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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City 302
4
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN II

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

Environmental engineering is both an application of science and engineering that aims to
provide safe water, air and land for human habitation and other organisms. The nature of this
work focuses on prevention and control of any hazards in the environment and creation of
cohesive plans to ensure progress and sustainability in communities. Its practice has been
Present in our country and many are engaged in this noble profession. However, unlike many
countries, the Philippines has not yet recognized and embraced this work by granting its
actual professionalization.

This bill seeks to professionalize the practice of environmental engineering and recognize its
important role in providing solutions to protect and improve the conditions of our
environment. This measure ultimately aims to strengthen and hone the competence,
knowledge and skills of environmental engineering practitioners in the country.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

MANUEL DG) CABOCHAN III
Representative
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo. _ 6636

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

AN ACT
REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING IN THE
PHILIPPINES, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phil
assembled:

ARTICLE 1
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

SEC. 1. Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Environmental Engineering
Law of the Philippines.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the importance of
environmental engineers, environmental engineering technologists and environmental
engineering technicians in nation building and development. As such, it is hereby declared
the policy of the State to recognize, promote, strengthen and regulate the practice of
eavironmental engineering profession in the Philippines by instituting measures that will
result in relevant environmental engineering education and enhanced roles and better career
prospects for environmental engineering practitioners. The State shall develop and nurture
competent, productive, and well-rounded environmental engineering practitioners whose
standard of professional practice and service shall be excellent, world-class and globally
competitive through regulatory measures, programs and activities.

SEC. 3. Coverage. ~ This Act shall cover the following aspects of the practice of
environmental engineering profession:

(a) Examination, registration and licensure of environmental engineering practitioners;

(b) Regulation, supervision and control of the practice of environmental engineering;

(©) Development, upgrading and updating of the curriculum of environmental
engineering, environmental engineering technology and environmental engineering

technician professions, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) and higher educational institutions (HEIs) and other stakeholders;


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(@ Development and improvement of the professional competence and practice of
environmental engineering practitioners through, among others, continuing
professional development (CPD); and

(©) Creation of relevant positions for environmental engineers, environmental
engineering technologists and environmental engineering technicians and such other
positions which require the knowledge and services of environmental engineering
practitioners in all levels of local government units, relevant National Government
Agencies and _instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled
corporations (GOCCs) as well as industries, private establishments, firms,
corporations and institutions.

SEC. 4, Definition of Terms, — As used in this Act:

(@) Air Pollution Control Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering in
which scientific and engineering concepts and principles are applied to control of air
pollutant emissions, their generation and release from a source, their transport and
transformation in and removal from the atmosphere, and their effects on human
beings, materials, and ecosystems. It covers monitoring and correction of air pollution
problems originating from relatively small areas, such as an industrial park impacted
by one or more emission sources, to those from large areas, such as urban area
impacted by a number of sources and a variety of contaminants. The overall goal is to
improve ambient air quality, to promote healthy environmental quality, and to protect
property and public health;

(b) Air pollution engineering refers to a branch of environmental engineering concemed
with the control of pollutants in, their generation and release from a source, their
transport and transformation in and removal from the atmosphere, and their effects on
human beings, materials and ecosystems;

(©) Climate Change Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in
response to actual or expected climactic stimuli or their effects, which moderates
harm or exploits beneficial opportunities;

(@ 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 exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using
its own resources;

(©) Disaster Mitigation refers 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;

(f) 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;


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(g) 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
of adverse events;

(h) Environmental Engineer refers to an environmental engineering practitioner duly
registered with the Board and the Commission to practice environmental engineering
as defined in this Act;

(i) Environmental Engineering encompasses the application of science and 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. The ultimate goal of
environmental engineering 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;

() Environmental Engineering Technologist refers to an environmental engineering
practitioner duly registered with the Board and the Commission whose competence
lies in the application of environmental engineering technologies. Environmental
engineering technologists shall be graduates 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;

(k) Environmental Engineering Management refers to an entire spectrum of engineering
activities covering environmental impact assessment (EIA), water quality
management, 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;

() Environmental Engineering Technician refers to an environmental engineering
practitioner duly registered with the Board and the Commission 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 Commission on
Higher Education (CHED);

(m)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, evaluate and eliminate or control of hazards that expose people,
environment or property to danger;


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(n) 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;

