TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES } 
First Regular Session 
}
25 JIJL -7 All :09
SEN AT. 
S.B. No. 11
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO III
AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL 
ENGINEERING IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is high time the Philippines recognizes the importance of licensed 
environmental engineers, environmental engineering technologists, and 
environmental engineering technicians in nation building and development.
Environmental Engineering refers to the application of scientific 
environmental engineering principles to protect and improve the environment, 
including the air, water, and land resources, to provide safe water, air, and 
land for human habitation and for other organisms and to rehabilitate 
polluted sites, solid waste management, environmental impact assessment, 
environmental risk assessment and management, atmospheric pollution 
abatement; noise pollution abatement; conservation and protection of water 
resources; classification of water; protection of watersheds; and management 
of toxic and hazardous substances and radiological pollution.
At present the Professional Regulation Commission only grants license 
to Environmental Planners. Our country faces multiple environmental 
challenges thus the crucial need for licensed Environmental Engineers.
In view thereof, immediate approval of this bill is requested.
E C. SOTTO III
VICE]


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session 
}
25 JUL -7 All :09
SEN ATE^
S.B. No. 195
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO III
AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL 
ENGINEERING IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
ARTICLE I
2 
TITLE, DECLARATION OF STATE POLICY, COVERAGE,
3 
DEFINITION OF TERMS, AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE
4
5 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Environmental
6 
Engineering Law of the Philippines”.
7 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. The State recognizes the importance of
8 
environmental engineers, environmental engineering technologists, and
9 
environmental engineering technicians in nation building and development. As
10 
such, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to recognize, promote,
11 
strengthen, and regulate the practice of environmental engineering profession
12 
in the Philippines by instituting measures that will result in relevant
13 
environmental engineering education and enhanced roles and better career
14 
prospects for environmental engineering practitioners. The State shall develop
15 
and nurture competent, productive, and well-rounded environmental
16 
engineering practitioners whose standard of professional practice and service
17 
shall be excellent, world-class, and globally competitive through regulatory
18 
measures, programs and activities.
19 
SEC. 3. Coverage. This Act shall cover the following aspects of the practice
20 
of environmental engineering profession:
21 
(a) Examination, registration, and licensure of environmental engineering
22 
practitioners;


1 
(b) Regulation, supervision, and control of the practice of environmental
2 
engineering;
3 
(c) Development, upgrading, and updating of the curriculum of
4 
environmental engineering, environmental engineering technology, and
5 
environmental engineering technician professions, in coordination with
6 
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and higher educational
7 
institutions (HEIs) and other stakeholders;
8 
(d) Development and improvement of the professional competence and
9 
practice of environmental engineering practitioners through, among
10 
others, continuing professional development (CPD); and
11 
(e) Creation of relevant positions for environmental engineers, environmental
12 
engineering technologists and environmental engineering technicians and
13 
such other positions which require the knowledge and services of
14 
environmental engineering practitioners in all levels of local government
15 
units, relevant National Government Agencies and instrumentalities,
16 
including government-owned and -controlled corporations 
(GOCCs) as
17 
well as in industries, private establishments, firms, corporations, and
18 
institutions.
19 
sex:. 4. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:
20 
(a) Air Pollution Control Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental
21 
Engineering in which scientific and engineering concepts and
22 
principles are applied to control of air pollutant emissions, their
23 
generation and release from a source, their transport and
24 
transformation in and removal from the atmosphere, and their effects
25 
on human beings, materials, and ecosystems. It covers monitoring
26 
and correction of air pollution problems originating from relatively
27 
small areas, such as an industrial park impacted by one or more
28 
emission sources, to those from large areas, such as urban area
29 
impacted by a number of sources and a variety of contaminants. The
30 
overall goal is to improve ambient air quality, to promote healthy
31 
environmental quality, and to protect property and public health;
32 
(b) Climate Change Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natural or
33 
human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or
34 
their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial
35 
opportunities;
2


