time trends,
evaluating stages of deterioration
or enhancement of the air quality,
and in general, used as basis for
taking positive action in
preventing, controlling, or abating
air pollution;
d) Ambient air quality means the
general amount of pollution present
in a broad area; and refers to the
atmospheres average purity as
distinguished from discharge
measurements taken at the source of
pollution;
e) Certificate of Conformity means
a certificate issued by the
Department of Environment and
Natural Resources to a vehicle
manufacturer / assembler or importer
certifying that a particular new
vehicle or vehicle type meets the
requirements provided under this Act
and its rules and regulations;
f) Department means the Department
of Environment and Natural
Resources;
g)Eco-profile means the
geographic-based instrument for
planners and decision makers which
present an evaluation of the
environment quality and carrying
capacity of an area. It is the
result of the integration of primary
data and information on natural
resources and antropogenic
activities on the land which were
evaluated by various environmental
risk assessment and forecasting
methodologies that enable the
Department to anticipate the type of
development control necessary in the
planning area.
h)Emission means any air
contaminant, pollutant, gas stream
or unwanted sound from a known
source which is passed into the
atmosphere;
i) Greenhouse gases means those
gases that can potentially or can
reasonably be expected to induce
global warming, which include carbon
dioxide, oxides of nitrogen,
chloroflourocarbons, and the like;
j) Hazardous substances means
those substances which present
either: (1) short-term acute hazards
such as acute toxicity by ingestion,
inhalation, or skin absorption,
corrosivity or other skin or eye
contact hazard or the risk of fire
explosion; or (2) long-term toxicity
upon repeated exposure,
carcinogecity (which in some cases
result in acute exposure but with a
long latent period), resistance to
detoxification process such as
biodegradation, the potential to
pollute underground or surface
waters;
k) Infectious waste means that
portion of medical waste that could
transmit an infectious disease;
l) Medical waste means the
materials generated as a result of
patient diagnosis, treatment, or
immunization of human beings or
animals;
m) Mobile source means any vehicle
propelled by or through combustion
of carbon-based or other fuel,
constructed and operated principally
for the conveyance of persons or the
transportation of property goods;
n) Motor vehicle means any vehicle
propelled by a gasoline or diesel
engine or by any means other than
human or animal power, constructed
and operated principally for the
conveyance of persons or the
transportation of property or goods
in a public highway or street open
to public use;
o) Municipal waste means the waste
materials generated from communities
within a specific locality;
p) "New vehicle means a vehicle
constructed entirely from new parts
that has never been sold or
registered with the DOTC or with the
appropriate agency or authority, and
operated on the highways of the
Philippines, any foreign state or
country;
q) Octane Rating or the Anti-Knock
Index(AKI) means the rating of the
anti-knock characteristics of a
grade or type of automotive gasoline
as determined by dividing by two (2)
the sum of the Research Octane
Number (RON), plus the Motor Octane
Number (MON); the octane
requirement, with respect to
automotive gasoline for use in a
motor vehicle or a class thereof,
whether imported, manufactured, or
assembled by a manufacturer, shall
refer to the minimum octane rating
of such automotive gasoline which
such manufacturer recommends for the
efficient operation of such motor
vehicle, or a substantial portion of
such class, without knocking;
r) Ozone Depleting Substances
(ODS) means those substances that
significantly deplete or otherwise
modify the ozone layer in a manner
that is likely to result in adverse
effects of human health and the
environment such as, but not limited
to, chloroflourocarbons, halons and
the like;
s) Persistent Organic Pollutants
(POPs) means the organic compounds
that persist in the environment,
bioaccumulate through the food web,
and pose a risk of causing adverse
effects to human health and the
environment. These compounds resist
photolytic, chemical and biological
degradation, which shall include but
not be limited to dioxin, furan,
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs),
organochlorine pesticides, such as
aldrin, dieldrin, DDT,
hexachlorobenzene, lindane,
toxaphere and chlordane;
t) Poisonous and toxic fumes means
any emissions and fumes which are
beyond internationally - accepted
standards, including but not limited
to the World Health Organization
(WHO) guideline values;
u) Pollution control device" means
any device or apparatus used to
prevent, control or abate the
pollution of air caused by emissions
from identified pollution sources at
levels within the air pollution
control standards
established by the Department;
v) Pollution control technology
means the pollution control devices,
production process, fuel combustion
processes or other means that
effectively prevent or reduce
emissions or effluent;
w) Standard of performance" means a
standard for emissions of air
pollutant which reflects the degree
of emission limitation achievable
through the application of the best
system of emission reduction, taking
into account the cost of achieving
such reduction and any non-air
quality health and environmental
impact and energy requirement which
 the Department determines, and
adequately demonstrates; and
x) Stationary source means any
building or immobile structure,
facility or installation which emits
or may emit any air pollutant.
Chapter 2
Air Quality Management System
Article One
General Provisions
SEC. 6. Air Quality Monitoring and
Information Network.- The Department
shall prepare an annual National Air
Quality Status Report which shall be
used as the basis in formulating the
Integrated Air Quality Improvement
Framework, as provided for in Sec. 7.
The said report shall include, but shall
not be limited to the following:
a) Extent of pollution in the
country, per type of pollutant
and per type of source, based on
reports of the Departments
monitoring stations;
b) Analysis and evaluation of the
current state, trends and
projections of air pollution at
 the various levels provided
herein;
c) Identification of critical
areas, activities, or projects
which will need closer monitoring
or regulation;
d) Recommendations for necessary
executive and legislative action;
and
e) Other pertinent qualitative
and quantitative information
concerning the extent of air
pollution and the air quality
performance rating of industries
in the country.
The Department, in cooperation with the
National Statistical Coordination Board
(NSCB), shall design and develop an
information network for data storage,
retrieval and exchange.
The Department shall serve as the
central depository of all data and
information related to air quality.
SEC. 7. Integrated Air Quality
Improvement Framework.- The Department
shall within six (6) months after the
effectivity of this Act, establish, with
the participation of LGUs, NGOs, POs,
the academe and other concerned entities
from the private sector, formulate and
implement the Integrated Air Quality
Improvement Framework for a
comprehensive air pollution management
and control program. The framework
shall, among others, prescribe the
emission reduction goals using
permissible standards, control
strategies and control measures to
undertaken within a specified time
period, including cost-effective use of
economic incentives, management
strategies, collective actions, and
environmental education and information.
The Integrated Air Quality Improvement
Framework shall be adopted as the
official blueprint with which all
government agencies must comply with to
attain and maintain ambient air quality
standards.
SEC. 8. Air Quality Control Action
Plan.- Within six (6) months after the
formulation of the framework, the
Department shall, with public
participation, formulate and implement
an air quality control action plan
consistent with Sec. 7 of this Act. The
action plan shall:
a) Include enforceable emission
limitations and other control
measures, means or techniques, as
well as schedules and time tables
for compliance, as may be
necessary or appropriate to meet
the applicable requirements of
this Act;
b) Provide for the establishment
and operation of appropriate
devices, methods, systems and
procedures necessary to monitor,
compile and analyze data on
ambient air quality;
c) Include a program to provide
for the following: (1)
enforcement of the measures
described in subparagraph [a];
(2) regulation of the
modification and construction of
any stationary source within the
areas covered by the plan, in
accordance with land use policy
to ensure that ambient air
quality standards are achieved;