(0) 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";

(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 radio nuclides 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;

(®) Sanitary Engineer refers to a person duly registered with the Board of Sanitary
Engineering and the Commission as provided in R.A. 1364, otherwise known as the
“Sanitary Engineering Law”;

(8) Sanitary Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering which covers
the control of all factors in man’s physical environmental that adversely affect human
life, health and safety. It focuses on the identification and prevention of transmission
of diseases through the control of physical aspects of the environment including food,
water, air, refuse, soil, insects and vermin and also the control of domestic and
personal hygiene practices. Specific activities include sanitation of establishments,
institutions and public places; insect and vermin control; industrial hygiene, nuisance
abatement, healthful lighting and ventilation; emergency water supply and sanitation;
environmental health impact assessment; disposal of dead persons; water supply
system design and management both potable and used water and inclusive of those in
buildings/structures; food sanitation; and other engineering services related to the
protection of public health and welfare;

() Sanitary Inspector refers to a person performing the duties ascribed to an
environmental engineering technologists or technician in this Act;

(u) Sanitary Utilities for Buildings refer to the water supply distribution system, sanitary
drainage system, wastewater recycling and reuse, storm drainage system and waste
water treatment facility in buildings;

(¥) Sanitary Utilities in Buildings refer to water supply system, sanitary and storm
systems as well as fire protection systems in building;


(w) Site Remediation refers a branch of Environmental Engineering in which scientific

and engineering concepts and principles are applied to 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;

(x) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering and Management refers to a branch of

Environmental Engineering in which scientific and engineering concepts and
principles are applied to 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, sitting,
design, operation and maintenance, monitoring, evaluation and upgrading of facilities
and related support structures including the functional elements for the control of the
generation, characterization, on-site storage, collection, segregation, transfer,
transport, processing and recovery, recycling and ultimate disposal for waste materials
in a manner that is in accord with the best principles of public health, economics,
engineering, conservation, aesthetics and other environmental considerations;

(y) Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste Management refers to the proves which

(2)

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;

Water Supply Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering concerned
with the scientific principles and analysis of water supply systems; development of
sources of water supply; quality assessment, collection and treatment of water from
sources to drinking water, municipal water works, storm waters, groundwater, surface
water, rain water, seawaters desalination, filtration systems and water re-use
applications; Water quality criteria and standards and their relation to public health,
environment and urban water cycle; Water quality concepts and their effect on
treatment process selection; operation and maintenance of water supply systems;
evaluation of project alternatives on basis of chosen selection criteria for drinking
water; Water supply engineering within a watershed context to evaluate the water
balance within a watershed, management of watershed environment, determine the
available water supply, the water needed for various needs in that watershed, the
seasonal cycles of water movement through the watershed and development of the
systems to store, treat, and convey water for various uses; Design and rehabilitate raw
water abstraction, transport, treatment and distribution processes and systems; Water
supply and treatment to secure water supplies for potable and domestic use;
Provisions of potable water supply where water is treated to minimize risk of
infectious disease transmittal, risk of mon-infectious illness, and create 2 palatable
water flavor that meet various end-user needs such as domestic use;

(aa) 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;

(bb) Wastewater Engineering reters to a branch of Environmental Engineering in

which the basic principles of science and engineering are applied to the problems of
water pollution control. It covers wastewater characterization, analysis and

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determination of waste water flow rates and constituent loadings, as well as physical,
chemical, and biological treatment processes, and design, wastewater treatment plant
residuals management, and other issues related to wastewater treatment plant
performance and wastewater disposal.

SEC. 5. Scope of Practice. — The practice of environmental engineering practitioners
shall include the following:

(a) Water Supply and Wastewater Engineering;
(b) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering;
(c) Air Quality and Noise Pollution Control Engineering;
(d) Site Remediation;
(c) Environmental Health and Safety Engineering; and
(®) Environmental Engineering Management which covers Environmental Impact
Assessment (ETA), Water Quality Management, 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.
(1) Environmental Engineer shall perform the following:
(a) Provide consultation services on environmental engineering;
(b) Plan, design, approve, investigate, evaluate, supervise, and monitor

environmental engineering processes, facilities including sanitary utilities in
buildings, and other related projects;

(©) Develop, implement, and manage programs for waste minimization and
recycling, resource recovery, cleaner production, pollution abatement and
mitigation, polluted sites remediation, and other relevant environmental
strategies;

(@) Conduct research on environmental problems, including current and emerging
contaminants, pollutants, and public health issues, and create and design
innovative solutions;

(€) Teach courses in the environmental engineering and altied programs and serve
as resource person; and

() Prepare and certify technical and environmental reports for compliance to
environmental laws and regulation.