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
(c) Disaster refers to a serious disruption of the functioning of a 
community or a society involving widespread human, material, 
economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the 
ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own 
resources;
(d) Disaster Mitigation refers to the lessening or limitation of the adverse 
impacts of hazards and related disasters. Mitigation measures 
encompass engineering techniques and hazard-resistant construction 
as well as improved environmental policies and public awareness, 
land use planning, and climate change.
(e) Disaster Risk Management refers to the systematic process of using 
administrative directives, organizations, and operational skills and 
capacities to implement strategies, policies and improved coping 
capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of hazards and 
possibility of disaster;
(f) Disaster Risk Reduction refers to the concept and practice of reducing 
disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyze and manage the 
casual factors of disasters, including through reduced exposure to 
hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and property, wise 
management of land and the environment, and improved 
preparedness for adverse events;
(g) Environmental Engineer refers to the environmental engineering 
practitioner duly registered with the Board and the PRC to practice 
environmental engineering as defined in this Act;
(h) Environmental Engineering refers to the application of scientific 
environmental engineering principles to protect and improve the 
environment, including the air, water, and land resources, to provide 
safe water, air, and land for human habitation and for other 
organisms and to rehabilitate polluted sites, solid waste 
management, environmental impact assessment, environmental risk 
assessment and management, atmospheric pollution abatement; 
noise pollution abatement; conservation and protection of water 
resources; classification of water; protection of watersheds; and 
management of toxic and hazardous substances and radiological 
pollution.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
The ultimate goal of environmental engineering and other allied 
and related professions is the protection of human populations from 
the effects of adverse environmental factors and the protection of 
environments, both local and global, from potentially deleterious 
effects of natural and human activities.
(i) Environmental Engineering Technologist refers to an environmental 
engineering practitioner duly registered with the Board and the PRC 
whose competence lies in the application of environmental 
engineering technologies. Environmental engineering technologist 
shall be a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Environmental 
Engineering Technology or its equivalent conferred by a school, 
academy, college or university in the Philippines or abroad which is 
recognized by the CHED. An environmental technologist shall also 
refer to a sanitary inspector with civil service eligibility;
(j) Environmental Engineering Management refers to the environmental 
engineers who can practice Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 
as this relate to the application of environmental engineering 
principles in an environmental assessment project such as EIA for 
construction related and wastewater technologies, ambient air 
quality management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, 
disaster risk reduction and management, and other programs and 
strategies to maintain safe and healthy environment and protect 
public health;
(k) Environmental Engineering Technician refers to an environmental 
engineering practitioner duly registered with the Board and the PRC 
whose role is to apply established methods or techniques of 
environmental engineering. An environmental engineering technician 
shall be a graduate of associate or certificate programs for 
environmental engineering technicians offered by a school, academy, 
college, or university in the Philippines or abroad which is recognized 
by the CHED.
(l) Environmental Health and Safety Engineering refers to the branch of 
Environmental Engineering in which scientific and engineering 
concepts and principles are applied to the examination of indoor and 
outdoor environmental quality and condition to identify, monitor,
4


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
evaluate and eliminate or control of hazards that expose people, 
environment or property to danger;
(m) 
Environmental Impact Assessment refers to the process that involves 
predicting and evaluating the likely impacts of a project including 
cumulative impacts on the environment during construction, 
commissioning, operation, and abandonment. It also includes 
designing appropriate preventive, mitigating, and enhancement 
measures addressing these consequences to protect the environment 
and the community’s welfare;
(n) Hazardous Wastes refers to those wastes defined and designated as 
hazardous wastes by Republic Act No. 6969, otherwise known as the 
“Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 
1990;”
(o) Hazardous Waste Management refers to the process which involves 
reducing the amount of hazardous substances produced, treating 
hazardous wastes to reduce their toxicity, and applying sound 
engineering controls to reduce or eliminate exposures to these wastes;
(p) Noise pollution control engineering refers to a branch of environmental 
engineering that is concerned with the control of the generation and 
propagation of environmental noise/sound that impact negatively on 
flora and fauna.
(q) Radioactive and Nuclear Waste Management refers to the branch of 
Environmental Engineering in which the basic principles of science 
and engineering are applied to responsible mining, milling, 
processing, refining of radioactive materials, and disposal of any 
material that contains or is contaminated with radionuclides at 
concentrations or activities greater than the clearance levels as 
established by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), and 
for which no use is foreseen;
(r) Site Remediation refers to the application of scientific and engineering 
concepts and principles for environmental quality investigation to 
characterize the concentrations and locations of contaminants in the 
soil and groundwater, conduct of risk assessment to estimate the 
health hazards of the contamination to humans and the ecosystem, 
and strategies to clean-up the site and return it to safe utilization;
5


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
(s) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering and Management refers to the 
application of scientific and engineering concepts and principles for 
the management of municipal solid and hazardous wastes to protect 
human health and the environment and the conservation of limited 
resources through resource recovery and recycling of waste materials. 
It covers research, siting, design, operation, maintenance, monitoring, 
evaluation, and upgrading of facilities and related support structures 
including the functional elements for the control of the generation, 
characterization, onsite storage, collection, segregation, transfer, 
transport, processing, and recovery, recycling, and ultimate disposal 
of waste materials in a manner that is in accord with the best 
principles of public health, economics, engineering, conservation, 
aesthetics, and other environmental considerations;
(t) Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste Management refers to the 
process which involves reducing the amount of hazardous 
substances produced, treating hazardous wastes to reduce their 
toxicity, and applying sound engineering controls to reduce or 
eliminate exposures to these wastes;
(u) Water Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering 
concerned with the scientific principles and analysis of water 
interacts with and moves in all aspects of the built and natural 
environment; includes groundwater and surface water quality 
mathematical modeling, water quality control design and 
management. Water supply engineering within a watershed context 
involves evaluation the water balance within a watershed 
management of watershed environment, determination the available 
water supply, the water needed for various needs in that watershed, 
the seasonal cycles of water movement through the watershed and 
design of the systems to treat water for various uses.
(v) Water Quality Management refers to the protection and improvement 
of the physical, chemical, biological, microbiological, and radiological 
quality of water to maintain its most beneficial use; and
(w) Wastewater Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental 
Engineering in which the basic principles of science and engineering 
are applied to the water pollution control. It covers wastewater
6


