NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology is upheld by the 
Constitution.  It is, therefore, the mandate of the State to safeguard that right and to provide 
the resources to implement this policy for the benefit of all citizens. 
Public health and safety greatly depends on the awareness of citizens and local 
officials of the toxic dangers that exist in their homes, communities and neighborhoods. Of all 
sectors in the society, it is the children and other vulnerable subpopulations like pregnant 
women, the elderly and individuals with a history of ailments that face unique health threats 
needing special attention.  However, our current standards for environmental pollutants fail to 
protect or even consider risks to children and other vulnerable subpopulations. 
There is a need to clearly differentiate between the risks to children and other 
vulnerable sectors in the setting of environmental and public health standards.  It is also 
important that such standards be made known and understood by the target sector for their 
own protection. 
This bill seeks to address these issues by tasking the Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources (DENR), in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) and the 
Department of Agriculture (DA) in setting appropriate standards.  This bill institutes the 
necessary mechanisms for ensuring and supplying data that would allow adequate 
quantification and evaluation of environmental pollutants specific to these sectors, providing 
information on the risks to children and the risks to other vulnerable sub-pollutants.  In so 
doing, the citizens will be able to exercise their right to know and make informed decisions to 
protect their families.  
In view of the foregoing considerations early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
January 11, 2023
6:18 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND OTHER VULNERABLE SUBPOPULATIONS FROM 
EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1.  Title. This Act shall be known and cited as “Children’s Environmental 
Protection Act.”  
SEC 2.  Declaration of Policy.  It is the policy of the State, concordant with the Constitution, 
to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord 
with the rhythm and harmony of nature and to promote and protect the children’s physical well-
being in recognition of the youth’s vital role in nation-building.  To ensure the implementation 
of these policies, the State shall ensure that: 
a)
All environmental and public health standards set by the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Health
(DOH), respectively must, with an adequate margin of safety, protect
children and other vulnerable subpopulations that are at greater risk from
exposure to environmental pollutants;
b)
Information, including a safer-for-children product list, should be made
readily available by the DENR to the general public and relevant government
agencies to advance the public’s right to know and prevent unnecessary and
involuntary exposure to environmental pollutants;
c)
Not later that one (1) year after the safer-for-children product list is created,
only listed products or chemicals that minimize potential health risks to
children shall be used in properties and areas of the State; and
d)
Scientific research opportunities should be identified by the DENR and the
DOH to study the short-term and long-term health effects of cumulative,
simultaneous and synergistic exposures of children and other vulnerable
subpopulations to environmental pollutants.
SEC 3. Definitions of Terms - As used in this Act: 
a)
“Areas that are Reasonably Accessible to Children” shall refer to homes,
schools, day care centers, shopping malls, movie theaters and parks;
b)
“Children” shall refer to individual 18 years of age or younger;
c)
“Department” shall refer to the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources;
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d) 
“Environmental Pollutants” shall refer to the hazardous substance or a 
pesticide, as defined in R.A. 6969 and those other pollutants under national 
standards; 
e) 
“Secretary” shall refer to the Secretary of Environment and Natural 
Resources; 
f) 
“State Properties and Areas” shall refer to areas owned or controlled by the 
Republic of the Philippines; and 
g) 
“Vulnerable Subpopulations” shall refer to children, pregnant women, the 
elderly, individuals with a history of serious illness and other subpopulations 
identified by the Secretary of Environment, in collaboration with the 
Secretary of Health as likely to experience elevated health risks from 
environmental pollutants. 
 
ARTICLE II 
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND OTHER VULNERABLE SUBPOPULATIONS 
 
SEC 4.  Functions of the Secretary of the DENR. The Secretary of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Secretary of Health shall: 
 
a) 
Consistently and explicitly evaluate and consider environmental health risks 
to vulnerable subpopulations in all of the risk assessments, risk 
characterizations, environmental and public health standards and regulatory 
decisions carried out by the Secretary; 
 
b) 
Ensure that all environmental and public health standards protect children 
and other vulnerable subpopulations with an adequate margin of safety; and 
 
c) 
Develop and use a separate assessment or finding of risks to vulnerable 
subpopulations or publish in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation an explanation why the separate assessment or finding is not in 
used.   
 