(2) Environmental Engineering Technologist shall perform the tollowing services
under the supervision of an environmental engineer:


(@) Conduct laboratory and field works pertaining to environmental engineering
projects and undertakings;

(6) Recommend the issuance of environmental and other related permits,
clearances, or licenses, including discharge permits and permit to operate air
pollution source and control installations; and

(c) Assist environmental engineers in the practice of the profession.

(3) Environmental Engineering Technician shall perform the following services under
the supervision of an environmental engineer and environmental engineering
technologists, or both:

(@) Conduct inspection, investigation, and sampling in pollution control facilities,
sanitary utilities in buildings, public places and establishments, and ambient
environment (ambient air, water bodies, land);

(b) Perform well-defined functions related to the practice of environmental
engineering as directed by an environmental engineer and/or environmental
engineering technologist; and

(c) Prepare reports and correspondence pertaining to their activities.

ARTICLE It
BOARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

SEC. 6. Creation and Composition of the Board. — It is hereby created a Professional
Regulatory Board of Environmental Engineering, hereinafter referred to as the Board, under
the administrative supervision and control of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC),
herein referred to as the Commission. The Board shall consist of a Chairperson and four (4)
Members:

(a) The Chairperson and two (2) members shall be responsible for the environmental
engineering licensure examinations, whereas, the Chairperson and the remaining
fourth (4th) and fifth (5th) members shall be responsible for the environmental
engineering technologists and environmental engincering technicians examinations.

(b) The Chairperson and members of the Board shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines upon the recommendation of the Commission, from a list of at least three
(3) nominees for cach position who shall be endorsed by the duly accredited
integrated professional organization (AIPO) of the environmental engineering
practitioners in the Philippines.

SEC. 7. Terms of Office. — The Chairperson and members of the Board shall hold
office for a term of three (3) years from the date of appointment, or until their successors
shall have been appointed or qualified. They may, however, be reappointed for only a second
term as may be recommended by the Commission and the AIPO of the environmental
engineering practitioners. Each member shall qualify by taking an oath of office before
entering the performance of the duties. Vacancies in the Board shall be filled by the President


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of the Philippines, from the list of candidates endorsed by the Commission, who were chosen
and recommended from the list of nominees submitted by the AIPO of the environmental
engineering practitioners, but for the unexpired term only. At the expiration of the term or
removal of the Board Chairperson, the most senior of the Board member shall temporarily
assume and perform the duties and functions of the Chairperson, until a permanent one is
appointed by the President.

SEC. 8. Qualifications and Disqualifications of the Members of the Board. —
member of the Board at the time of the appointment shall possess the following
qualifications:

(a) Must be a Filipino citizen and a resident of the Philippines for at least five (5) years;

(b) At least thirty-five (35) years of age, of good moral character, and of proven integrity
in the personal and professional conduct;

(©) Holds a degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from a
university, school, college, academy or institute in the Philippines that is recognized
by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED): Provided, That the Chairperson
mst preferably be a holder of « Master's or a doctorate degree in Environmental
Engineering;

(d) A registered Environmental Engineer with a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant
experience;

(©) Must neither be an official nor a faculty member, nor shall have pecuniary interest in
any university, college, school or institution conferring bachelor's degree in
environmental engineering for at least three (3) years prior to the appointment. A
Person must not be connected with a review center, or with any group of association
which offers or conducts review classes or lectures in preparation for the licensure
examinations, at the time of the appointment and during the incumbency as
chairperson or member of the Board.

( Must not be an incumbent officer of the AIPO of the environmental engineering
practitioners within a period of three (3) years prior to nomination; and

(g) Must not have been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude.