1 
characterization, analysis and determination of waste water flow rates
2 
and constituent loadings, as well as physical, chemical, and biological
3 
treatment processes, and design, wastewater treatment plant
4 
residuals management, and other issues related to wastewater
5 
treatment process performance and wastewater disposal.
6 
SEC.5. Scope of Practice. The scope of environmental engineering practice
7 
shall include the following:
8 
(a) Water and Wastewater Engineering;
9 
(b) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering;
10 
(c) Air Quality and Noise Pollution Control Engineering;
11 
(d) Site Remediation applying scientific environmental engineering
12 
principles and tools;
13 
(e) Environmental Health and Safely Engineering; and
14 
(f] Environmental Engineering Management which covers Environmental
15 
Impact Assessment (EIA), Water Quality Management, Ambient Air
16 
Quality Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation,
17 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and other programs and
18 
strategies to maintain safe and healthy environment and protect public
19 
health involving engineering applications.
20 
1. Eninronmental Engineer shall perform the following:
21 
(a) 
Provide consultation services on environmental engineering;
22 
(b) 
Plan, design, investigate, 
evaluate, supervise, and monitor
23 
environmental engineering processes, facilities including sanitary
24 
utilities in buildings, and other related projects; as pertinent to the
25 
purposes of this Act, including sanitary science as applied to
26 
buildings
27 
(c) 
Develop, implement, and 
manage environmental engineering
28 
programs for waste minimization and recycling, resource recovery,
29 
cleaner production, pollution abatement and mitigation, polluted
30 
sites remediation, and other relevant environmental strategies;
31 
(d) 
Conduct research in areas relating to or affecting environmental
32 
engineering concerns, including 
current 
and emerging
33 
contaminants, pollutants, and public health issues, and create and
34 
design innovative solutions;


1 
(e) 
Teach courses in the environmental engineering and allied
2 
programs and serve as resource person; and
3 
(f] 
Prepare and certify technical reports in relation to environmental
4 
engineering concerns for compliance to environmental laws and
5 
regulations.
6 
2. Enmronmentcd Engineering Technologist shall perform the following
7 
services under the supervision of an environmental engineer:
8 
(a) 
Conduct laboratoiy and field works pertaining to environmental
9 
engineering projects and undertakings;
10 
(b) 
Recommend the issuance of environmental and other related
11 
permits, clearances, or licenses, including discharge permits,
12 
permit to operate air pollution source and control installations, and
13 
sanitary permits; and
14 
(c) 
Assist environmental engineers in the practice of the profession.
15 
3. Environmental Engineering Technician shall perform the following services
16 
under the supervision of an environmental engineer and environmental
17 
engineering technologist, or both:
18 
(a) 
Conduct inspection, investigation, and sampling in pollution control
19 
facilities, sanitary utilities in buildings, public places and
20 
establishments, and ambient environment, which includes air,
21 
water bodies, and land;
22 
(b) 
Perform well-defined functions related to the practice of
23 
environmental engineering as directed by an environmental
24 
engineer or environmental engineering technologist, or both; and
25 
(c) 
Prepare reports and correspondence pertaining to their activities.
26 
ARTICLE II
27 
BOARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
28 
SEC. 6. Creation and Composition of the Board. There is hereby created
29 
a Professional Regulatory Board of Environmental Engineering, hereinafter
30 
referred to as the Board, under the administrative supervision and control of the
31 
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), herein referred to as the
32 
Commission. The Board shall consist of a Chairperson and four (4) Members:
33 
(a) The Chairperson and two (2) Members shall be responsible for the
34 
environmental engineering licensure examinations, whereas, the
35 
Chairperson and the remaining fourth (4th) and fifth (5th) Members
8


1 
shall be responsible for the environmental engineering technologists
2 
and environmental engineering technicians examinations.
3 
(b) The Chairperson and Members of the Board shall be appointed by
4 
the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the
5 
PRC, from a list of at least three (3) nominees for each position who
6 
shall be endorsed by the duly accredited integrated professional
7 
organization (AIPO) of the environmental engineering practitioners in
8 
the Philippines.
9 
SEC.7. Terms of Office. The Chairperson and Members of the Board shall
10 
hold office for a term of three (3) years from the date of appointment, or until
11 
their successors shall have been appointed or qualified. They may, however, be
12 
reappointed for only a second term as may be recommended by the PRC and the
13 
AIPO of the environmental engineering practitioners. Each member shall qualify
14 
by taking an oath of office before entering the performance of the duties.
15 
Vacancies in the Board shall be filled by the President of the Philippines, from
16 
the list of candidates endorsed by the PRC, who were chosen and recommended
17 
from the list of nominees submitted by the AIPO of the environmental
18 
engineering practitioners, but for the unexpired term only. At the expiration of
19 
the term or removal of the Board Chairperson, the most senior of the Board
20 
member shall temporarily assume and perform the duties and functions of the
21 
Chairperson, until a permanent one is appointed by the President.
22 
SEC. 8. Qualifications and Disqualifications of the Members of the
23 
Board. A member of the Board at the time of the appointment, must possess
24 
the following qualifications:
25 
(a) Must be a Filipino citizen and a resident of the Philippines for at least
26 
five (5) years;
27 
(b) Must be at least thirty-five (35) years of age, of good moral character, and
28 
of proven integrity in the personal and professional conduct;
29 
(c) Must hold a degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
30 
from a university, school, college, academy or institute in the Philippines
31 
that is recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED):
32 
Provided, That the Chairperson must preferably be a holder of a master’s
33 
or a doctorate degree in Environmental Engineering;
34 
(d) Must be a registered Environmental Engineer with a minimum of seven
35 
(7) years of relevant experience;
9