d) Contain adequate provisions,

consistent with the provisions of
this Act, prohibiting any source
or other types of emissions
 activity within the country from
emitting any air pollutant in
amounts which will significantly
contribute to the non-attainment
or will interfere with the
maintenance by the Department of
any such ambient air quality
standard required to be included
in the implementation plan to
prevent significant deterioration
of air quality or to protect
visibility;

e) Include control strategies and

control measures to be undertaken
within a specified time period,
including cost effective use of
economic incentives, management
strategies, collection action and
environmental education and
information;

f) Designate airsheds; and

g) All other measures necessary

for the effective control and
abatement of air pollution.
The adoption of the plan shall clarify
the legal effects on the financial,
manpower and budgetary resources of the
affected government agencies, and on the
alignment of their programs with the
plans.
In addition to direct regulations, the
plan shall be characterized by a
participatory approach to the pollution
problem. The involvement of private
entities in the monitoring and testing
of emissions from mobile and/or
stationary sources shall be considered.
Likewise, the LGUs, with the assistance
from the Department, shall prepare and
develop an action plan consistent with
the Integrated Air Quality Improvement
Framework to attain and maintain the
ambient air quality standards within
their respective airsheds as provided in
Sec. 9 hereof.
The local government units shall develop
and submit to the Department a procedure
for carrying out the action plan for
their jurisdiction. The Department,
however, shall maintain its authority to
independently inspect the enforcement
procedure adopted. The Department shall
have the power to closely supervise all
or parts of the air quality action plan
until such time the local government
unit concerned can assume the function
to enforce the standards set by the
Department.
A multi-sectoral monitoring team with
broad public representation shall be
convened by the Department for each LGU
to conduct periodic inspections of air
pollution sources to assess compliance
with emission limitations contained in
their permits.
SEC. 9. Airsheds.- Pursuant to Sec. 8 of
this Act, the designation of airsheds
shall be on the basis of, but not
limited to, areas with similar climate,
meteorology and topology which affect
the interchange and diffusion of
pollutants in the atmosphere, or areas
which share common interest or face
similar development programs, prospects
or problems.
For a more effective air quality
management, a system of planning and
coordination shall be established and a
common action plan shall be formulated
for each airshed.
To effectively carry out the formulated
action plans, a Governing Board is
hereby created, hereinafter referred to
as the Board.
The Board shall be headed by the
Secretary of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources as
chairman. The members shall be as
follows:
a) Provincial Governors from
areas belonging to the airshed;
b) City/Municipal Mayors from
areas belonging to the airshed;
c) A representative from each
concerned government agency;
d) Representatives from peoples
organizations;
e) Representatives from non-
government organizations; and
f) Representatives from the
private sector.
The Board shall perform the following
functions:
a) Formulation of policies;
b) Preparation of a common action
plan;
c) Coordination of functions
among its members; and
 d) Submission and publication of
an annual Air Quality Status
Report for each airshed.
Upon consultation with appropriate local
government authorities, the Department
shall, from time to time, revise the
designation of airsheds utilizing eco-
profiling techniques and undertaking
scientific studies.
Emissions trading may be allowed among
pollution sources within an airshed.
SEC. 10. Management of Non-attainment
Areas.- The Department shall designate
areas where specific
pollutants have already exceeded ambient
standards as non-attainment areas. The
Department shall prepare and implement a
program that will prohibit new sources
of exceeded air pollutant without a
corresponding reduction in existing
resources.
In coordination with other appropriate
government agencies, the LGUs shall
prepare and implement a
program and other measures including
relocation, whenever necessary, to
protect the health and welfare of
residents in the area.
For those designated as nonattainment
areas, the Department, after
consultation with local government
authorities, nongovernment organizations
(NGOs), peoples organizations (POs) and
concerned sectors may revise the
designation of such areas and expand its
coverage to cover larger areas depending
on the condition of the areas.
SEC. 11. Air Quality Control
Techniques.- Simultaneous with the
issuance of the guideline values and
standards, the Department, through the
research and development program
contained in this Act and upon
consultation with appropriate advisory
committees, government agencies and
LGUs, shall issue, and from time to
time, revise information on air
pollution control techniques.

Such information shall include:

a) Best available technology and
alternative methods of
prevention, management and
control of air pollution;
b) Best available technology
economically achievable which
shall refer to the technological
 basis/standards for emission
limits applicable to existing,
direct industrial emitters of
nonconventional and toxic
pollutants; and
c) Alternative fuels, processes
and operating methods which will
result in the eliminator or
significant reduction of
emissions.
Such information may also include data
relating to the cost of installation and
operation, energy requirements, emission
reduction benefits, and environmental
impact or the emission control
technology.
The issuance of air quality guideline
values, standards and information on air
quality control techniques shall be made
available to the general public:
Provided, That the issuance of
information on air quality control
techniques shall not be construed as
requiring the purchase of certain
pollution control devices by the public.
SEC. 12. Ambient Air Quality Guideline
Values and Standards.- The Department,
in coordination with
other concerned agencies, shall review
and or revise and publish annually a
list of hazardous air pollutants with
corresponding ambient guideline values
and/or standard necessary to protect
health and safety, and general welfare.
The initial list and values of the
hazardous air pollutants shall be as
follows:
a) For National Ambient Air Quality
Guideline for Criteria Pollutants:

Long
Short Term a
Term b
Averaging Averaging
Pollutants g/Ncm ppm g/Ncm ppm
Time Time
Suspended
Particulate 230d 24 hours 90 ---- 1 yeare
Matterc-TSP
-PM-10 150f 24 hours 60 ---- 1 yeare
Sulfur Dioxidec 180 0.07 24 hours 80 0.03 1 year
Nitrogen
150 0.08 24 hours ---- ---- ----
Dioxide
Photochemical
140 0.07 1 hour ---- ---- ----
Oxidants
As Ozone 60 0.03 8 hours ---- ---- ----
Carbon
30 1 hour ---- ---- ---- ----
Monoxide 35
mg/Ncm
10 9 8 hours ---- ---- ----
mg/Ncm
g
Lead 1.5 ---- 3 monthsg 1.0 ---- 1 year
a
Maximum limits represented by ninety-eight percentile (98%) values not to be
exceed more than once a year.

b
Arithmetic mean
 c
SO2 and Suspended Particulate matter are sampled once every six days when
using the manual methods. A minimum of twelve sampling days per quarter of
forty-eight sampling days each year is required for these methods. Daily sampling
may be done in the future once continuous analyzers are procured and become
available.

d
Limits for Total Suspended Particulate Matter with mass median diameter less
than 25-50 um.

e
Annual Geometric Mean

f
Provisional limits for Suspended Particulate Matter with mass median diameter
less than 10 microns and below until sufficient monitoring data are gathered to
base a proper guideline.