SEC 5. Reevaluation of Current Public Health and Environmental Standards.  As 
part of any risk assessment, risk characterization, environmental and public health standard 
or regulation, or general regulatory decision carried out by the Secretary, he shall evaluate 
and consider the environmental health risks to children and other vulnerable subpopulations. 
Not later that one (1) year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall: 
a) 
Develop an administrative strategy and process for reviewing standards; 
b) 
Publish in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation a list of 
standards that may need revision to ensure the protection of children and 
vulnerable subpopulations; 
c) 
Prioritize the list according to the standards that are most important for 
expedited review to protect children and vulnerable subpopulations; 
d) 
Identify which standards on the list will require additional research in order 
to be reevaluated and outline the time and resources required to carry out 
the research; 
e) 
Identify, through public input and peer review, public health and 
environmental standards to be re-promulgated on an expedited basis to 
meet the criteria of this subsection; 
f) 
Propose revised standards that meet the criteria of this subsection not later 
than five (5) years after the date of enactment of this title; 
g) 
Complete the revision of all standards in accordance with this subsection 
not later that ten (10) years after the date of enactment of this title; 
h) 
Report to Congress on an annual basis, the progress made by the 
Secretary in carrying out the objectives and policy of this subsection; 


 
ARTICLE III 
SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN 
 
SEC 6. Safer Environment for Children. To ensure a safer environment for children, in not 
later than one year after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall: 
a) 
Identify environmental pollutants commonly used or found in areas that are 
reasonably accessible to children; 
b) 
Create a scientifically peer-reviewed list of substances identified under 
paragraph one (1) with known, likely or suspected health risks to children; 
c) 
Create a scientifically peer-reviewed list of safer-for-children substances 
and products recommended by the Secretary for use in areas that are 
reasonably accessible to children, that when applied as recommended by 
the manufacturer, will minimize potential risks to children from exposure to 
environmental pollutants; 
d) 
Establish guidelines to help reduce and eliminate exposure to children to 
environmental pollutants in areas reasonably accessible to children, 
including advice on how to establish an integrated pest management 
program; 
e) 
Create a family right-to-know information kit that includes a summary of 
helpful information and guidance to families, such as the information created 
under paragraph (3), the guidelines established under paragraph (4), 
information on the potential effects of environmental pollutants, practical 
suggestions on how parents may reduce their children’s exposure to 
environmental pollutants, and other relevant information, as determined by 
the Secretary in cooperation with the Secretary of Department of Health; 
f) 
Make all information created pursuant to this subsection available to 
government agencies, the public and on the internet; and 
g) 
Review and update lists created under paragraphs (2) and (3) at least once 
each year; 
 
SEC 7. Compliance in Public Areas that are Reasonably Accessible to Children.  Not 
later that one year after the list of public areas that are reasonably accessible to children is 
created and made available to the public by the Department, the Secretary shall prohibit the 
use of any product that has been excluded from the safer-for-children list in State properties 
and areas. 
 
ARTICLE IV 
RESEARCH TO IMPROVE INFORMATION ON  
EFFECTS OF CHILDREN 
 
SEC 8. Toxicity Data.  The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health shall 
coordinate and support the development and implementation of basic and applied research 
initiatives to examine the health effects and toxicity of pesticides (including active and inert 
ingredients) and other environmental pollutants on children and other vulnerable 
subpopulations. 
 
SEC 9. Biennial Report.  The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health shall 
submit joint biennial reports to Congress on actions taken to carry out this article. 
 
ARTICLE V 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 


SEC 10.  Appropriations.  The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall 
be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and 
thereafter. 
 
SEC 11.  Separability Clause. If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain 
in force and effect. 
 
SEC 12. Repealing Clause.  Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter 
of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC 13.  Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of this 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,