SEC. 9. Compensation and Allowances. — The Chairperson and members of the
Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to those being received by the
chairpersons and members of existing Boards under the Commission as provided for in the
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Board. — The Board shall
exercise the following powers, functions and responsibilities:

(a) To promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary in carrying out the
provisions of this Act;


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(6) To regulate the registration, licensure and the practice of environmental engineering,
in accordance with the provisions of this Act:

(©) To issue the certificate of registration and professional identification cards to
successful registrants;

(A) To administer oaths in accordance with the provisions of this Act;

(©) To issue special temporary permit to qualified foreign environmental engineering
Practitioners, who may be authorized by existing laws to practice environmental
engineering in the Philippines for a specific project and duration of time only;

(® To monitor the conditions affecting the practice of the environmental engineering
profession and, whenever necessary, adopt such measures deemed proper for the
enhancement of the profession and the maintenance of high professional technical and
ethical standards;

(g) To hear and investigate cases arising from violations of this Act, its Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR), Code of Ethics, administrative policies, orders and
issuances promulgated by the Board. For this purpose, the Board shall issue shpoena
aad testificandum audjor and/or subpoena duces tecum to secure the attendance of the
respondents or witnesses and the production of documents relative to the investigation
conducted by the Board;

(h) To hear and investigate cases filed before the Board where the issue or question
strictly concems the practice of the professions, in which case. the hearing shall be
presided over by at least one (1) member of the Board assisted by a Legal or Hearing
Officer of the Commission;

(i) To conduct, through the Legal Officers of the Commission, summary proceeding on
minor violations of this Act, its IRR, including the general instructions to examinees,
and render summary judgment thereon, which, unless appealed to the Commission,
shall become final and executory after fifteen (15) days from the receipt of the
decision;

(@ To suspend, revoke, reissue, or reinstate the certificate of registration and professional
identification card or special temporary permit for causes provided by this law;

(k) To prepare, adopt, and issue the syllabi or Tables of Specifications (TOS) of the
subjects for examination, in consultation with the academe; determine and prepare the
questions for the licensure examinations which shall strictly be within the scope of the
syllabus or table of specifications of the subjects for examination; score and rate the
examination papers and submit the results in all subjects duly signed by the members
of the Board to the Commission within thirty (30) days from the last day of
examination, unless extended for justifiable cause, and subject to the approval of the
Commission;

(1) To prescribe and adopt a Code of Ethics for Environmental Engineers, Environmental
Engineering Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians in
consultation with the AIPO;

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(m)To prescribe guidelines in the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program
and to create the CPD Council with the objective of providing and ensuring the
continuous development of all environmental engineering practitioners;

(n) To adopt an official seal of the Board; and
(0) To perform other functions and duties as may be necessary to implement this Act.

The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the Board
shall be subject to review and approval of the Commission. However, the Board's decisions,
resolutions and orders rendered in administrative cases shall be subject to review only if on
appeal.

SEC. 11. Annual Report. — The Board shall, at the end of each calendar year, submit
to the Commission a detailed report of its activities and proceedings during the year
embodying also such recommendations as it may deem proper to promote the policies and
objectives of this Act.

SEC. 12. Removal of Board Members. — The President, upon recommendation of the
Commission, may remove any member of the Board on the following grounds: neglect of
duty, incompetence, malpractice, tolerance of irregularities in the examinations, or for
unprofessional, unethical, or dishonorable conduct, after having been given the opportunity to
defend oneself in a proper administrative investigation.

ARTICLE Il
LICENSURE, REGISTRATION AND PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING

SEC. 13. Examination Requirement. ~ Except as otherwise specifically provided in
this Act, all applicants for registration for the practice of environmental engineering shall be
required to pass a written technical examination which shall be given at such times and places
as may be determined by the Commission.

SEC. 14. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineers Licensure
Examinations. — An applicant for the licensure examination for environmental engincer shall
establish to the satisfaction of the Board that the following qualifications are met:

(a) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country whi

has a policy on reciprocity
for the practice of environmental engineering with the Philippines;

ines;

(b) Has a good reputation and good moral values;
(c) Has not been convicted by the court of any offense involving moral turpitude; and
(d) Holds a Bachelor's degree in Science of Environmental Engineering from a

university, college, academy or institute, duly constituted and recognized by the
CHED.