g
Evaluation of this guideline is carried out for 24-hour averaging time and
averaged over three moving calendar months. The monitored average value for
any three months shall not exceed the guideline value.

b) For National Ambient Air Quality

Standards for Source Specific Air
Pollutants from:
Industrial Sources/ Operations:
Averaging Method of Analysis/
Pollutants1 Concentration2
time (min.) Measurement3
/Ncm ppm

Nesselerization/
1. Ammonia 200 0.28 30
Indo Phenol
2. Carbon
30 0.01 30 Tischer Method
Disulfide
3. Chlorine and
Chlorine
100 0.03 5 Methyl Orange
Compounds
expressed as Cl2
Chromotropic acid
4. Formaldehyde 50 0.04 30 Method or MBTH
Colorimetric Method
5. Hydrogen Volhard Titration
200 0.13 30
Chloride with Iodine Solution
6. Hydrogen
100 0.07 30 Methylene Blue
Sulfide
7. Lead 20 30 AASc
8. Nitrogen
375,260 0.20,0.14 30,60 Greiss- Saltzman
Dioxide
9. Phenol 100 0.03 30 4-Aminoantiphyrine
10. Sulfur 0.18, Colorimetric-
470, 340 30,60
Dioxide 0.13 Pararosaniline
11. Suspended
Particulate
Matter-TSP 300 ---- 60 Gravimetric

1
Pertinent ambient standards for Antimony, Arsenic, Cadmium, Asbestos, Nitric
Acid and Sulfuric Acid Mists in the 1978 NPCC Rules and Regulations may be
considered as guides in determining compliance.
2
Ninety-eight percentile (98%) values of 30-minute sampling measured at 25 0C and
one atmosphere pressure.

3
Other equivalent methods approved by the Department may be used.

The basis in setting up the ambient air

quality guideline values and standards
shall reflect, among others, the latest
scientific knowledge including
information on:
a) Variable, including atmospheric
conditions, which of themselves or
in combination with other factors
may alter the effects on public
health or welfare of such air
pollutant;
b) The other types of air pollutants
which may interact with such
pollutant to produce an adverse
effect on public health or welfare;
and
c) The kind and extent of all
identifiable effects on public
 health or welfare which may be
expected from presence of such
pollutant in the ambient air, in
varying quantities.
The Department shall base such ambient
air quality standards on World Health
Organization (WHO) standards, but shall
not be limited to nor be less stringent
than such standards.
SEC. 13. Emission Charge System.- The
Department, in case of industrial
dischargers, and the Department of
Transportation and Communication (DOTC),
in case of motor vehicle dischargers,
shall, based on environmental
techniques, design, impose on and
collect regular emission fees from said
dischargers as part of the emission
permitting system or vehicle
registration renewal system, as the case
may be. The system shall encourage the
industries and motor vehicles to abate,
reduce, or prevent pollution. The basis
of the fees include, but is not limited
to, the volume and toxicity of any
emitted pollutant. Industries, which
shall install pollution control devices
or retrofit their existing facilities
with mechanisms that reduce pollution
shall be entitled to tax incentives such
as but not limited total credits and/or
accelerated depreciation deductions.
SEC. 14. Air Quality Management Fund.-
An Air Quality Management Fund to be
administered by the
Department as a special account in the
National Treasury is hereby established
to finance containment, removal, and
clean-up operations of the Government in
air pollution cases, guarantee
restoration of ecosystems and
rehabilitate areas affected by the acts
of violators of this Act, to support
research, enforcement and monitoring
activities and capabilities of the
relevant agencies, as well as to provide
technical assistance to the relevant
agencies. Such fund may likewise be
allocated per airshed for the
undertakings herein stated.
The Fund shall be sourced from the fines
imposed and damages awarded to the
Republic of the Philippines by the
Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB),
proceeds of licenses and permits issued
by the Department under this Act,
emission fees and from donations,
endowments and grants in the forms of
contributions. Contributions to the Fund
shall be exempted from donor taxes and
all other taxes, charges or fees imposed
by the Government.
SEC. 15. Air Pollution Research and
Development Program.- The Department, in
coordination with the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST), other
agencies, the private sector, the
academe, NGOs and POs, shall establish
a National Research and Development
Program for the prevention and control
of air pollution. The Department shall
give special emphasis to research on and
the development of improved methods
having industry-wide application for the
prevention and control of air pollution.
Such a research and development program
shall develop air quality guideline
values and standards in addition to
internationally-accepted standards. It
shall also consider the socio-cultural,
political and economic implications of
air quality management and pollution
control.
Article Two
Air Pollution Clearances
and Permits for Stationary Sources
SEC. 16. Permits.- Consistent with the
provisions of this Act, the Department
shall have the authority to issue
permits as it may determine necessary
for the prevention and abatement of air
pollution.
Said permits shall cover emission
limitations for the regulated air
pollutants to help attain and maintain
the ambient air quality standards. These
permits shall serve as management tools
for the LGUs in the development of their
action plan.
SEC. 17. Emission Quotas.- The
Department may allow each regional
industrial center that is designated as
special airshed to allocate emission
quotas to pollution sources within its
jurisdiction that qualify under an
environmental impact assessment system
programmatic compliance program pursuant
to the implementing rules and
regulations of Presidential Decree No.
1586.
SEC. 18. Financial Liability for
Environmental Rehabilitation.- As part
of the environmental management plan
attached to the environmental compliance
certificate pursuant to Presidential
Decree No. 1586 and rules and
regulations set therefor, the Department
shall require program and project
proponents to put up financial guarantee
mechanisms to finance the needs for
emergency response, clean-up
rehabilitation of areas that
may be damaged during the program or
projects actual implementation.
Liability for damages shall continue
even after the termination of a program
or project, where such damages are
clearly attributable to that program or
project and for a definite period to be
determined by the Department and
incorporated into the environmental
compliance certificate.
Financial liability instruments may be
in the form a trust fund, environmental
insurance, surety bonds, letters of
credit, as well as self-insurance. The
choice of the guarantee instruments
shall furnish the Department with
evidence of availment of such
instruments.
Article Three
Pollution from Stationary Sources
SEC. 19. Pollution From Stationary
Sources.- The Department shall, within
two (2) years from the effectivity of
this Act, and every two (2) years
thereafter, review, or as the need
therefore arises, revise and publish
emission standards, to further improve
the emission standards for stationary
sources of air pollution. Such emission
standards shall be based on mass rate of
emission for all stationary source of
air pollution based on internationally
accepted standards, but not be limited
to, nor be less stringent than such
standards and with the standards set
forth in this section. The standards,
whichever is applicable, shall be the
limit on the acceptable level of
pollutants emitted from a stationary
source for the protection of the
publics health and welfare.
With respect to any trade, industry,
process and fuel-burning equipment or
industrial plant emitting air
pollutants, the concentration at the
point of emission shall not exceed the
following limits:

Maximum
Standard
Permissible
Pollutants Applicable to Method of Analysisa
Limits
Source
(mg/Ncm)
1. Antimony and
any source 10 as Sb AASb
Its compounds
2. Arsenic and its
Any source 10 as As AASb
compounds
3. Cadmium and Any source 10 as Cd AASb
its compounds
4. Carbon Any industrial
500 as CO Orsat analysis
Monoxide Source
5. Copper and its Any industrial
100 ax Cu AASb
Compounds source
Any source other
6. Hydrofluoric
than the Titration with
Acids and
manufacture of 50 as HF Ammonium
Fluoride
Aluminum from Thiocyanate
compounds
Alumina
7. Hydrogen i) Geothermal c.d Cadmium Sulfide
Sulfide Power Plants Method
ii) Geothermal
e
Exploration and
well-testing
iii) Any source
Cadmium Sulfide
other than (i) and 7 as H2S
Method
(ii)
Any trade,
8. Lead industry or 10 as Pb AASb
process
AASb/Cold-Vapor
5 as elemental
9. Mercury Any Source Technique or Hg
Hg
Analyzer
10. Nickel and its
compounds,
Any source 20 as Ni AASb
except Nickel
Carbonyl f
2,000 as acid
i) Manufacture of and NOx and Phenol-disulfonic
11. NOx
Nitric Acid calculated as acid Method
NO2
ii) Fuel burning Phenol-disulfonic
steam generators acid Method
Existing Source 1,500 as NO2
New Source
Coal-Fired 1,000 as NO2
Oil-Fired 500 as NO2
iii) Any source
Phenol-disulfonic
other than (i) adn
acid Method
(ii)
Existing Source 1000 as NO2
 New Source 500 as NO2
12. Phosphorus
Any source 200 as P2O5 Spectrophotometry
Pentoxideg
13. Zinc and its
Any source 100 as Zn AASb
Compounds
a
Other equivalent methods approved by the Department may be used.

b
Atomic Absorption Specttrophotometry

c
All new geothermal power plants starting construction by 01 January 1995 shall
control HsS emissions to not more than 150 g/GMW-Hr

d
All existing geothermal power plants shall control H sS emissions to not more than
200 g/GMW-Hr within 5 years from the date of effectivity of these revised
regulations.

e
Best practicable control technology for air emissions and liquid discharges.
Compliance with air and water quality standards is required.

f
Emission limit of Nickel Carbonyl shall not exceed 0.5 mg/Ncm.

g
Provisional Guideline

Provided, That the maximum limits in

mg/ncm particulates in said sources
shall be:
1. Fuel Burning Equipment
a) Urban or Industrial Area 150 mg/Ncm
b) Other Area 200 mg/Ncm
2. Cement Plants (Kilns, etc.) 150 mg/Ncm
3. Smelting Furnaces 150 mg/Ncm
4. Other Stationary Sourcesa 200 mg/Ncm
a
Other Stationary Sources means a trade, process, industrial plant, or fuel burning
equipment other than thermal power plants, industrial boilers, cement plants,
incinerators and smelting furnaces.
Provided, further, That the maximum
limits for sulfur oxides in said sources
shall be:
(1) Existing Sources
(i) Manufacture of Sulfuric Acid and Sulf(on)ation
2.0gm.Ncm as SO3
Process
(ii) Fuel burning Equipment 1.5gm.Ncm as SO2
(iii) Other Stationary Sourcesa 1.0gm.Ncm as SO3
(2) New Sources
(i) Manufacture of Sulfuric Acid and Sulf(on)ation 1.5 gm.Ncm as
Process SO3
0.7 gm.Ncm as
(ii) Fuel Burning Equipment
SO2
0.2 gm.Ncm as
(iii) Other Stationary Sourcesa
SO3
a
Other Stationary Sources refer to existing and new stationary sources other than
those caused by the manufacture of sulfuric acid and sulfonation process, fuel
burning equipment and incineration.
For stationary sources of pollution not
specifically included in the immediately
preceding paragraph, the following
emission standards shall not be exceeded
in the exhaust gas:
I. Daily And Half Hourly Average Values

Half
Daily
Hourly
Average
Average
Values
Values
10 30
Total dust
mg/m3 mg/m3
Gaseous and vaporous organic substances, expressed 10 20
3
as total organic carbon mg/m mg/m3
10 60
Hydrogen chloride (HCl)
mg/m3 mg/m3
Hydrogen fluoride (HF) 1 mg/m3 4 mg/m3
50 200
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
mg/m3 mg/m3
Nitrogen monoxide (NO) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
200 400
expressed as nitrogen dioxide for incineration plants with
mg/m3 mg/m3
a capacity exceeding 3 tonnes per hour
Nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
300
expressed as nitrogen dioxide for incineration plants with
mg/m3
a capacity of 3 tonnes per hour or less
 10 20
Ammonia
mg/m3 mg/m3
II. All the Average Values Over the
Sample Period of a Minimum of 4 and
Maximum of 8 Hours.
total
Cadmium and its compounds, expressed as cadmium (Cd)
0.05
Thallium and its compounds, expressed as thallium (Tl) mg/m3
0.05
Mercury and its Compounds, expressed as mercury (Hg)
mg/m3
Antimony and its compounds, expressed as antimony (Sb)
total
Arsenic and its compounds, expressed as arsenic (As) 0.5
mg/m3
Lead and its compounds, expressed as lead ( Pb)
Chromium and its compounds, expressed as chromium (Cr)
Cobalt and its compounds, expressed as cobalt (Co)
Copper and its compounds, expressed as copper (Cu)
Manganese and its compounds, expressed as manganese (Mn)
Nickel and its compounds, expressed as nickel (Ni)
Vanadium and its compounds, expressed as vanadium (V)
Tin and its compounds, expressed as tin (Sn)
These average values cover also gaseous
and the vapor forms of the relevant
heavy metal emission as well as their
compounds: Provided, That the emission
of dioxins and furans into the air shall
be reduced by the most progressive
techniques: Provided, further, That all
average of dioxin and furans measured
over the sample period of a minimum of 5
hours and maximum of 8 hours must not
exceed the limit value of 0.1
nanogram/m3.
Pursuant to Sec. 8 of this Act, the
Department shall prepare a detailed
action plan setting the emission
standards or standards of performance
for any stationary source the procedure
for testing emissions for each type of
pollutant, and the procedure for
enforcement of said standards.
Existing industries, which are proven to
exceed emission rates established by the
Department in consultation with
stakeholders, after a thorough, credible
and transparent measurement process
shall be allowed a grace period of
eighteen (18) months for the
establishment of an environmental
management system and the installation
of an appropriate air pollution control
device : Provided, That an extension of
not more than twelve (12) months may be
allowed by the Department on meritorious
grounds.
SEC. 20. Ban on Incineration.-
Incineration, hereby defined as the
burning of municipal, biomedical and
hazardous waste, which process emits
poisonous and toxic fumes is hereby
prohibited; Provided, however, That the
prohibition shall not apply to
traditional small-scale method of
community/neighborhood sanitation
siga, traditional, agricultural,
cultural, health, and food preparation
and crematoria; Provided, further, That
existing incinerators dealing with a
biomedical wastes shall be out within
three (3) years after the effectivity
of this Act; Provided, finally, that in
the interim, such units shall be limited
to the burning of pathological and
infectious wastes, and subject to close
monitoring by the Department.
Local government units are hereby
mandated to promote, encourage and
implement in their respective
jurisdiction a comprehensive ecological
waste management that includes waste
segregation, recycling and composting.
With due concern on the effects of
climate change, the Department shall
promote the use of state-of-the-art,
environmentally-sound and safe non-burn
technologies for the handling,
treatment, thermal destruction,
utilization, and disposal of sorted,
unrecycled, uncomposted, biomedical and
hazardous wastes.
Article Four
Pollution from Motor Vehicles
SEC. 21. Pollution from Motor
Vehicles.- a) The DOTC shall implement
the emission standards for motor
vehicles set pursuant to and as provided
in this Act. To further improve the
emission standards, the Department shall
review, revise and publish the standards
every two (2) years, or as the need
arises. It shall consider the maximum
limits for all major pollutants to
ensure substantial improvement in air
quality for the health, safety and
welfare of the general public.
The following emission standards for
type approval of motor vehicles shall be
effective by the year 2003:
a) For light duty vehicles, the exhaust
emission limits for gaseous pollutants
shall be:
Emission Limits for Light Duty Vehicles
Type Approval
(Directive 91/441/EEC)

