FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
. SENt!Tll 
S. No. 
G35 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The environments in our homes and communities pose long-term risks to our health. 
Whether it be the location of a toxic waste dump, traffic patterns allowing diesel-powered trucks 
to rumble past a school, or cancer-causing formaldehyde in our homes and offices, the places we 
live and work in can cause real hazards to our health. 
It is important for the government to provide support for efforts to improve community 
design and will issue grants to allow local governments and communities, to address 
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environmental health hazards in the grassroots level. It is also important to ensure that 
communities are involved in public health decisions that directly impact them. 
This bill seeks to require government agencies to support health impact assessments and 
take other actions to improve health and. the environmental quality of communities. I 
1 This bill was originaJly filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2235 
1 
AN ACT 
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REQUIRING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO SUPPORT HEALTH IMPACT 
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ASSESSMENTS AND TAKE OTHER ACTIONS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND THE 
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ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF COMMUNITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be knowl as the "Healthy Places Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protecf 1illQlfdvatice-"-~ ...... 
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the right or the people to a balanced aid healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and 
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harmony of nature. Pursuant to this policy, this Act shall require government agencies to support 
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health impact assessments and take other actions to improve the health and the environmental 
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quality of communities. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms -For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(A) "Built environment" means an environment consisting of all buildings, spaces, and 
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products that are created or modified by people, including homes, schools, workplaces, parks and 
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recreation areas, greenways, business areas, and transportation systems; electric transmission 
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lines; waste disposal sites; and land use planning and policies that impact urban, rural, and 
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suburban communities; 
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(B) "Environmental health" means the health and well-being of a population as affected 
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by the direct pathological effects of chemicals, radiation, and some biological agents; and the 
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effects of the broad physical, psychological, social, and aesthetic environment; 
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(C) "Eligible entity" means any unit ofthe national government or local governri1ents the 
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jurisdiction of which includes individuals or populations the health of which are or win be 
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affected by an activity or a proposed activity. 
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The term shall also mean a local community that bears a disproportionate burden of 
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exposure to environmental health hazards; has established a coalition with not less than one (1) 
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community-based organization; and with not less than one (1) public health entity; health care 
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provider organization; or academic institution; ensures planned activities and funding ~t~eams are 
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coordinated to improve community health; and submits an application; 
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(D) "Eligible institution'" means.a public or private nonprofit institution that submits to 
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the Secretary of Health an application for a grant under the grant program at such time, in such 
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manner, and containing such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary may 
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reqUire; 
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(E) "Health" means, but is not limited to, levels of physical activity; coiisiIrnpTiOICo-r----' 
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nutritional foods; rates of crime; air, 'water, and soil quality; risk of injury; accessibility to 
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healthcare services; and other indicators as determined appropriate by the Secretary or Health; 
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and 
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(F) "Health impact assessment" means any combination of procedures, methods, tools, 
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and means used under section 4 to analyze the actual or potential effects of a policy, program, or 
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project on the health of a popUlation, including the distribution of those effects within the 
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population. 
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SECTION 4. Inter-Agency Working Group on Environmental Health. - The Secretary of 
, 
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Health, in coordination with the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, shall establish 
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an Inter-Agency Working Group to discuss environmental health concerns, particularly concerns 
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disproportionately affecting disadvantaged populations. 
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The Inter-Agency Working Group shall be composed of a representative from each 
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department or government agency, as appointed by the head of the department or government 
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agency, that has jurisdiction over, or is affected by, environmental policies and projects, 
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including the 
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(A) Department of Agriculture; 
(B) Department of Trade and Industry; 
(C) Department of National Defense; 
(D) Department of Education; 
(E) Department of Energy; 
(F) Depaliment of Health; 
(G) Department ofInterior and Local Government; 
(H) Department of Labor and Employment; 
(I) Department of Department of Transportation and Communications; 
(J) Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and 
(K) Such other government agencies as the Secretary of Health and the. Secretary. 