1 
(e) Must neither be an official nor a faculty member, nor shall have
2 
pecuniary interest in any university, college, school or institution
3 
conferring bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering for at least
4 
three (3) years prior to the appointment. A person must not be connected
5 
with a review center, or with any group or association which offers or
6 
conducts review classes or lectures in preparation for the licensure
7 
examinations, at the time of the appointment and during the incumbency
8 
as Chairperson or Member of the Board.
9 
(f) Must not be an incumbent officer of the AlPO of the environmental
10 
engineering practitioners within a period of three (3) years prior to
11 
nomination; and
12 
(g) Must not have been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude.
13 
SBC.9. Compensation and Allowances. The Chairperson and Members of
14 
the Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to those being
15 
received by the Chairpersons and Members of existing Boards under the PRC as
16 
provided for in the General Appropriations Act.
17 
SEC. 10. Powers, Functions, and Responsibilities of the Board. The
18 
Board shall exercise the following powers, functions and responsibilities:
19 
(a) To promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary in
20 
carrying out the provisions of this Act;
21 
(b) To regulate the registration, licensure and the practice of environmental
22 
engineering, in accordance with the provisions of this Act;
23 
(c) To issue the certificate of registration and professional identification
24 
cards to successful registrants;
25 
(d) To administer oaths in accordance with the provisions of this Act;
26 
(e) To issue special temporary permit to qualified foreign environmental
27 
engineering practitioners, who may be authorized by existing laws to
28 
practice environmental engineering in the Philippines for a specific
29 
project and duration of time only;
30 
(f) To monitor the conditions affecting the practice of the environmental
31 
engineering profession and, whenever necessary, adopt such measures
32 
deemed proper for the enhancement of the profession and the
33 
maintenance of high professional technical and ethical standards;
34 
(g) To hear and investigate cases arising from violations of this Act, its
35 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), Code of Ethics and Ethical
10


1 
Standards, administrative policies, orders and issuances promulgated by
2 
the Board. For this purpose, the Board shall issue subpoena, ad
3 
testificandum or subpoena duces tecum, or both, to secure the attendance
4 
of the respondents or witnesses and the production of documents relative
5 
to the investigation conducted by the Board;
6 
(h) To hear and investigate cases filed before the Board where the issue or
7 
question strictly concerns the practice of the professions, in which case,
8 
the hearing shall be presided over by at least one (1) member of the Board
9 
assisted by a Legal or Hearing Officer of the PRC;
10 
(i) To conduct, through the Legal Officers of the PRC, summary proceeding
11 
on minor violations of this Act, its IRR, including the general instructions
12 
to examinees, and render summary judgment thereon, which, unless
13 
appealed to the PRC, shall become final and executory after fifteen (15)
14 
days from the receipt of the decision;
15 
(j) To suspend, revoke, reissue, or reinstate the certificate of registration
16 
and professional identification card or special temporary permit for
17 
causes provided by this law;
18 
(k) To prepare, adopt, and issue the syllabi or Tables of Specifications (TOS)
19 
of the subjects for examination, in consultation with the academe;
20 
determine and prepare the questions for the licensure examinations
21 
which shall strictly be within the scope of the syllabus or table of
22 
specifications of the subjects for examination; score and rate the
23 
examination papers and submit the results in all subjects duly signed by
24 
the Members of the Board to the PRC within thirty (30) days from the last
25 
day of examination, unless extended for justifiable cause, and subject to
26 
the approval of the PRC;
27 
(1) To prescribe and adopt a Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards for
28 
Environmental Engineers, Environmental Engineering Technologists and
29 
Environmental Engineering Technicians in consultation with the AIPO;
30 
(m) To prescribe guidelines in the Continuing Professional Development
31 
(CPD) program and to create the CPD Council with the objective of
32 
providing and ensuring the continuous development of all environmental
33 
engineering practitioners;
34 
(n) To adopt an official seal of the Board; and
11


1 
(o) To perform other functions and duties as may be necessary to implement
2 
this Act.
3 
The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the
4 
Board shall be subject to review and approval of the PRC. However, the Board’s
5 
decisions, resolutions and orders rendered in administrative cases shall be
6 
subject to review only if on appeal.
7 
SEC. 11. Annual Report. The Board shall, at the end of each calendar year,
8 
submit to the PRC a detailed report of its activities and proceedings during the
9 
year embod3dng also such recommendations as it may deem proper to promote
10 
the policies and objectives of this Act.
11 
SEC. 12. Removal of Board Members. The President, upon
12 
recommendation of the PRC, may remove any Member of the Board on the
13 
following grounds: neglect of duty, incompetence, malpractice, tolerance of
14 
irregularities in the examinations, or for unprofessional, unethical, or
15 
dishonorable conduct, after having been given the opportunity to defend one’s
16 
self in a proper administrative investigation.
17 
ARTICLE III
18 
LICENSURE, REGISTRATION AND PRACTICE
19 
OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
20 
SEC. 13. Examination Requirement. Except as otherwise specifically
21 
provided in this Act, all applicants for registration for the practice of
22 
environmental engineering shall be required to pass a written technical
23 
examination which shall be given at such times and places as may be
24 
determined by the PRC.
25 
SEC. 14. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental
26 
Engineers Licensure Examinations. An applicant for the licensure
27 
examination for environmental engineer shall establish to the satisfaction of the
28 
Board that the following qualifications are met:
29 
(a) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on
30 
reciprocity for the practice of environmental engineering with the
31 
Philippines;
32 
(b) Has a good reputation and good moral values;
33 
(c) Has not been convicted by the court of any offense involving moral
34 
turpitude; and
12