CO HC + NOx PMa
(g/km) (g/km) (g/km)
2.72 0.97 0.14
a
for compression-ignition engines only

b) For light commercial vehicles, the

exhaust emission limit of gaseous
pollutants as a function of the given
reference mass shall be:

Reference Weight (RW) CO HC + NOx PMa

(kg) (g/km) (g/km) (g/km)
Category 1 1250< RW 2.72 0.97 0.14
Category
1250< RW<1700 5.17 1.4 0.19
2
Category
RW>1700 6.9 1.7 0.25
3
a
for compression-ignition engines only
c) For heavy duty vehicles, the exhaust
emission limits of gaseous pollutants
shall be:
CO HC NOx PM
(g/k/Wh) (g/k/Wh) (g/k/Wh) (g/k/Wh)
4.5 1.1 8.0 0.36a
a
In the case of engines of 85 kW or less, the limit value for particular emissions in
increased by multiplying the quoted limit by a coefficient of 1.7
Fuel evaporative emission for spark-
ignition engines shall not exceed 2.0
grams hydrocarbons per test. Likewise,
it shall not allow any emission of gases
from crankcase ventilation system into
the atmosphere.
b) The Department, in collaboration with
the DOTC, DTI and LGUs, shall develop an
action plan for the control and
management of air pollution from motor
vehicles consistent with the Integrated
Air Quality Framework. The DOTC shall
enforce compliance with the emission
standards for motor vehicles set by the
Department. The DOTC may deputize other
law enforcement agencies and LGUs for
this purpose. To this end, the DOTC
shall have the power to:
[1] Inspect and monitor the
emissions of motor vehicles;
[2] Prohibit or enjoin the use of
motor vehicles or a class of
motor vehicles in any area or
street at specified times; and
[3] Authorize private testing
emission testing centers duly
accredited by the DTI.
c) The DOTC, together with the DTI and
the Department, shall establish the
procedures for the inspection of motor
vehicles and the testing of their
emissions for the purpose of determining
the concentration and/or rate of
pollutants discharged by said sources.
d) In order to ensure the substantial
reduction of emissions from motor
vehicles, the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI), together with the DOTC
and the Department shall formulate and
implement a national motor vehicle
inspection and maintenance program that
will promote efficient and safe
operation of all motor vehicles. In this
regard, the DTI shall develop and
implement standards and procedures for
the certification of training
institutions, instructors and facilities
and the licensing of qualified private
service centers and their technicians as
prerequisite for performing the testing,
servicing, repair and the required
adjustment to the vehicle emission
system. The DTI shall likewise prescribe
regulations requiring the disclosure of
odometer readings and the use of tamper-
resistant odometers for all motor
vehicles including tamper-resistant fuel
management systems for the effective
implementation of the inspection and
maintenance program.
SEC. 22. Regulation of All Motor
Vehicles and Engines.- Any imported new
or locally-assembled new motor vehicle
shall not be registered unless it
complies with the emission standards set
pursuant to this Act, as evidenced by a
Certificate of Conformity (COC) issued
by the Department.
Any imported new motor vehicle engine
shall not be introduced into commerce,
sold or used unless it
complies with emission standards set
pursuant to this Act.
Any imported used motor vehicle or
rebuilt motor vehicle using new or used
engines, major parts or
components shall not be registered
unless it complies with the emission
standards.
In case of non-compliance, the importer
or consignee may be allowed to modify or
rebuild the vehicular engine so it will
be in compliance with applicable
emission standards.
No motor vehicle registration (MVR)
shall be issued unless such motor
vehicle passes the emission testing
requirement promulgated in accordance
with this Act. Such testing shall be
conducted by the DOTC or its authorized
inspection centers within sixty (60)
days prior to date of registration.
The DTI shall promulgate the necessary
regulations prescribing the useful life
of vehicles and engines including
devices in order to ensure that such
vehicles will conform to the emissions
which they were certified to meet. These
regulations shall include provisions for
ensuring the durability of emission
devices.
SEC. 23. Second-Hand Motor Vehicle
Engines.- Any imported second-hand motor
vehicle engine shall not be introduced
into commerce, sold or used unless it
complies with emission standards set
pursuant to this Act.
Article Five
Pollution from Other Sources
SEC. 24. Pollution from smoking.-
Smoking inside a public building or an
enclosed public place including public
vehicles and other means of transport or
in any enclosed area outside of ones
private residence, private place of work
or any duly designated smoking area is
hereby prohibited under this Act. This
provision shall be implemented by the
LGUs.
SEC. 25. Pollution from other mobile
sources.- The Department, in
coordination with appropriate agencies,
shall formulate and establish the
necessary standards for all mobile
sources other than those referred to in
Sec. 21 of this Act. The imposition of
the appropriate fines and penalties from
these sources for any violation of
emission standards shall be under the
jurisdiction of the DOTC.
Chapter 3
Fuels, Additives, Substances and
Pollutants
Article One
Fuels, Additives and Substances
SEC. 26. Fuels and Additives.- Pursuant
to the Air Quality Framework to be
established under Section 7 of this Act,
the Department of Energy (DOE), co-
chaired by the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR), in
consultation with the Bureau of Product
Standards (BPS) of the DTI, the DOST,
the representatives of the fuel and
automotive industries, academe and the
consumers shall set the specifications
for all types of
fuel and fuel-related products, to
improve fuel composition for increased
efficiency and reduced emissions:
Provided, however, that the
specifications for all types of fuel and
fuel-related products set-forth pursuant
to this
section shall be adopted by the BPS as
Philippine National Standards (PNS).
The DOE shall also specify the allowable
content of additives in all types of
fuels and fuel-related products. Such
standards shall be based primarily on
threshold levels of health and research
studies. On the basis of such
specifications, the DOE shall likewise
limit the content or begin that phase-
out of additives in all types of fuels
and fuel-related products as it may deem
necessary. Other agencies involved in
the performance of this function shall
be required to coordinate with the DOE
and transfer all documents and
information necessary for the
implementation of this provision.
Consistent with the provisions of the
preceding paragraphs under this section,
it is declared that:
a) not later than eighteen (18)
months after the effectivity of
this Act, no person shall
manufacture, import, sell,
supply, offer for sale, dispense,
transport or introduce into
commerce unleaded premium
gasoline fuel which has an anti-
knock index (AKI) of not less
that 87.5 and Reid vapor pressure
of not more than 9 psi. Within
six (6) months after the
effectivity of this Act, unleaded
gasoline fuel shall contain
aromatics not to exceed forty-
five percent (45%) by volume and
benzene not to exceed four
percent (4%) by volume; Provided,
that by year 2003, unleaded
gasoline fuel should contain
aromatics not to exceed thirty-
five percent (35%) by volume and
benzene not to exceed two percent
(2%) by volume;
b) not later than eighteen (18)