Subject to the evaluation of the Board, the following may be allowed to take the
Environmental Engineering Board Examinations within seven (7) years upon the effectivity
of this Act:

(a) A holder of a degree in ecological and environmental engineering or environmental
engineering, from a recognized and legally constituted school, college, or university
in the Philippines;

(b) A holder of a degree in any field of engineering plus a Master's Degree in
Environmental Engineering from a recognized and legally constituted school, college
or university in the Philippines; and,

(©) A holder of a degree in any field of engineering from a recognized and legally
constituted school, college or university in the Philippines, with at least two (2) years
of environmental engineering experience.

SEC. 15. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineering
Technologists Licensure Examination. — An applicant for the licensure examination for
environmental engineering technologists shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that
the following qualifications are met:

(a) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity
for the practice of environmental engincering with the Philippines;

(b) Has a good reputation and good moral values;
(©) A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering Technology;
(d) Has not been convicted by the court of any offense involving moral turpitude; and,
(©) Isin good health.
SEC. 16. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineering
Technicians Licensure Examination. — An applicant for the licensure examination for

environmental engineering technicians shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that the
following qualifications are met:

(@) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity
for the practice of environmental engineering with the Philippines;

(b) Has a good reputation and good moral values;

(c) Is an Associate of or holds a Certificate in Environmental Engineering, or finished
two years of the prescribed curriculum for BSEnE;

(@) Has not been convicted by the court of an offense involving moral turpitude; and

(©) Is in good health.


SEC. 17. Subjects of the Environmental Engineering Licensure Examination. ~
Unless modified by the Board and the Commission, the Environmental Engineering,
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians
Licensure Examination shall cover the following subjects:

(a) Water Supply and Wastewater Engineering;

(b) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering;

(©) Air Quality and Noise Pollution Control Engineering;
(d) Site Remediation;

(©) Environmental Health and Safety Engineering; and

(© Environmental Engineering Management (covers Environmental Impact Assessment,
Water Quality Management, 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 to protect

public health).

The Board, subject to the approval of the Commission, may amend or revise the
subjects, the syllabi, and the system and procedure in the Environmental Engineering,
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians
Licensure Examination.

SEC. 18. Rating in the Licensure Examination. — To be qualified as having passed
the Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technologists and
Environmental Engineering Technicians Licensure Examination, a candidate must obtain a
weighted general average of at least seventy percent (70%), with no grade lower than fifty
percent (50%) in any given subject. However, an examinee who obtains a weighted general
average rating of seventy percent (70%) or higher but obtains a rating below fifty percent
(50%) in any given subject, must retake the examination in the subject or subjects where the
grade obtained is below fifty percent (50%).

An examinee who fails to pass the examination for the third (3rd) time shall be
allowed to take another examination only after the lapse of one (1) year from the last
examination taken and after having completed a refresher course in a government- recognized
institution.

SEC. 19. Oath of Environmental Engineering Practitioner. — All successful
registrants, with or without examination, shall take the: prescribed professional oath before
any member of the Board or any other authorized official of the Commission prior to entering
the practice of the profession.

SEC. 20, Issuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional Identification
Card. ~The Board and the Commission shall issue a certificate of registration to a registrant
who has met all the requirements for registration under this Act, The certificate of registration
shall bear the full name of the registrant, the signatures of the Chairperson of the Commission
and all members of the Board, and the official seals of the Board and the Commission. The

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certificate of registration shall be the evidence that the person named therein is entitled to
practice the environmental engineering, environmental engineering technology or
environmental engineering technician profession, as the case may be, with all the privileges
appurtenant thereto.

A professional identification card indicating the registration number, and dates of its
issuance and expiry, duly signed by the Commission Chairperson, shall likewise be issued to
a successful registrant. The professional identification card shall be renewed every three (3)
years, subject to comptiance with the requirements as may be prescribed by the Board and the
Commission.

SEC. 21. Registration Without Examination. — Within the periods specified below,
the Board shall issue certificates of registration and professional identification cards to the
following qualified persons without examination: Provided, That the persons possess the
following qualifications as validated by the Board:

(1) Environmental Engineers must satisfy the following requirements:

(a) Hold a degree in ecological and environmental engineering or environmental
engineering, with at least five (5) years of environmental engineering experience;
or a degree in any field of engineering plus a master’s degree in environmental
engineering from a recognized and legally constituted school, college or
university in the Philippines, with at least three (3) years of environmental
engineering experience; or a degree in engineering and a doctorate degree in
environmental engineering from a recognized and legally constituted school,
college or university in the Philippines.