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of Environment and Natural Resources shall jointly determine to be appropriate; 
The Inter-Agency Working Group shall 
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(A) Facilitate communication and partnership on environmental health-related 
projects and policies to generate a better understanding of the interactions betwren policy 
areas; and to raise awareness of the relevance of health across policy areas to ensure that 
the potential positive and negative health consequences of decisions are not overlooked; 
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CB) Serve as a centralized mechanism to coordinate a national effqrt .to discuss 
and evaluate evidence and knowledge on the relationship between the general 
environment and the health of the population of the Philippines; determine the range of 
effective, feasible, and comprehensive actions to improve environmental health; and 
examine and better address the, influence of social and environmental determinants of 
health; 
(C) Survey departments and government agencies to determine which policies are 
effective in encouraging, and how best to facilitate outreach without duplicating, efforts 
relating to environmental health promotion; 
CD) Establish specific goals within and across departments and government 
agencies for environmental health promotion, including determinations of accountability 
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for reaching those goals; 
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(E) Develop a strategy for allocating responsibilities and ensuring participation in 
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environmental health promotions, particularly in the case of competing agency priorities; 
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(F) Coordinate plans to 'communicate research results relating to environmental 
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health to enable reporting and outreach activities to produce more useful and timely 
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infonnation; 
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(G) Establish an interdisciplinary committee to continue research efforts to further 
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understand the relationship between the built environment and health factors, including 
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air quality, physical activity levels, housing quality, access to primary health care 
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practitioners and health care facilities, injury risk, and availability of nutritional, fresh 
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food, that coordinates the expertise of the public health, urban planning, and 
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transportation communities; 
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(H) Develop an appropriate research agenda for departments and government 
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agencies to support longitudinal studies; rapid-response capability to ev'iiluite natiiraI"-"'" .,' 
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. conditions and occurrences and extensions of national databases; and to review 
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evaluation and economic data relating to the impact of government interventions on the 
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prevention of environmental health concerns; 
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(I) Initiate environmental health impact demonstration projects to' develop 
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integrated place-based models for addressing community quality-of-life issues; 
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(J) Provide a description of evidence-based best practices, model programs, 
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effective guidelines, aid other strategies for promoting environmental health; 
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(K) Make recommendations to improve govenilllent efforts· relating t.o 
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environmental health promotio~ and to ensure government efforts are consjstent with 
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available standards and evidence and other programs in existence as of the datc of 
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enactment ofthis Act; 
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(L) Monitor government progress m meeting specific environmental health 
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promotion goals; 
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(M) Assist in ensuring, to the maximum extent practicable, integration of the 
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impact of environmental policies, programs, and activities of the government; 
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(N) Assist in the expansion of national public health and travel surveys to provide 
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more detailed information about the connection between the built environment and 
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health; 
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(0) Assist in the development of interdisciplinary education programs to train 
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professionals in conducting recommended research; and to prepare practitioners with 
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appropriate skills at the intersection of physical activity, public health, transportation, and 
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urban planning; and 
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(P) Assist the Secretary of Health with the development of guidance for the 
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assessment of the potential health effects of land use, housing, and transportation policy 
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and plans. 
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The Inter-Agency Working Gr?up shall meet at least three (3) times each year. The 
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Secretary of Health shall sponsor an annual conference on environmental health and health 
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disparities to enhance coordination, build partnerships, and share best practices in··envlronmentar-'····· 
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health data collection, analysis, and reporting. 
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SECTION 5. Health Impact Assessments. - The Secretary of Health shall establish a 
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program focused on advancing the field of health impact assessment, including collecting and 
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disseminating best practices; administering capacity building grants; providing technical 
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assistance and training; conducting evaluations; awarding competitive extramural research 
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grants. He shall likewise develop gdidance for the conduct health impact assessments and 
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establish a grant program to allow eligible entities to conduct health impact assessments. 
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The Secretary of Health, in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Working Group, shall 
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develop guidance for the assessment of the potential health effects of land use,honsing, and 
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transportation policy and plans, including background on international efforts to bridge urban 
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planning and public health institutions and disciplines, including a review of health impact 
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assessment best practices internationally; evidence-based causal pathways that link urban 
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planning, transportation, and housing policy and objectives to hnman health objectives; data 
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resources and quantitative and qualitative forecasting methods to evaluate both the status of 
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health determinants and health effects; and best practices for inclusive public involvement in 
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planning decision-making. 
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'The Secretary of Health, shaH establish a program under which the Secretary shall 
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provide funding and technical assistance to eligible entities to prepare health impact assessments 
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to ensure that appropriate health factors are taken into consideration as early as practicable 
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during any planning, review, or decision-making process; and to evaluate the effect on the health 
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of individuals and populations, and on social and economic development, of decisions made 
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outside of the health sector that result in modifications of a physical or social environment. 
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To receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shaH submit to the Secretary of 
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Health an application in accordance with this subsection, in such time, in such manner, and 
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containing such additional information as the Secretary may require. 
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An application under this Section shall include an assessment by the eligible entity of the 
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probability that an applicable activity or proposed activity will have at least I signi:frcani~·aaverse·-·-
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health effect on an individual or population in the jurisdiction ofthe eligible entity, based on the 
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criteria described in subparagraph. 