months after the effectivity of
this Act, no person shall
manufacture, import, sell,
supply, offer for sale, dispense,
transport or introduce into
commerce automotive diesel fuel
which contains a concentration of
sulfur in excess of 0.20% by
weight with a cetane number of
index of not less than forty-
eight (48): Provided, That by year
2004, content of said sulfur
shall be 0.05% by weight; and
c) not later than eighteen (18)
months after the effectivity of
this Act, no Person shall
 manufacture, import, sell,
supply, offer for sale, dispense,
transport or introduce into
commerce industrial diesel fuel
which contains a concentration of
sulfur in excess of 0.30% (by
weight).
Every two (2) years thereafter or as the
need arises, the specifications of
unleaded gasoline and of automotive and
industrial diesel fuels shall be
reviewed and revised for further
improvement in formulation and in
accordance with the provisions of this
Act.
The fuels characterized above shall be
commercially available. Likewise, the
same shall be the reference fuels for
emission and testing procedures to be
established in accordance with the
provisions of this Act.
Any proposed additive shall not in any
way increase emissions of any of the
regulated gases which shall include, but
not limited to carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons, and oxides of nitrogen and
particulate matter, in order to be
approved and certified by the
Department.
SEC. 27. Regulation of Fuels and Fuel
Additives.- The DOE, in coordination
with the Department and the BPS, shall
regulate the use of any fuel or fuel
additive. No manufacturer, processor or
trader of any fuel or additive may
import, sell, offer for sale, or
introduce into commerce such fuel for
additive unless the same has been
registered with the DOE. Prior to
registration, the manufacturer,
processor or trader shall provide the
DOE with the following relevant
information:
a) Product identity and
composition to determine the
potential health effects of such
fuel additives;
b) Description of the analytical
technique that can be used to
detect and measure the additive
in any fuel;
c) Recommended range of
concentration; and
d) Purpose in the use of the fuel
and additive.
SEC. 28. Misfueling.- In order to
prevent the disabling of any emission
control device by lead contamination,
no person shall introduce or cause or
allow the introduction of leaded
gasoline into any motor vehicle
equipped with a gasoline tank filler
inlet and labeled unleaded gasoline
only. This prohibition shall also apply
to any person who knows or should know
that such vehicle is designed solely for
the use of unleaded gasoline.
SEC. 29. Prohibition on Manufacture,
Import and Sale of leaded Gasoline and
of Engines and/or Components Requiring
Leaded Gasoline.- Effective not later
than eighteen (18) months after the
enactment of this Act, no person shall
manufacture, import, sell, offer for
sale, introduce into commerce, convey or
otherwise dispose of, in any manner,
leaded gasoline and engines and
components requiring the use of leaded
gasoline.
For existing vehicles, the DTI shall
formulate standards and procedures that
will allow non-conforming engines to
comply with the use of unleaded fuel
within five(5) years after the
effectivity of this Act.
Article Two
 Other Pollutants
SEC. 30. Ozone-Depleting Substances.-
Consistent with the terms and conditions
of the Montreal Protocol on Substances
that Deplete the Ozone Layer and other
international agreements and protocols
to which the Philippines is a signatory,
the Department shall phase out ozone-
depleting substances.
Within sixty (60) days after the
enactment of this Act, the Department
shall publish a list of substances which
are known to cause harmful effects on
the stratospheric ozone layer.
SEC. 31. Greenhouse Gases.- The
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Service
Administration (PAGASA) shall regularly
monitor meteorological factors affecting
environmental conditions including ozone
depletion and greenhouse gases and
coordinate with the Department in order
to effectively guide air pollution
monitoring and standard-setting
activities.
The Department, together with concerned
agencies and local government units,
shall prepare and fully implement a
national plan consistent with the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change and other international
agreements, conventions and protocols on
the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions in the country.
SEC. 32. Persistent Organic
Pollutants.- The Department shall,
within a period of two (2) years after
the enactment of this Act, establish an
inventory list of all sources of
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in
the country. The Department shall
develop short-term and long-term
national government programs on the
reduction and elimination of POPs such
as dioxins and furans. Such programs
shall be formulated within a year after
the establishment of the inventory list.
SEC. 33. Radioactive Emissions.- All
projects which will involve the use of
atomic and/or nuclear energy, and will
entail release and emission of
radioactive substances into the
environment, incident to the
establishment or possession of nuclear
energy facilities and radioactive
materials, handling, transport,
production, storage, and use of
radioactive materials, shall be
regulated in the interest of public
health and welfare by the Philippine
Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), in
coordination with Department and other
appropriate government
agencies.
Chapter 4
Institutional Mechanism
SEC. 34. Lead Agency.- The Department,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall
be the primary government agency
responsible for the implementation and
enforcement of this Act. To be more
effective in this regard, The
Departments Environmental Management
Bureau (EMB) shall be converted from a
staff bureau to a line bureau for a
period of no more than two (2) years,
unless a separate, comprehensive
environmental management agency is
created.
SEC. 35. Linkage Mechanism.- The
Department shall consult, participate,
cooperate and enter into agreement with
other government agencies, or with
affected non-governmental (NGOs) or
peoples organizations (POs),or private
enterprises in the furtherance of the
objectives of this Act.
SEC. 36. Role of Local Government
Units.- Local Government Units (LGUs)
shall share the responsibility in the
management and maintenance of air
quality within their territorial
jurisdiction. Consistent with Sections
7, 8 and 9 of this Act, LGUs shall
implement air quality standards set by
the Board in areas within their
jurisdiction; Provided, however, That in
case where the board has not been duly
constituted and has not promulgated its
standards, the standards set forth in
this Act shall apply.
The Department shall provide the LGUs
with technical assistance, trainings and
a continuing
capability-building program to prepare
them to undertake full administration of
the air quality management and
regulation within their territorial
jurisdiction.
SEC. 37. Environmental and Natural
Resources Office.- There may be
established an Environment and Natural
Resources Office in every province,
city, or municipality which shall be
headed by the environment and natural
resources officer and shall be appointed
by the Chief Executive of every
province, city or municipality in
accordance with the provisions of
Section 484 of Republic Act No. 7160.
Its powers and duties, among others,
are:

a) To prepare comprehensive air

quality management programs, plans
and strategies within the limits set
forth in Republic act. No. 7160 and
this Act which shall be implemented
within its territorial jurisdiction
upon the approval of the sanggunian;
b) To provide technical assistance
and support to the governor or
mayor, as the case may be, in
carrying out measures to ensure the
delivery of basic services and the
provision of adequate facilities
relative to air quality;
c) To take the lead in all efforts
concerning air quality protection
and rehabilitation;
d) To recommend to the Board air
quality standards which shall not
exceed the maximum permissible
standards set by rational laws;
 e) To coordinate with other
government agencies and non-
governmental organizations in the
implementation of measures to prevent
and control air pollution; and
f) Exercise such other powers and
perform such duties and functions as
may be prescribed by law or
ordinance: Provided, however, That
in provinces/cities/municipalities
where there are no environment and
natural resources officers, the
local executive concerned may
designate any of his official and/or
chief of office preferably the
provincial, city or municipal
agriculturist, or any of his
employee: Provided, finally, That in
case an employee is designated as
such, he must have sufficient
experience in environmental and
natural resources management,
conservation and utilization.
SEC. 38. Record-keeping, Inspection,
Monitoring and Entry by the Department.-
The Department or its duly accredited
entity shall, after proper consultation
and notice, require any person who owns
or operates any emissions source or who
is subject to any requirement of this
Act to:
(a) establish and maintain relevant
records;
(b) make relevant reports;
(c) install, use and maintain
monitoring equipment or methods;
(d) sample emission, in accordance
with the methods, locations,
intervals and manner prescribed by
the Department;
(e) keep records on control equipment
parameters, production variables or
other indirect data when direct
monitoring of emissions is
impractical; and
(f) provide such other information
as the Department may reasonably
require.
Pursuant to this Act, the Department,
through its authorized representatives,
shall have the right of:
(a) entry or access to any premises
including documents and relevant
materials as referred to in the
herein preceding paragraph;
 (b) inspect any pollution or waste
source, control device, monitoring
equipment or method required;
and
(c) test any emission.
Any record, report or information
obtained under this section shall be
made available to the public, except
upon a satisfactory showing to the
Department by the entity concerned that
the record, report or information, or
parts thereof, if made public, would
divulge secret methods or processes
entitled to protection as intellectual
property. Such record, report or
information shall likewise be
incorporated in the Departments
industrial rating system.
SEC. 39. Public Education and
Information Campaign.- A continuing air
quality information and education
campaign shall promoted by the
Department, the Department of Education,
Culture and Sports (DECS), the
Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG), the Department of
Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA). Consistent
with Sec. 7 of this Act, such campaign
shall encourage the participation of
other government agencies and the
private sector including NGOs, POs, the
academe, environmental groups and other
private entities in a multi-sectoral
information campaign.
Chapter 5
Actions
SEC. 40. Administrative Action.- Without
prejudice to the right of any affected
person to file an administrative action,
the Department shall, on its own
instance or upon verified complaint by
any person, institute administrative
proceedings against any person who
violates:
(a) Standards or limitation provided
under this Act; or
(b) Any order, rule or regulation
issued by the Department with
respect to such standard or
limitation.
SEC. 41. Citizen Suits.- For purposes of
enforcing the provisions of this Act or
its implementing rules and regulations,
any citizen may file an appropriate
civil, criminal or administrative action
in the proper courts against:
 (a) Any person who violates or fails
to comply with the provisions of
this Act or its implementing rules
and regulations; or
(b) The Department or other
implementing agencies with respect
to orders, rules and regulations
issued inconsistent with this Act;
and/or
(c) Any public officer who willfully
or grossly neglects the performance
of an act specifically enjoined as a
duty by this Act or its implementing
rules and regulations; or abuses his
authority in the performance of his
duty; or, in any manner, improperly
performs his duties under this Act
or its implementing rules and
regulations: Provided, however, That
no suit can be filed until thirty-
day (30) notice has been taken
thereon.
The court shall exempt such action from
the payment of filing fees, except fees
for actions not capable of pecuniary
estimations, and shall likewise, upon
prima facie showing of the non-
enforcement or violation complained of,
exempt the plaintiff from the filing of
an injunction bond for the issuance of a
preliminary injunction.
Within thirty (30) days, the court shall
make a determination if the compliant
herein is malicious and/or baseless and
shall accordingly dismiss the action and
award attorneys fees and damages.
SEC. 42. Independence of Action.- The
filing of an administrative suit against
such person/entity does not preclude the
right of any other person to file any
criminal or civil action. Such civil
action shall proceed independently.
SEC. 43. Suits and Strategic Legal
Actions Against Public Participation
and the Enforcement of This Act.- Where
a suit is brought against a person who
filed an action as provided in Sec. 41
of this Act, or against any person,
institution or government agency that
implements this Act, it shall be the
duty of the investigating prosecutor or
the court, as the case may be, to
immediately make a determination not
exceeding thirty (30) days whether said
legal action has been filed to harass,
vex, exert undue pressure or stifle such
legal recourses of the person
complaining of or enforcing the
provisions of this Act. Upon
determination thereof, evidence
warranting the same, the court shall
dismiss the case and award attorneys
fees and double damages.
This provision shall also apply and
benefit public officers who are sued for
acts committed in their official
capacity, their being no grave abuse of
authority, and done in the course of
enforcing this Act.
SEC. 44. Lien Upon Personal and
Immovable Properties of Violators.-
Fines and penalties imposed pursuant to
this Act shall be liens upon personal or
immovable properties of the violator.
Such lien shall, in case of insolvency
of the respondent violator, enjoy
preference to laborers wages under
Articles 2241 and 2242 of Republic Act
No. 386, otherwise known as the New
Civil Code of the Philippines.
Chapter 6
Fines and Penalties
SEC. 45. Violation of Standards for
Stationary Sources.- For actual
exceedance of any pollution or air
quality standards under this Act or its
rules and regulations, the Department,
through the Pollution Adjudication
Board (PAB), shall impose a fine of not
more than One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) for every day of violation
against the owner or operator of a
stationary source until such time that
the standards have been complied with.
For purposes of the application of the
fines, the PAB shall prepare a fine
rating system to adjust the maximum fine
based on the violators ability to pay,
degree of willfulness, degree of
negligence, history of non-compliance
and degree of recalcitrance: Provided,
That in case of negligence, the first
time offenders ability to pay may
likewise be considered by the Pollution
Adjudication Board: Provided, further,
That in the absence of any extenuating
or aggravating circumstances, the amount
of fine for negligence shall be
equivalent to one-half of
the fine for willful violation.
The fines herein prescribed shall be
increased by at least ten percent (10%),
every three (3) years to compensate for
inflation and to maintain the deterrent
function of such fines.
In addition to the fines, the PAB shall
order closure, suspension of
development, construction, or operations
of the stationary sources until such
time that proper environmental
safeguards are put in place: Provided,