The provision may be exercised within seven (7) years after the effectivity of this
Act.

(2) Environmental Engineering Technologists nmust satisfy the following requirements:
(a) Employed as pollution control officers or environmental management specialists
or employed with a permanent status as a Sanitary Inspector or Sanitarian at the
Department of Health (DOH) or other local government agencies;
(b) With ten years of experience; and
(©) Possesses a Baccalaureate degree.
(3) Environmental Engineering Technicians must satisfy the following requirements:
(a) Employed with a permanent status as a Sanitary Inspector or Sanitarian at the
Department of Health (DOH) or other local government agencies for at least ten
(10) years; and
(b) With appropriate civil service eligibility

Provided further, That qualified Environmental Engineering Practitioners shall
register within two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act.


SEC. 22. Foreign Reciprocity. - No foreigner shall be admitted to the licensure
examination to any of the rights and privileges under this Act, unless the requirements for the
registration or licensing in said foreign country or state are substantially the same as those
required and contemplated by the laws of the Philippines, and that the laws of such foreign
country or State specifically permits Filipino environmental engineering practitioners to
Practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such
foreign country or State,

SEC. 23. Special Temporary Permits. — The following are required to secure a
special temporary permit from the Board, subject to the approval of the Commission:

(a) Environmental engineering practitioners from other countries called in by the
government for consultation and for a specific project; or both, Provided, That such
foreign environmental engineering practitioners are legally qualified to practice
environmental engineering in their country or State;

(b) Any particular or specific engagement shall not be in excess for one (1) year,
renewable at the discretion of the Board and the Commission.

SEC. 24. Refusal to Register. - The Board shall not register any applicant for
registration with or without licensure examination, who suffers from any of the following
disqualifications:

(a) Conviction by final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction of any offense
involving moral turpitude;

(b) Conviction by final judgment in any administrative case involving immorality or
notoriously undesirable conduct;

(©) Adjudged guilty for violation of the General Instructions to Examinees by the Board;
(d) Declared to be of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(©) Proven to be afflicted with addiction to substance/s impairing the ability to practice
the profession through a finding to this effect by a medical or drug testing facility
accredited by the government.

In case of refusal to register, the Board shall issues to the applicant a written statement
setting forth the reason for such refusal and shall file a copy thereof in its records.

SEC. 25. Suspension and Revocation of the Certificate of Registration and
Professional Identification Card or Special Temporary Permit. - The Boatd shall have the
power, after due notice and hearing, to suspend a member for a period of six (6) to twelve
(12) months, depending on the gravity of the offense or revoke the certificate of registration
and professional identification card or special temporary permit on any of the following

grounds:

For Suspension:


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(a) Unjustified refusal to join or to remain a member in good standing of the AIPO;

(b) Unjustified or unexplained neglect or failure to pay the annual registration fees for
five (5) consecutive years; and

(©) Unjustified or unexplained non-renewal of the professional identification card for
more than five (5) years.

For Revocation:

(a) Violation of any provisions of this Act, its IRR, Code of Ethics, and other policies and
regulatory measures of the Board and the Commission, or both;

(©) Perpetration or use of fraud in obtaining the certificate of registration, professional
identification card or special temporary permit;

(©) Gross incompetence, negligence or ignorance in the practice or exercise of the
profession resulting to death, injury of persons and damage to property;

(d) Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a person who is not an environmental
engineering practitioner by allowing oneself to use the certificate of registration,
professional identification card or special temporary permit, among others;

(e) Practice of the profession during the suspension from the practice thereof; and

(f) Addiction to a drug or alcohol abuse impairing oneself ability to practice the
profession or being declared of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The Board shall periodically evaluate the aforementioned grounds and revise or add
new ones as the need arises, subject to approval by the Commission.

SEC. 26. Filing of Charges. - The rules on administrative investigation of the
Commission shall govern the filing of charges and the conduct of hearing and investigation,
or both subject to applicable provisions of this Act, RA No. 8981 and the Rules of Court.

SEC. 27. Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration, Replacement of Lost or
Damaged Certificate of Registration, Professional Identification Card or Special
Temporary Permit. ~ Suspensions imposed against a member shall be automatically lifted
upon expiration of the period indicated in the suspension order. The Board may, upon
petition, reinstate or reissue a revoked certificate of registration after two (2) years from the
effectivity of the revocation, which is reckoned from the date of surrender of the said
certificate of registration and professional identification card, or both to the Board and the
Commission. The Board may not require the holder thereof to take another licensure
examination. The petitioner shall prove to the Board that one has a valid reason to resume the
practice of the profession. For the grant of one’s petition, the Board shall issue a Board
Resolution, subject to approval by the Commission.

