Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
 
 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 
 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
 
 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI 
 
 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 
In recent years, the influx of technology brought about by globalization has spawned 
various products and processes having various effects on the environment, specifically 
how these contribute to its pollution. While pollution and continued degradation of the 
environment is a battle continuously fought by the government, the government’s 
environmentally-related activities have grown up piecemeal over the years. Many agency 
missions, for example, are designed primarily along media lines – air, water and land. Yet 
the sources of air, water and land pollution are interrelated and often interchangeable. 
Likewise, almost every part of government is concerned with the environment in some 
way, and affects it in some way. Yet each department also has its own primary mission – 
such as resource development, transportation, health, defense, urban growth or agriculture 
– which necessarily affects its own view of environmental questions. 
 
If the critical standard-setting functions were centralized within any one existing 
department, it would require that department to constantly make decisions affecting other 
departments – in which, whether fairly or unfairly, its own objectivity as an impartial 
arbiter could be called into question. And because environmental protection cuts across 
so many jurisdictions, and because arresting environmental deterioration is of great 
importance to the quality of life not only in our country but also to the world, it is 
believed that a strong, independent agency is needed. That agency would, of course, work 
closely with and draw upon the expertise and assistance of other agencies having 
experience in the environmental area which is hoped to lead to a far more effective 
approach to pollution control by: a) identifying pollutants; b) tracing them through the 
entire ecological chain, observing and recording changes in form as they occur; c) 
determining the total exposure of man and his environment; d) examining interactions 
among forms of pollution; and e) identifying where in the ecological chain interdiction 
would be most appropriate. 


 
 
Thus, the time has come to organize our laws and the government’s environmentally-
related activities rationally and systematically. There is a need for a separate agency 
devoted absolutely to anti-pollution programs – addressing the effects of pollution 
through knowing more about the total environment – land, water and air.  
 
The Environmental Protection Agency of the Philippines is such an agency. It shall only 
deal with matters that has a relation only to the protection, preservation and enhancement 
of the environment. It does not have a narrow charter to deal with only one aspect of a 
deteriorating environment; rather it has a broad responsibility for research, standard-
setting, monitoring and enforcement with regard to five environmental hazards; air and 
water pollution, solid waste disposal, radiation and pesticides.  
 
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI 
Representative, 3rd District, Bukidnon 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
 
 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 
 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
 
 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI 
 
 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY OF THE 
PHILIPPINES, THEREBY AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER 192, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
 
 
Section 1. Declaration of State Policy 
 
 
It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure the conservation of the 
country’s forest, mineral, land and off-shore areas and other natural resources, including 
the protection and enhancement of the quality of the environment. It is also the policy of 
the State to recognize and apply a true value system including social and environmental 
cost implications relative to their utilization, development and conservation of our natural 
resources.  
 
Section 2. Establishment of Agency 
 
(a) There is hereby established the Environmental Protection Agency to be placed 
under the  Executive Branch, hereinafter referred to as the “Agency.” 
 
(b) There shall be at the head of the Agency the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, hereinafter referred to as the “Administrator.” The 
dministrator shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Se 
(c) nate and House of Representatives, and of the Commission on Appointments. The 
Administrator shall be compensated at the rate now or hereafter provided under 
the Salary Standardization Act or other existing and applicable laws.  
 


(d) There shall be in the Agency a Deputy Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate and House of Representatives and of the 
Commission on Appointments. The Deputy Administrator shall be compensated 
at the rate now of hereafter provided under the Salary Standardization Act or other 
existing and applicable laws. The Deputy Administrator shall perform such 
functions as the Administrator shall from time to time assign or delegate, and 
shall act as Administrator during the absence or disability of the Administrator or 
in the event of a vacancy in the office of the Administrator.  
 
 
(e) There shall be in the Agency,  Regional Executive Directors  who shall monitor 
and enforce environmental laws at the regional level.  He shall have the necessary 
staff support. 
 
 
Section 3. Mandate 
 
 
The Agency shall be the primary arm of the government responsible for the 
conservation and protection of the country’s natural resources. 
 