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The criteria referred to in the preceding paragraph include, with respect to ,the applicable 
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activity or proposed activity any 
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(A) Substantial adverse effect on existing air quality, ground or surface water 
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quality or quantity, or traffic or noise levels; a significant habitat area; physical activity; 
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injury; mental health; social capital; accessibility; the character or quality ofan important 
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historical, archeological, architectural, or aesthetic resource (including neighborhood 
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character) ofthe community o€ the eligible entity or any other natural resource; 
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(B) Increase in solid waste production; or problems relating to erosion, flooding, 
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leaching, or drainage; any requirement that a large quantity of vegetation or fauna be 
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removed or destroyed; and 
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(C) Conflict with the plans or goals of the community of the eligible entity; 
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(D) Major change in the quantity or type of energy used by the community of the 
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eligible entity; 
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(E) Hazard presented to human health; 
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(F) Substantial change in the use, or intensity of use, of land in the jurisdiction of 
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the eligible entity, including agricultural, open space, and recreational uses; 
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(G) Probability that the activity or proposed activity will result in an increase in 
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tourism in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity; 
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(H) Substantial, adverse aggregate impact on environmental health resulting from 
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changes caused by the activity or proposed activity to two (2) or more elements of the 
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environment; or two (2) or more related actions carried out under the activity or proposed 
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activity; and 
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(I) Other significant change of concern, as determined by the eligible entity. 
lOIn making an assessment under this Section, an eligible entity may take into consideration 
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any reasonable, direct, indirect, or cumulative effect relating to the applicable activity or 
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proposed activity, including the effect' of any action that is included in the long-range plan 
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relating to the activity or proposed activity; likely to be carried out in coordin~iicin--with'ihe--' 
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activity or proposed activity; dependent on the occurrence of the activity or proposed activity; 0 
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likely to have a disproportionate impact on disadvantaged populations. 
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In preparing a health impact assessment under this subsection, an eligible entity shall 
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follow guidelines developed by the Secretary of Health, in collaboration with the Inter-Agency 
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Working Group, that will be established not later than I year after the date of enactment of this 
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Act; and will be made publicly available at the annual conference described in Section 3( d)(2); 
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and may establish a balance, as the eligible entity determines to be appropriate, between the use 
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of rigorous methods requiring special skills or increased use of resources; and e.xpedient, cost 
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effective measures. 
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Before preparing and submitting to the Secretary of Health a final health impact 
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assessment, an eligible entity shall request and take into consideration public and agency 
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comments, in accordance with this Section. 
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Not later than thirty (30) days after the date on which a draft health impact'assessment is 
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completed, an, eligible entity shall submit the draft health impact assessment to each department 
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and government agency, and local government, that has jurisdiction with respect to the activity 
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or proposed activity 10 which the health impact assessment applies; has special knowledge with 
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respect to an environmental or health impact of the activity or proposed activity; or is authorized 
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to develop or enforce any environmental standard relating to the activity or proposed activity. 
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SECTION 6. Health Impact Assessment Database. - The Secretary, shall establish and 
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maintain a health impact assessment database, including a catalog of health impact assessments 
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received under this Section; an inventory of tools used by eligible entities to prepare draft and 
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final health impact assessments; and guidance for eligible entities with respect to the selection of 
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appropriate tools. 
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SECTION 7. Grant Program. - The Secretary of Health shall establish a grant program 
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under which eligible entities shall receive grants to conduct environmental health improvement 
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activities. 
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To receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the 
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Secretary of Health at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such informaJioh·as·tlie-···· 
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Secretary may require. An eligible entity may use a grant under this Section to promote 
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environmental health; and to address environmental health disparities. 
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SECTION 8. Additional Research on the Relationship Between the Built Environment 
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and the Health of Community Residents. - The Secretary shall provide grants to eligible 
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institutions to conduct and coordinate research on the built environment and its influence on 
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individual and population-based health. He or she shall support research that investigates and 
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defines the causal links between all aspects of the built environment and the health ofresidents; 
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examines the extent of the impact of the built environment (including the various characteristics 
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of the built environment) on the health of residents; the variance in the health of residents by 
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location such as inner cities, iuner suburbs, and outer suburbs; and population subgroup (such as 
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children, the elderly, the disadvantaged); or the importance of the built environment to the total 
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health of residents, which is the primary variable of interest from a public health perspective; 
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distinguishes carefully between personal attitUdes and choices and external influences on 
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observed behavior to determine how much an observed association between the built 
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environment and the health of residents, versus the lifestyle preferences of the people tpat choose 
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to live in the neighborhood, reflects the physical characteristics of the neighborhood; identifies or 
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develops effective intervention strategies to promote better health among residents with a focus 
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on behavioral interventions and enhancements of the built environment that promote increased 
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use by residents; and in developing the intervention strategies which will reach out to high-risk 
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popUlations, including low-income urban and rural communities. 
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In providing assistance under the grant program under this Section, the Secretary of 
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Health shall give priority to research that incorporates interdisciplinary approaches; or the 
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expertise of the public health, physical activity, urban planning, and transportation research 
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communities in the United States and abroad. 
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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - In any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 10. Repealing Clau~e. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
iptmtOljuly20 1 0 
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