1 
(d) Holds a bachelor’s degree in Science of Environmental Engineering from
2 
a university, college, academy or institute, duly constituted and
3 
recognized by the CHED.
4 
Subject to the evaluation of the Board, the following holder of a degree prior
5 
to the passing of this law may be allowed to take the Environmental Engineering
6 
Board Examinations within seven (7) years upon the effectivity of this Act:
7 
(a) 
A holder of a degree in ecological and environmental engineering,
8 
from a recognized and legally constituted school, college, or university in
9 
the Philippines;
10 
(b) A holder of a degree in any field of engineering plus a Master’s Degree in
11 
Environmental Engineering from a recognized and legally constituted
12 
school, college or university in the Philippines; and
13 
(c) A holder of a degree in any field of engineering from a recognized and
14 
legally constituted school, college or university in the Philippines, with at
15 
least two (2) years of environmental engineering experience.
16 
SEC. 15. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental
17 
Engineering Technologists Licensure Examination An applicant for the
18 
licensure examination for environmental engineering technologists shall
19 
establish to the satisfaction of the Board that the following qualifications are
20 
met;
21 
(a) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on
22 
reciprocity for the 
practice of environmental engineering 
with the
23 
Philippines;
24 
(b) Has a good reputation and good moral values;
25 
(c) A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
26 
Technology; and
27 
(d) Has not been convicted by the court of any offense involving moral
28 
turpitude;
29 
SEC. 16. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental
30 
Engineering Technicians Licensure Examination An applicant for the
31 
licensure examination for environmental engineering technicians shall establish
32 
to the satisfaction of the Board that the following qualifications are met:
33 
(a) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on
34 
reciprocity for the 
practice of environmental engineering 
with the
35 
Philippines;
13


1 
(b) Has a good reputation and good moral values;
2 
(c) Is an Associate of or holds a Certificate in Environmental Engineering, or
3 
finished two years of the prescribed curriculum for BS Environmental
4 
Engineering Technology; and
5 
(d) Has not been convicted by the court of an offense involving moral
6 
turpitude.
7 
SEC. 17. Subjects of the Environmental Engineering Licensure
8 
Examination. Unless modified by the Board and the PRC, the Environmental
9 
Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Environmental
10 
Engineering Technicians Licensure Examination shall cover the following
11 
subjects:
12 
(a) Water and Wastewater Engineering;
13 
(b) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering;
14 
(c) Air Quality and Noise Pollution Control Engineering;
15 
(d) Site Remediation;
16 
(e) Environmental Health and Safety Engineering; and
17 
(f) Environmental Engineering Management which covers Environmental
18 
Impact Assessment, Water Quality Management, Ambient Air Quality
19 
Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Disaster Risk
20 
Reduction and Management, and other programs and strategies to
21 
maintain safe and healthy environment, and to protect public health.
22 
The Board, subject to the approval of the PRC, may amend or revise the
23 
subjects, the syllabi, and the system and procedure in the Environmental
24 
Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Environmental
25 
Engineering Technicians Licensure Examination.
26 
SEC. 18. Rating in the Licensure Examination, To be qualified as
27 
having passed the Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering
28 
Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians Licensure
29 
Examination, a candidate must obtain a weighted general average of at least
30 
seventy percent (70%), with no grade lower than fifty percent (50%) in any given
31 
subject.
32 
SEC. 19. Oath off Environmental Engineering Practitioner. All
33 
successful registrants, shall take the prescribed professional oath before any
34 
member of the Board or any other authorized official of the PRC prior to entering
35 
the practice of the profession.
14