Section 4. Powers and Functions 
 
 
To accomplish its mandate, the Agency shall have the following functions: 
 
(a) Establish and enforce environmental protection standards consistent with 
national environmental goals; 
 
(b) Conduct research on the adverse effects of pollution and on methods and 
equipment for controlling it; 
 
(c) Gathering of information on pollution; 
 
(d) Use such information gathered in strengthening environmental protection 
programs and recommending policy changes; 
 
(e) Assisting others, through grants, technical assistance and other means, in 
arresting pollution of the environment; 
 
(f) Advise the President and the Congress of the Philippines on the enactment of 
laws relative to the conservation of the country’s natural resources and control 
of pollution; 
 
(g) Formulate, implement and supervise the government’s policies, plans and 
programs pertaining to the conservation, development and replenishment of 
the country’s natural resources; 


 
(h) Promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the law governing the 
exploration, conservation, development, extraction, disposition, use and such 
other commercial activities tending to cause the depletion and degradation of 
our natural resources; 
 
(i) Undertake exploration, assessment, classification and inventory of the 
country’s natural resources using any and all available technology that would 
carry out the mission and mandate of the Agency; 
 
(j) Promote proper and mutual consultation with the private sector involving the 
utilization of natural resources, its development and conservation;  
 
(k) Undertake geological surveys of the whole country including its territorial 
waters; 
 
(l) Establish policies and implement programs for the: 
 
 
1.  Accelerated inventory, surveys and classification of lands, forest, and 
mineral resources using appropriate technology, to be able to come up 
with a more accurate assessment of resource quality and quantity; 
 
 
2.  Preservation of cultural and natural heritage through wildlife 
conservation and segregation of national parks and other protected 
areas; and 
 
 
3.  Maintenance of a wholesome natural environment by enforcing 
environmental protection laws. 
 
(m) Assume responsibility for the assessment, development, protection, 
conservation, and regulation as provided for by law, where applicable, of all 
natural resources and the enforcement of natural resources laws, rules and 
regulations; 
 
(n) Oversee, supervise and police our natural resources; to cancel or cause to 
cancel such privileges and arrangement; to close and cause the closure of 
establishments, after due process, upon failure, non-compliance or violations 
of any laws, rules and regulations, orders and for all other causes which 
contravene the objective of conserving and protecting the country’s natural 
resources and others supportive objectives of the national interest; 
 
(o) Promulgate rules and regulations for the control of water, air and land 
pollution; 
 


(p) Promulgate ambient, and affluent standards for water and air quality including 
the allowable levels of other pollutants and radiations; 
 
(q) Promulgate policies, rules and regulations for the conservation of the 
country’s genetic resources and biological diversity and endangered habitat;  
 
(r) Formulate an integrated, multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary National 
Conservation Strategy, which will be presented to the cabinet for the 
President’s approval; 
 
(s) Exercise other powers and functions and perform such other acts as may be 
necessary, proper or incidental to the attainment of its mandates and 
objectives; 
 
Section 5. Organizational Structure 
 
 
The Agency shall consist of the Agency Proper, the staff offices, the staff bureaus, 
and the regional/provincial/municipal offices. 
 
 
The Agency Proper shall consist of the following: 
 
a. Office of the Administrator; 
b. Offices of the Deputy Administrator; 
c. Public Affairs Office; and  
d. Pollution Adjudication Office; 
 
The line  Bureaus on the other hand, shall be composed of: 
 
(a) Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau;  and the  
(b) Environmental Management Bureau;  
  
 
The field offices shall consist of all the department’s regional offices, the provincial 
offices and the municipal offices. 
 
Section 6. Public Affairs Office  
 
There is hereby created a Public Affairs Office, under the Office of the 
Administrator, to be headed by a Director and assisted by an Assistant Director, which 
shall serve as the public information arm of the Agency. It shall be responsible for 
disseminating information on natural resources development policies, plans, programs 
and projects; and respond to public queries related to the development and conservation 
of natural resources. 
 