A duplicate copy of a lost certificate of registration, professional identitication card or
special temporary permit may be reissued in accordance with rules thereon and upon payment
of the prescribed fee therefor.

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SEC. 28. Use of Seal. — All environmental engineering practitioners shall obtain a
seal of such design as the Board shall authorize and direct: Provided, however, That the
certificate of registration number issued by the Board shall be included in the design of the
seal. Plans and specifications prepared by, and under the direct supervision of an
environmental engineer shall be stamped with such seal during the validity of the latter's
certificate of registration, It shall be unlawful to affix the seal on any document after the
environmental engineer's certificate of registration has expired or has been revoked, unless
such certificate of registration shall have been renewed or re-issued.

SEC. 29. Display of Certificate of Registration in the Place of Practice. — The
proprietor or manager of a firm, partnership or association which employs an environmental
engineer shall post or cause to be posted in a conspicuous place within the place of business
of the firm, partnership or association, the certificate of registration of the environmental
engineer.

SEC. 30. Roster of Environmental Engineering Practitioners. — The Commission
shall keep a roster of all duly licensed and registered environmental engineers, environmental
engineering technologists and environmental engineering technicians, with their names;
registration numbers and places of business. The Commission shall regularly update such
roster and make it available to all interested parties, upon request.

SEC. 31. Comprehensive Environmental Engineering Specialty Program. — Within
ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Board, in coordination with the AIPO for
environmental engineering practitioners and recognized specialty organizations, is hereby
mandated to formulate and develop a comprehensive environmental engineering specialty
program that would upgrade the level of skills and competence of environmental engineering
specialists in the country, such as the areas of Water Supply and Wastewater Engineering,
Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering, Air Quality and Noise Pollution Control
Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Site Remediation, Environmental Health & Safety
Engineering, Environmental Engineering Management and such other areas as maybe
determined by the Board.

SEC. 32. Environmental Engineering Code for Environmental Engineer
Practitioners. ~ The Board shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and Standards of
Practice for environmental engineers, environmental technologists, and environmental
technicians prescribed and issued by the AIPO of environmental engineers.

ARTICLE IV
PENAL AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 33. Vested Rights. — All sanitary engineers registered under RA No. 1364,
otherwise known as the “Sanitary Engineering Law” shall automatically be registered under
the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 34. Practice of Firms. — The practice of environmental engineering is a
professional service based on individual and personal qualifications. A firm, association or
partnership may practice this profession. Provided, That the principals of the firm,
association or partnership are environmental engineers.


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SEC. 35. Integration of the Environmental Engineering Professions. — The
environmental engineering profession shall be integrated into one (1) national organization
which shall be recognized by the Board as the one and only Accredited Integrated
Professional Organization (AIPO) of the environmental engineering practitioners. Every
environmental engineering practitioner shall, upon registration with the Board, ipso facto
become a member of the AIPO and shall receive all the benefits and privileges appurtenant to
their membership in the AIPO, upon payment of the required membership fees and dues.

SEC. 36. Appointment of Environmental Engineers to Retevant Positions in the
Provincial, City and Municipal Governments and Establishments with Environmental
Engineering Functions. — Within two (2) years after the approval of this Act, all provinces,
cities and municipalities may appoint an environmental engineer in their respective
Provincial, City and Municipal Engineering Offices.

No person shall be appointed to the position of environmental engineer or those
vested with environmental engineering functions unless the person is a citizen of the
Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, and a
licensed environmental engineer. The appointee must have acquired experience in the
practice of the profession of environmental engineering for at least five (5) years in the case
of the provincial or city environmental engineer, and three (3) years in the case of municipal
environmental engineer. The appointment of an environmental engineer shall be mandatory
for the provincial, city and municipal governments. The environmental engineer shall:

(a) Initiate, review and recommend changes in policies and objectives, plans and
programs, techniques, procedures and practices in environmental engineering works
in general of the local government unit concerned;

(b) Advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on environmental engineering
‘matters and concerns;

{c) Administer, coordinate, supervise, and control the implementation of projects relevant
to environmental engineering;

(@) Provide engineering services to the local government unit concemed, including
investigation and survey, engineering designs, feasibility studies and project
management;

(e) In the case of provincial environmental engineers, exercise technical supervision over
all environmental engineering offices of component cities and municipalities; and,

(f) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be
prescribed by law or ordinance.