1 
SEC. 20. Issuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional
2 
Identification Card. The Board and the PRC shall issue a certificate of
3 
registration to a registrant who has met all the requirements for registration
4 
under this Act. The certificate of registration shall bear the full name of the
5 
registrant, the signatures of the Chairperson of the PRC and all Members of the
6 
Board, and the official seals of the Board and the PRC. The certificate of
7 
registration shall be the evidence that the person named therein is entitled to
8 
practice the environmental engineering, environmental engineering technology
9 
or environmental engineering technician profession, as the case may be, with all
10 
the privileges appurtenant thereto.
11 
A professional identification card indicating the registration number, and
12 
dates of its issuance and expiiy, duly signed by the PRC Chairperson, shall
13 
likewise be issued to a successful registrant. The professional identification card
14 
shall be renewed every three (3) years, subject to compliance with the
15 
requirements as may be prescribed by the Board and the PRC.
16 
SEC. 21. Registration without Examination. Within the periods
17 
specified below, the Board shall issue certificates of registration and professional
18 
identification cards to the following qualified persons without examination:
19 
Provided, That the persons possess the following qualifications prior to the
20 
passing of this Act as validated by the Board: -
21 
1. Environmental Engineers must satisfy the following requirements:
22 
(a) Hold a degree in environmental engineering, with at least three (3)
23 
years of environmental engineering experience; or a doctorate degree
24 
in environmental engineering from a recognized and legally constituted
25 
school, college or university in the Philippines.
26 
This provision may be exercised within seven (7) years after the effectivity of
27 
this Act,
28 
2. Environmental Engineering Technologists must satisfy the following
29 
requirements:
30 
(a) Employed as pollution control officers or environmental
31 
management specialists;
32 
(b) With ten years of experience; and
33 
(c) Baccalaureate degree
34 
3. Environmental Engineering Technicians must be:
15


1 
(a) Employed as environmental engineering technician as defined by
2 
this Act ; and
3 
(b) With five (5) years relevant experience.
4 
Provided further, that qualified Environmental Engineering Practitioners
5 
shall register within two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act.
6 
SEC. 22. Foreign Reciprocity. No foreigner shall be admitted to the
7 
licensure examination, or be given a certificate of registration and professional
8 
identification card, or be entitled to any of the rights and privileges under this
9 
Act, unless the requirements for the registration or licensing in said foreign
10 
country or State are substantially the same as those required and contemplated
11 
by the laws of the Philippines, and that the laws of such foreign country or State
12 
specifically permits Filipino environmental engineering practitioners to practice
13 
within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such
14 
foreign country or State.
15 
SEC. 23 Special Temporary Permits - The following are required to
16 
secure a special temporary permit from the Board, subject to the approval of the
17 
PRC:
18 
(a) Environmental engineering practitioners from other countries called in by
19 
the government for consultation 
and for a specific project; 
or both:
20 
Promded, that such foreign environmental engineering practitioners are
21 
legally qualified to practice environmental engineering in their country or
22 
State.
23 
(b) Foreign consultants specializing in the field of environmental engineering,
24 
who, in the judgment of the Board, may benefit the local practitioners
25 
through the transfer of technology: Provided, that such registrants shall
26 
satisfy the following conditions:
27 
(1) That, at the time of engagement, no Filipino environmental
28 
engineering practitioner in the country is competent, available and
29 
willing to perform the services for which the foreigner has been
30 
hired; and
31 
(2) Any particular or specific engagement shall not be in excess of one
32 
(1) year, renewable at the discretion of the Board and the PRC.
33 
SEC. 24. Refusal to Register. The Board shall not register any applicant
34 
for registration with or without licensure examination, who suffers from any of
35 
the following disqualifications:
16


1 
(a) Conviction by final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction of any
2 
offense involving moral turpitude;
3 
(b) Conviction by final judgment in any administrative case involving
4 
immorality or notoriously undesirable conduct;
5 
(c) Adjudged guilty for violation of the General Instructions to Examinees by
6 
the Board;
7 
(d) Declared to be of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
8 
(e) Proven to be afflicted with addiction to substance/s impairing the ability
9 
to practice the profession through a finding to this effect by a medical or
10 
drug testing facility accredited by the government.
11 
In case of refusal to register, the Board shall issue to the applicant a written
12 
statement setting forth the reasons for such refusal and shall file a copy thereof
13 
in its records.
14 
SBC. 25. Suspension and Revocation of the Certificate of
15 
Registration and Professional Identification Card or Special Temporary
16 
Permit. The Board shall have the power, after due notice and hearing, to
17 
suspend a member for a period of six (6) to twelve (12) months, depending on
18 
the gravity of the offense or revoke the certificate of registration and professional
19 
identification card or special temporary permit on any of the following grounds:
20 
For Suspension:
21 
(a) Unjustified refusal to join or to remain a member in good standing of the
22 
AIPO;
23 
(b)Unjustified or unexplained neglect or failure to pay the annual registration
24 
fees for five (5) consecutive years; and
25 
(c) Unjustified or unexplained non-renewal of the professional identification
26 
card for more than five (5) consecutive years.
27 
For Revocation:
28 
(a) Violation of any provision of this Act, its IRR, Code of Ethics and Ethical
29 
Standards, and other policies and regulatory measures of the Board and
30 
the PRC, or both;
31 
(b) Perpetration or use of fraud in obtaining the certificate of registration,
32 
professional identification card or special temporary permit;
33 
(c) Gross incompetence, negligence or ignorance in the practice or exercise
34 
of the profession resulting to death, injury of persons and damage to
35 
property;
17