That an establishment liable for a third
offense shall suffer permanent closure
immediately. This paragraph shall be
without prejudice to the immediate
issuance of an ex parte order for such
closure, suspension of development or
construction, or cessation of operations
during the pendency of the case upon
prima facie evidence that their is
imminent threat to life, public health,
safety or general welfare, or to plant
or animal life, or whenever there is an
exceedance of the emission standards set
by the Department and/or the Board
and/or the appropriate LGU.
SEC. 46. Violation of Standards for
Motor Vehicles.- No motor vehicle shall
be registered with the DOTC unless it
meets the emission standards set by the
Department as provided in Sec. 21
hereof.
Any vehicle suspected of violation of
emission standards through visual signs,
such as, but not limited to smoke-
belching, shall be subjected to an
emission test by a duly authorized
emission testing center. For this
purpose, the DOTC or its authorized
testing center shall establish a
roadside inspection system. Should it
be shown that there was no violation of
emission standards, the vehicle shall be
immediately released. Otherwise, a
testing result indicating an exceedance
of the emission standards would warrant
the continuing custody of the impounded
vehicle unless the appropriate penalties
are fully paid, and the license plate is
surrendered to
the DOTC pending the fulfillment of the
undertaking by the owner/operator of the
motor vehicle to make the necessary
repairs so as to comply with the
standards. A pass shall herein be issued
by the DOTC to authorize the use of the
motor vehicle within a specified period
that shall not exceed seven (7) days for
the sole purpose of making the necessary
repairs on the said vehicle. The
owner/operator of the vehicle shall be
required to correct its defects and show
proof of compliance to the appropriate
pollution control office before the
vehicle can be allowed to be driven on
any public or subdivision roads.
In addition, the driver and operator of
the apprehended vehicle shall undergo a
seminar on pollution control management
conducted by the DOTC and shall also
suffer the following penalties:
a) First Offense - a fine not to
exceed Two Thousand Pesos
(P2,000.00);
b) Second Offense - a fine not less
than Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00)
and not to exceed Four
Thousand Pesos (P4,000.00); and
c) Third offense - one (1) year
suspension of the Motor Vehicle
Registration (MVR) and a fine of not
less than Four Thousand Pesos
(P4,000.00) and not more than Six
thousand pesos (P6,000.00).
Any violation of the provisions of Sec.
21 paragraph (d) with regard to national
inspection and maintenance program,
including technicians and facility
compliance shall penalized with a fine
of not less than Thirty Thousand Pesos
(P30,000.00) or cancellation of license
of both the technician and the center,
or both, as determined by the DTI.
All law enforcement officials and
deputized agents accredited to conduct
vehicle emissions testing and
apprehensions shall undergo a mandatory
training on emission standards and
regulations. For this purpose, the
Department, together with the DOTC, DTI,
DOST, Philippine National Police (PNP)
and other concerned agencies and private
entities shall design a training
program.
SEC. 47. Fines and Penalties for
Violations of Other Provisions in the
Act.- For violations of all other
provisions provided in this Act and of
the rules and regulations thereof, a
fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos
(P10,000) but not more than One Hundred
thousand Pesos (P100,000) or six (6)
months to six (6) years imprisonment or
both shall be imposed. If the offender
is a juridical person, the president,
manager, directors, trustees, the
pollution control officer or the
officials directly in charge of the
operations shall suffer the penalty
herein provided.
SEC. 48. Gross Violations.- In case of
gross violation of this Act or its
implementing rules and regulations, the
PAB shall recommend to the proper
government agencies to file the
appropriate criminal charges against
the violators. The PAB shall assist the
public prosecutor in the litigation of
the case. Gross violation shall mean:
[a] three (3) or more specific
offenses within a period of one (1)
year;
[b] three (3) or more specific
offenses with
three (3) consecutive years;
[c] blatant disregard of the orders
of the PAB, such s but not limited
to the breaking of seal, padlocks and
other similar devices, or operation
despite the existence of an order
for closure, discontinuance or
cessation of operation; and
[d] irreparable or grave damage to
the environment as a consequence of
any violation of the provisions of
this Act.
Offenders shall be punished with
imprisonment of not less than six (6)
years but not more than ten (10) years
at the discretion of the court. If the
offender is a juridical person, the
president, manager, directors, trustees,
the pollution control officer or the
officials directly in charge of the
operations shall suffer the penalty
herein provided.
Chapter 7
Final Provisions
SEC. 49. Potential Loss or Shifts of
Employment.- The Secretary of Labor is
hereby authorized to establish a
compensation, retraining and relocation
program to assist workers laid off due
to a companys compliance with the
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 50. Appropriations.- An amount of
Seven Hundred Fifty Million Pesos
(P750,000,000.00) shall be appropriated
for the initial implementation of this
Act, of which, the amount of Three
Hundred Million Pesos (P300,000,000.00)
shall be appropriated to the Department;
Two Hundred Million Pesos
(P200,000,000.00) to the DTI; One
Hundred Fifty Million Pesos
(P150,000,000.00) to the DOTC; and One
Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00)
to the DOE.
Thereafter, the amount necessary to
effectively carry out the provisions of
this Act shall be included in the
General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 51. Implementing Rules and
Regulations.- The Department, in
coordination with the Committees on
Environment and Ecology of the Senate
and House of Representatives,
respectively and other agencies, shall
promulgate the implementing rules and
regulations for this Act, within one (1)
year after the enactment of this Act:
Provided, That rules and regulations
issued by other government agencies and
instrumentalities for the prevention
and/or abatement of pollution not
inconsistent with this Act shall
supplement the rules and regulations
issued by the Department pursuant to the
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 52. Report to Congress.- The
Department shall report to Congress, not
later than March 30 of every year
following the approval of this Act, the
progress of the pollution control
efforts and make the necessary
recommendations in areas where there is
need for legislative action.
SEC. 53. Joint Congressional Oversight
Committee.- There is hereby created a
joint congressional oversight committee
to monitor the implementation of this
Act. The committee shall be composed of
five (5) senators and five (5)
representatives to be appointed by the
Senate President and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, respectively,
the oversight committee shall be co-
chaired by a senator and a
representative designated by the Senate
President and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, respectively.
The mandate given to the joint
congressional oversight committee under
this Act shall be without prejudice to
the performance of the duties and
functions by the respective existing
oversight committees of the Senate and
the House of Representatives.
SEC. 54. Separability of Provisions.- If
any provision of this Act or the
application of such provision to any
person or circumstances is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of the
Act or the application of such provision
to other person or circumstances shall
not be affected by such declaration.
SEC. 55. Repealing Clause.- Presidential
Decree No. 1181 is hereby repealed.
Presidential Decrees Nos. 1152, 1586 and
Presidential Decree No. 984 are partly
modified. All other laws, orders,
issuance, rules and regulations
inconsistent herewith are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 56. Effectivity.- This Act shall
take effect fifteen (15) days from the
date of its publication in the Official
Gazette or in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.