 


 
 
Section 7. Transfers to Environmental Protection Agency 
 
I.  There are hereby transferred to the Agency: 
 
 
a. The powers, functions, duties and responsibilities of the Environmental 
Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources as well as all its functions and powers under Section 16 of 
Executive Order 192; 
 
b. The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources as well as all its functions and powers 
under Section 18 of Executive Order 192; 
 
c. The Pollution Adjudication Board of the Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources as well as all its functions and powers under Section 19 
of Executive Order 192; 
 
d. The control and administration of the National Integrated Protected Area 
System under Republic Act 7586 otherwise known as the NIPAS Act of 
1992; 
 
e. The powers and functions of the DENR under Sections 5, 14, 16, 17, 18, 
and 21 of Republic Act 7586; 
 
f. The powers, functions and duties of the National Water and Air Pollution 
Control Commission under Republic Act 3931 except such powers and 
functions as provided for under Section 6a paragraphs 6 and 7, and Section 
7 paragraph b relating to the power to hold public hearings in relation to 
denying, revoking, or modifying a permit; 
 
g. The powers, functions and responsibilities of the DENR under of Republic 
Act 6969 otherwise known as An Act To Control Toxic Substances and 
Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Providing Penalties For Violations 
Thereof, and for other purposes; 
 
h. The Inter-Agency Technical Advisory Council as well as its functions as 
provided for under Section 7 of Republic Act 6969; 
 
 
 
i. All powers, functions, duties and responsibilities of the Department of 
Agriculture and of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 


in relation to conservation, preservation, anti-pollution and other functions 
appurtenant thereto under Republic Act 8550 otherwise known as the 
Philippine Fisheries Code;  
 
j. The functions, powers, duties and responsibilities of the DENR as well as 
the functions, powers, duties and responsibilities of Local Government 
Units under Republic Act 8749 otherwise known as the Clean Air Act 
except: 
 
 
a.  such powers, functions, duties and responsibilities relating to 
the issuance of permits as provided under Section 16; and  
 
 
b.  such functions, powers, duties and responsibilities under 
Section 22 relating to the issuance of a Certificate of 
Conformity (CoC)  
 
k. The powers, functions, duties, responsibilities and role of the Department 
of Environment and Natural Resources under Republic Act No. 9003 
except the issuance of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) as 
required under Section 38 of Republic Act No. 9003;  
 
l. The powers, functions, duties and responsibilities of the National Solid 
Waste Management Commission as established under Republic Act No. 
9003;  
 
m. The functions, duties and responsibilities of the National Ecology Center 
as established under Section 7 of Republic Act No. 9003;  
 
n. The powers, functions, duties and responsibilities of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources under Republic Act No. 9072 except 
the issuance of permits as provided for under Section 5 paragraph c; 
 
o. The powers and functions of the DENR under Republic Act 9147 relating 
to the conservation and protection of wildlife species and their habitats;  
 
 
p. Such other powers, functions, duties and responsibilities of various 
government departments and agencies tasked under existing laws relating 
to the abate of pollution.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
II. There are hereby transferred to the Administrator: 
 


q. The powers and functions as well as the advisory and recommending 
powers and appointing powers of the Secretary of the DENR under 
Sections 6, 7, 10 and 11 of Republic Act 7586 otherwise known as the 
NIPAS Act of 1992; 
 
r. Functions of the Ministry of Human Settlements as provided for under 
Section 4 of Presidential Decree 1586;  
 
s. The powers and functions of the Secretary of the DENR as provided for 
under Section 10 of Republic Act 6969; 
 
t. Functions of the Secretary of the Department Environment and Natural 
Resources with respect to being the head of a Governing Board under 
Section 9 of Republic Act No. 8749; 
 
u. The powers, functions, duties and responsibilities of the Secretary of the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources under Republic Act 
9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act;  
 
v. Such other powers, functions, duties and responsibilities of heads of 
various government departments and agencies which is related to the 
abatement of pollution.  
 
Section 8. Performance of transferred functions. 
 