1 
(d) Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a person who is not an
2 
environmental engineering practitioner by allowing oneself to use the
3 
certificate of registration, professional identification card or special
4 
temporary permit, among others;
5 
(e) Practice of the profession during the suspension; and
6 
(f) Addiction to a drug or alcohol abuse impairing oneself ability to practice
7 
the profession or being declared of unsound mind by a court of
8 
competent jurisdiction.
9 
The Board shall periodically evaluate the aforementioned grounds and revise
10 
or add new ones as the need arises, subject to approval by the PRC.
11 
SEC. 26. Filing of Charges - The rules on administrative investigation of
12 
the PRC shall govern the filing of charges and the conduct of hearing and
13 
investigation, or both subject to applicable provisions of this Act, RA No. 8981
14 
and the Rules of Court.
15 
SEC. 27. Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration,
16 
Replacement of Lost or Damaged Certificate of Registration, Professional
17 
Identification Card or Special Temporary Permit. Suspensions imposed
18 
against a member shall be automatically lifted upon expiration of the period
19 
indicated in the suspension order. The Board may, upon petition, reinstate or
20 
reissue a revoked certificate of registration after two (2) years from the effectivity
21 
of the revocation, which is reckoned from the date of surrender of the said
22 
certificate of registration and professional identification card, or both to the
23 
Board and the PRC. The Board may not require the holder thereof to take
24 
another licensure examination. The petitioner shall prove to the Board that one
25 
has a valid reason to resume the practice of the profession. For the grant of one’s
26 
petition, the Board shall issue a Board Resolution, subject to the approval by
27 
the PRC.
28 
A duplicate copy of a lost certificate of registration, professional identification
29 
card or special temporary permit may be reissued in accordance with rules
30 
thereon and upon payment of the prescribed fee therefor.
31 
SEC. 28. Use of Seat All environmental engineers shall obtain a seal of
32 
such design as the Board shall authorize and direct: Provided, However, That
33 
the certificate of registration number issued by the Board shall be included in
34 
the design of the seal. Plans and specifications prepared by, and under the
35 
direct supervision of an environmental engineer shall be stamped with such seal
18


1 
during the validity of the latter’s certificate of registration. It shall be unlawful
2 
to affix the seal on any document after the environmental engineer’s certificate
3 
of registration has expired or has been revoked, unless such certificate of
4 
registration shall have been renewed or re-issued.
5 
SEC. 29. Display of Certificate of Registration in the Place of
6 
Practice. The proprietor or manager of a firm, partnership or association which
7 
employs an environmental engineer shall post or cause to be posted in a
8 
conspicuous place within the place of business of the firm, partnership or
9 
association, the certificate of registration of the environmental engineer.
10 
SEC. 30. Roster of Environmental Engineering Practitioners. The PRC
11 
shall keep a roster of all duly licensed and registered environmental engineers,
12 
environmental engineering technologists and environmental engineering
13 
technicians, with their names; registration numbers and places of business. The
14 
PRC shall regularly update such roster and make it available to all interested
15 
parties, upon request.
16 
SEC. 31. Comprehensive Environmental Engineering Specialty
17 
Program. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Board, in
18 
coordination with the AIPO for environmental engineering practitioners and
19 
recognized specialty organizations,is hereby mandated to formulate and develop
20 
a comprehensive environmental engineering specialty program that would
21 
upgrade the level of skills and competence of environmental engineering
22 
specialists in the country, such as the areas of Water and Wastewater
23 
Engineering, Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering, Air Quality and Noise
24 
Pollution Control Engineering, Site Remediation, Environmental Health 8s Safety
25 
Engineering, Environmental Engineering Management and such other areas as
26 
may be determined by the Board.
27 
SEC. 32. Environmental Engineering Code for Environmental
28 
Engineering Practitioners. The Board shall adopt and promulgate the Code of
29 
Ethics and Ethical Standards of Practice for environmental engineers,
30 
environmental technologists, and environmental technicians prescribed and
31 
issued by the AIPO of environmental engineers.
32 
ARTICLE IV
33 
PENAL AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
34 
SEC. 33. Act not Affecting other Professions- Nothing in this act shall
35 
be construed as to affect or prevent existing rights of other professions as
19


1 
currently provided by law.
2 
SEC. 34. Practice of Firms. The practice of environmental engineering is
3 
a professional service based on individual and personal qualifications. A firm,
4 
association or partnership may practice this profession: Provided, That the
5 
principals of the firm, association or partnership are environmental engineers.
6 
SEC. 35. Integration of the Environmental Engineering Professions.
7 
- The environmental engineering profession shall be integrated into one (1)
8 
national organization which shall be recognized by the Board as the one and
9 
only Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) of the environmental
10 
engineering practitioners. Every environmental engineering practitioner shall,
11 
upon registration with the Board, ipso facto become a member of the AIPO and
12 
shall receive all the benefits and privileges appurtenant to their membership in
13 
the AIPO, upon payment of the required membership fees and dues.
14 
SEC. 36. Appointment of Environmental Engineers to Relevant
15 
Positions in the Provincial, City and Municipal Governments and
16 
Establishments with Environmental Engineering Functions. Within two (2)
17 
years after the approval of this Act, all provinces, cities and municipalities may
18 
appoint an environmental engineer in their respective Provincial, City and
19 
Municipal Engineering Offices.
20 
The environmental engineer or those vested with environmental engineering
21 
functions must be;
22 
(a) A citizen of the Philippines, preferably a resident of the local
23 
government unit concerned;
24 
(b) Of good moral character; and
25 
(c) With valid professional identification card and certificate of
26 
registration.
27 
The appointee must have acquired experience in the practice of the
28 
profession of environmental engineering for at least five (5) years in the case of
29 
the provincial or city environmental engineer, and three (3) years in the case of
30 
municipal environmental engineer. The appointment of an environmental
31 
engineer shall be mandatory for the provincial, city and municipal
32 
governments. The environmental engineer shall perform the following
33 
functions;
20