Firms, companies, partnerships or associations which are engaged in the installation,
construction, manufacture, operation, or sale of environmental equipment, facilities and other
environmental engineering processes, or hold environmental permits such as Environment
Compliance Certificate (ECC), Water Permit, Discharge Permit, shall hire or engage the
services of at least one (1) environmental engineer. Industries, establishments, institutions,
waterworks, and facilities which generate, treat, discharge or dispose waste shall also be

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required to hire or engage the services of at least one (1) environmental engineer who shall, at
the same time, perform functions of a Pollution Control/Environmental Officer.

SEC. 37. Ratio of Environmental Engineers, Environmental Engineering
Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians per population of Local
Government Units. — The IRR of this Act shall set the standard ratio of environmental
engineers, environmental engineering technologists and environmental engineering
technicians per unit of population served in every province, city or municipality.

SEC. 38, Penal Provision. ~ In addition to the administrative sanctions imposed
under this Act, upon conviction, the penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but
not more than five (5) years, or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand Pesos (PhP
100,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand Pesos (PhP 500,000.00) or both, at the
discretion of the Courts, shall upon conviction be imposed on a person who commits any of
the following acts:

(a) Engaging in the practice of environmental engineering in the Philippines without
having been registered or without having conformed with the provisions of this Act;

(b) Presenting or attempting to use as one’s own the certificate of registration or
professional identification card of another environmental engineer, environmental
engineering technologists or environmental engineering technician, or special
temporary permit of a foreign environmental engineering practitioner;

(©) Submitting any false or forged evidence to the Board for the purpose of securing a
certificate of registration, professional identification card or special temporary permit,
or impersonating any environmental engineering practitioner;

(@) Attempting to use or using a revoked or suspended certificate of registration,
professional identification card or special temporary permit;

(©) Using or advertising any title or description tending to convey the impression that a
person is an environmental engineering practitioner even without a valid certificate of
registration, professional identification card or special temporary permit; or,

(0) Violating any of the provisions of this Act.

In case the offender is a corporation, partnership or juridical person, the penalty of
imprisonment shall be imposed on the environmental engincer jointly and solidarily with the
responsible professionals, as well the officer or officers responsible for permitting or causing
the violation.

SEC. 39. Enforcement of the Act by Officers of the Law. — The Board and the
Commission shall implement and enforce the provisions of this Act, its IRR, and whenever
warranted, investigate complaints for violations of this Act, its IRR and the Code of Ethics
and Standards for Environmental Engineers, Environmental Engineering Technologists and
Environmental Engineering Technicians.

The National Government, any of its provincial, city or municipal government or
political subdivisions, shall assist in the enforcement of the provisions of this Act. The

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Department of Justice shall act as legal adviser of the Board and render such legal assistance
as may be necessary in carrying out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 40. Transitory Provision. — The incumbent Chairperson and members of the
Board of Sanitary Engineering shall continue to serve in such capacity for the purpose of
administering the Sanitary Engineers Licensure Examination to the graduates of Bachelor of
Science in Sanitary Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sanitary
Engineering until five (5) years from effectivity of this Act.

The Board of Environmental Engineering created under Section 6 of this Act shall be
constituted not later than six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. The Board shall
administer the Environmental Engineers Licensure Examination and register environmental
engineering practitioners prior to the full implementation of the qualifications prescribed for
environmental engineers, environmental engineering technologists and environmental
engineering technicians in Section 14, 15 and 16 of this Act.

SEC. 41. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Board shall, within ninety
(90) days upon effectivity of this Act, shall formulate and issue the implementing rules and
regulations (IRR) to carry out the provision of this Act.

SEC. 42. Appropriations. — The Chairperson of the Commission shall immediately
include in the Commission’s programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The amount necessary to
carry out the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s
appropriations of the Commission. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the succeeding GAA.

SEC. 43. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
‘unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in force
and effect.

SEC. 44. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, administrative orders, and
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 45. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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