The Administrator may from time to time make such provisions as he shall deem 
appropriate authorizing the performance of any of the functions transferred to him by the 
provisions of this Act by any other officer, or by any organizational entity or employee, of 
the Agency. 
 
Section 9. Incidental transfers. 
 
(a) So much of the personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of 
appropriations, allocations, and other funds employed, used, held available, or to 
be made available in connection with the functions transferred to the 
Administrator or the Agency by this reorganization and/or its creation as the 
Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management shall determine shall be 
transferred to the Agency at such time or times as the Secretary shall direct. 
 
(b) Such further measures and dispositions as the Secretary of the Department of 
Budget and Management shall deem to be necessary in order to effectuate the 
transfers shall be carried out in such manner as he shall direct and by such 
agencies as he shall designate. 
 
 


Section 10.  Organizational  Provisions  
 
 
In accomplishing the acts of organization herein prescribed, the organization 
of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shall in no way displace, dislocate 
or demote  the personnel of  concerned bureaus, agencies and other  government 
instrumentalities but rather shall be absorbed, streamlined,  and  expanded. 
 
Section 11. Interim officers. 
 
(a) The President may authorize any person who, immediately prior to the effective 
date of this Act, is immediately known as a staunch advocate of the preservation, 
protection, and conservation of the environment to act as Administrator until the 
office of Administrator is for the first time filled pursuant to the provisions of this 
reorganization plan or by interim appointment, as the case may be. 
 
(b) The President may similarly authorize any such person to act as Deputy 
Administrator, authorize any such person to act as Regional Executive Director, 
and authorize any such person to act as the head of any principal constituent 
organizational entity of the Administration. 
 
(c) The President may authorize any person who serves in an acting capacity under 
the foregoing provisions of this section to receive the compensation attached to 
the office in respect of which he so serves. Such compensation, if unauthorized, 
shall be in lieu of, but not in addition to, other compensation from the 
Government of the Republic of the Philippines to which such person may be 
entitled. 
 
Section 12. Structure and Pattern 
 
 
The positions, structure, and staffing pattern of the Agency shall be approved and 
prescribed by the Administrator within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act and 
the authorized positions created thereunder shall be filled with regular appointments by 
him or by the President as the case may be. 
 
 
In no case shall the new position structure and staffing pattern of the Agency 
affect the existing position and structure and staffing patterns of the different bureaus and 
governmental agencies absorbed or hereby transferred to the Agency.  
 
Section 13. Periodic Performance Evaluation 
 
 
The Agency is hereby required to formulate and enforce a system of measuring 
and evaluating periodically and objectively the performance of the Agency and submit the 
same annually to the President and to the Senate and House of Representatives. 
 
 


 
 
Section 14. Notice or Consent Requirement 
 
 
 
If any organizational or reorganizational change herein authorized is of such 
substance or materiality as to prejudice third persons with rights recognized by law or 
contract such that notice to consent of creditors is required to be made or obtained 
pursuant to any agreement entered into with any of such creditors, such notice or consent 
requirement shall be complied with prior to the implementation of such organizational or 
reorganizational change.  
 
Section 15. Funding 
 
 
Appropriations  earmarked for the concerned bureaus to include the 
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the Parks and Wild Life Bureau (PAWB), 
and other government  instrumentalities that have been streamlined; and the funds  
appropriated for environmental laws now under the administrative and operational 
jurisdiction of the EPA; and  foreign grants,  assistance, donations  shall hereby constitute 
the funding requirements of the agency.  
 
 
Section 16. Implementing Authority of the Administrator 
 
 
The Administrator shall issue such orders, rules and regulations and other 
issuances as may be necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the provision of 
this Act.  
 
Section 17. Separability Clause 
 
 
If for any reason, any part of or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional 
or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.  
 
Section 18. Repealing Clause 
 
 
Any law, executive order, letter of instruction, rules and regulations, circulars, 
issuances or any part thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act is hereby 
repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
 
Section 19. Effectivity 
 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette and in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
 


Approved,