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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENAl:E 
S.No. la52 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 16 states: 
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AUG 22 PS :15 
The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced 
and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. 
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) deals with the content of interior air that could affect health and 
comfort of building occupants. The IAQ may be compromised by microbial contaminants (mold, 
bacteria), chemicals (such as carbon monoxide, radon), allergens, or any mass or energy stressor 
that can induce health effects. Indoor air pollutants are associated with many health risks 
including asthma. 
Recent findings have demonstrated that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air 
(albeit with different pollutants). In fact, indoor air is often a greater health hazard than the 
corresponding outdoor setting. Using ventilation to dilute contaminants, filtration, and source 
control are the primary methods for improving indoor air quality in most buildings. 
In accordance with the constitutional provision above, the National Government must set 
policy directions with regard to indoor air quality. This bill addresses the issue head on.' 
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• This bill was originally filed in the FOUlteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 1352 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROTECT INDOOR AIR QUALITY 
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AUG 22 P5 :15 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term-
A. 
"Building" means an occupied structure of greater than twenty-five thousand 
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(25,000) square feet of floor space, using mechanical ventilation providing outdoor air, re-
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circulated air, or a mixture of outdoor and re-circulated air, excluding a residential structure 
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containing six (6) or fewer dwelling units." " 
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B. 
"Owner" means any individual, partnership, corporation, mortgagee, assignee of 
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rents, receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, or any other person, firm, or corporation in control of a 
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building. 
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SECTION 2. Responsibilities of the BUilding Owner. -
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A. The owner of a building shall be responsible for developing and maintaining an indoor 
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air quality plan for the building. The plan shall contain the following components: 
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(I) 
A detailed description of the building'S heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning 
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system, its operation, and procedures and schedules for necessary maintenance; 
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(2) 
An inventory of toxic substances used in the building, including copies of 
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applicable material safety data sheet; 
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(3) 
A plan detailing modifiCIitiOfis and renovation on indoor air quality ventilation 
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and other factors relevant to air quality; 
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(4) 
(5) 
(6) 
B. 
Prior to commencing construction or renovation projects, a plan to mmlmlze 
exposure to contaminants and mitigate adverse effects on building occupants 
during and after construction or renovation; 
A procedure for maintaining and providing access (including inspection and 
copying) to written records or logs pursuant to paragraph B of this section; and 
A system to respond to requests for information, investigate and respond to 
complaints of indoor air quality problems and adverse health effects by occupants 
consistent with paragraph D of this section. 
The owner shall be responsible for developing and maintaining the following 
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records and logs as part o'f the indoor air quality plan: 
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(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
c. 
A written record of maintenance performed on the building's heating, ventilation, . 
and air-conditioning system; 
A log of pesticide use and application, including copies of applicable material 
safety data sheets; 
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A written record of modifications and renovations to the building, including but 
not limited to modification of the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning 
system, construction and modifications of walls and interior space which could 
affect air flow to building occupants; and 
A log of complaints of indoor air quality problems and reports of adverse health 
effects and actions and responses to complaints and reports. 
The owner of a building shall designate a person or group of persons who shall be 
responsible for coordinating the indoor air quality plan including: 
(1) 
Operating and maintaining the building's heating, ventilation, and 
conditioning system; 
air-
(2) 
(3) 
(3) 
Maintaining the indoor air quality plan pursuant to paragraph A of this section; 
Developing and maintaining the written records and logs pursuant to paragraph B 
of this subdivision; and 
Receiving and responding to complaints of indoor air quality problems and 
requests for information pursuant to paragraph D of this section. 
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D. 
The owner of the building shall post Ih the lobby of the 'building, or conspicuously 
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where building occupants have access to it, a notice stating the procedures for making requests 
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and complaints under this paragraph and the name and telephone number of the person or 
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persons designated pursuant to paragraph C of this section. 
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E. 
A building owner may contract with a management company, lessee or other 
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party responsible for the building's operation and maintenance to carry out the responsibilities 
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enumerated in this section. 
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F. 
A building owner shall provide building occupants with reasonable access to the 
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indoor quality plan pursuant to paragraph A of this section; provided, however, that a building 
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owner may exclude from that access any information the disclosure of which would pose a 
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security risk. 
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G. Where the owner operates more than one similar building on a contiguous site, the 
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owner may prepare a plan which includes more than one building. 
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SECTION 3. Indoor Air Quality Standards. - Within one (1) year after this Act shall take 
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effect, the Secretary of Health, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and Employment, the 
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Secretary of Environment and Natural Resource, and the Secretary of the Interior and Local 
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Government, shall adopt regulations establishing standards of ventilation for new and existing 
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buildings. The standards shall take into consideration building arrangement, structure, size, use, 
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age, and occupancy. The Secretary of Health may establish a procedure where any provision or 
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requirement of the indoor air quality regulations may be varied or modified in cases where strict 
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compliance would entail practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship or would otherwise be 
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unwarranted. Request for variance shall be resolved within sixty (60) days of the date of 
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application unless a longer period is required for good cause shown. 
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SECTION 4. Indoor Air Investigation. - Upon receipt of a complaint or complaints -
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excluding complaints in relation to the temperature of indoor air quality relating to a building -
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from three or more occupants of the building or from a tenant of all or part of the building, the 
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building owner shall initiate an investigation of the complaint or complaints. The building owner 
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shall respond in writing within thirty (30) days indicating the results of the initial investigation 
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and any corrective actions taken or pending. 
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SECTION 5. Training Course. - The Secretary of Health, in consultation with the 
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Secretary of Labor, and nationally recognized societies of industrial hygiene, fire prevention and 
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heating, refrigeration, and air-conditioning, shall model courses in the operation and maintenance 
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of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. The Secretary of Health shall have authority 
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to approve programs in heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning operation and maintenance and 
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shall maintain a list of approved programs, which shall be made available to interested parties 
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upon request. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. -
If any provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
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shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or 
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modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
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following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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