1 
(a) Initiate, review and recommend changes in policies and objectives, plans
2 
and programs, techniques, procedures and practices in environmental
3 
engineering works in general of the local government unit concerned;
4 
(b) Advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on environmental
5 
engineering matters and concerns;
6 
(c) Administer, coordinate, supervise, and control the implementation of
7 
projects relevant to environmental engineering;
8 
(d) Provide engineering services to the local government unit concerned,
9 
including investigation and survey, engineering designs, feasibility
10 
studies and project management;
11 
(e) In the case of provincial environmental engineers, exercise technical
12 
supervision over all environmental engineering offices of component
13 
cities and municipalities; and
14 
(f) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and
15 
functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.
16 
Firms, companies, partnerships or associations which are engaged in the
17 
installation, construction, manufacture, operation, or sale of environmental
18 
equipment, facilities and other environmental engineering processes, or hold
19 
environmental permits such as Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC),
20 
Water Permit, Discharge Permit, shall hire or engage the services of at least one
21 
(1) environmental engineer. Industries, establishments, institutions,
22 
waterworks, and facilities which generate, treat, discharge or dispose waste shall
23 
also be required to hire or engage the services of at least one (1) environmental
24 
engineer who shall, at the same time, perform functions of a Pollution
25 
Control/Environmental Officer.
26 
SEC. 37. Ratio of Environmental Engineers, Environmental
27 
Engineering Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians
28 
per population of Local Government Units. The IRR of this Act shall set the
29 
standard ratio of environmental engineers, environmental engineering
30 
technologists and environmental engineering technicians per unit of population
31 
served in every province, city or municipality.
32 
SEC. 38. Penal Provision. In addition to the administrative sanctions
33 
imposed under this Act, upon conviction, the penalty of imprisonment of not
34 
less than one (1) year but not more than five (5) years, or a fine of not less than
35 
One hundred thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) but not more than Five hundred
21


1 
thousand Pesos (Php 500,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the Courts, shall
2 
upon conviction be imposed on a person who commits any of the following acts:
3 
(a) Engaging in the practice of environmental engineering in the Philippines
4 
without having been registered or without having conformed with the
5 
provisions of this Act;
6 
(b) Presenting or attempting to use as one’s own certificate of registration or
7 
professional identification card of another environmental engineer,
8 
environmental engineering technologists or environmental engineering
9 
technician, or special temporary permit of a foreign environmental
10 
engineering practitioner;
11 
(c) Submitting any false or forged evidence to the Board for the purpose of
][2 
securing a certificate of registration, professional identification card or
13 
special temporary permit, or impersonating any environmental
14 
engineering practitioner;
15 
(d) Attempting to use or using a revoked or suspended certificate of
registration, professional identification card or special temporary permit,
17 
(e) Using or advertising any title or description tending to convey the
18 
impression that a person is an environmental engineering practitioner
19 
even without a valid certificate of registration, professional identification
20 
card or special temporary permit; or
21 
(f) Violating any of the provisions of this Act.
22 
In case the offender is a corporation, partnership or juridical person, the
23 
penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on the environmental engineer jointly
24 
and solidarity with the responsible professionals, as well the officer or officers
25 
responsible for permitting or causing the violation.
26 
SEC. 39. Enforcement of the Act by Officers of the Law. The Board
27 
and the PRC shall implement and enforce the provisions of this Act, its IRR, and
28 
whenever warranted, investigate complaints for violations of this Act, its IRR and
29 
the Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards for environmental engineers,
30 
environmental engineering technologists and environmental engineering
31 
technicians.
32 
The National Government, any of its provincial, city or municipal
33 
government or political subdivisions, shall assist in the enforcement of the
34 
provisions of this Act.
22


1 
SEC. 40. Transitory Provision. The Board of Environmental Engineering
2 
created under Section 6 of this Act shall be constituted not later than six (6)
3 
months from the effectivity of this Act. The Board shall administer the
4 
Environmental Engineering Practitioners Licensure Examination prior to the full
5 
implementation of the qualifications prescribed for in Sections 14, 15 and 16 of
6 
this Act.
7 
SEC. 41. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Board shall, within
8 
ninety (90) days upon effectivity of this Act, formulate and issue the
9 
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to carry out the provision of this Act.
10 
SEC. 42. Appropriations. The Chairperson of the PRC shall immediately
11 
include in the agency’s programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of
12 
which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The
13 
amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation of this Act shall be
14 
charged against the current year’s appropriations of the PRC. Thereafter, such
15 
sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be
16 
included in the succeeding GAA.
17 
SEC 43. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act or the
18 
application thereof is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, the
19 
same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions.
20 
SEC. 44. Repealing Clause. All laws, parts of laws, decrees, orders,
21 
letters of instructions and ordinances, or regulations in conflict with the
22 
provisions hereof, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
23 
SEC. 45. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
24 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
25 
Approved.
26
23