THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
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Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology is upheld by the 
Constitution. It is, therefore, the mandate of the State to safeguard this right and to 
provide the resources to implement this policy for the benefit of all citizens. 
Public health and safety greatly depends on the awareness of citizens and local 
officials of the toxic dangers that exist in their homes, communities and neighborhoods. 
Of all sectors in society, it is the children and other vulnerable subpopulations like 
pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with a history of adults, they face unique 
health threats that need special attention. However, our current standards for 
environmental pollutants fail to protect or even consider risks to children and other 
vulnerable subpopulations. 
There is a need to clearly differentiate between the risks to children and other 
vulnerable sectors in the setting of environmental and public health standards. It is also 
important that such standards be made known and understood by the target sector for 
their own protection. 
This bill seeks to address these issues by tasking the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in collaboration with the Department of 
Health (DOH) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in setting appropriate standards. 
The bill institutes the necessary mechanisms for ensuring that supplying data that would 
allow adequate quantification and evaluation of environmental pollutants specific to 
these sectors creates information on the risks to children and the risks to other 
vulnerable sub-pollutants. In so doing, the citizens will be able to exercise their right to 
know and make informed decisions to protect their families. 
For these reasons, immediate enactment of this bill is earnestly sought. 
TO ESTMDA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
’04 J<;,j 31) ;?l: 
5 1  
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND OTHER VULNERABLE 
SUBPOPULATIONS FROM EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL 
POLLUTANTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Article I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION I. 
T/TL€. This Act shall be known and cited as the “Children’s 
Environmental Protection Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State, concordant with 
the Constitution, to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and 
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature, and to promote and 
protect the children’s physical well-being in recognition of the youth’s vital role in nation- 
building. To ensure the implementation of these policies, the State shall ensure that: 
a) All environmental and public health standards set by the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Health 
(DOH), respectively must, with an adequate margin of safety, protect children 
and other vulnerable subpopulations that are at greater risk from exposure to 
environmental pollutants; 
b) Information, including a safer-for-children product list, should be made readily 
available by the DENR to the general public and relevant government 


agencies to advance the public’s right to know, and allow the public to avoid 
unnecessary and involuntary exposure to environmental pollutants. 
c) Not later that one (I) 
year after the safer-for-children product list is created, 
only listed products or chemical’s that minimize potential health risks to 
children shall be used in properties and areas of the State; and 
d) Scientific research opportunities should be identified by the DENR and the 
Department of Health (DOH), to study the short-term and long-term health 
effects of cumulative, simultaneous, and synergistic exposures of children 
and other vulnerable subpopulations to environmental pollutants. 
SECTION 3. Definifions. As used in this Act: 
a) “Areas That Are Reasonably Accessible to Children” shall refer to homes, 
schools, day care centers, shopping malls, movie theaters, and parks; 
b) “Children” shall refer to individual 18 years of age or younger; 
c) “Department” shall refer to the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources; 
d) “Environmental Pollutants” shall refer to a hazardous substance, or a 
pesticide, as defined in R.A. 6969 and those other pollutants with national 
standards; 
e) “Secretary” shall refer to the Secretary of Environment and Natural 
Resources; 
f) “State Properties and Areas” shall refer to areas owned or controlled by the 
Republic of the Philippines; and 
g) “Vulnerable Subpopulations” shall refer to children, pregnant women, the 
elderly, individuals with a history of serious illness, and other subpopulations 
identified by the Secretary of Environment in collaboration with the Secretary 
of Health as likely to experience elevated health risks from environmental 
pollutants. 


Article II 
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND OTHER VULNERABLE 
SUBPOPULATIONS 
SECTION 4.. Functions of fhe Secrefary of the DENR. - The Secretary of the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Secretary 
of Health, shall: 
a) Consistently and explicitly evaluate and consider environmental health risks 
to vulnerable subpopulations in all of the risk assessments, risk 
characterizations, environmental and public health standards, and regulatory 
decisions carried out by the Secretary; 
b) Ensure that all environmental and public health standards protect children 
and other vulnerable subpopulations with an adequate margin of safety; and 
c) Develop and use a separate assessment or finding of risks to vulnerable 
subpopulations or publish in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
an explanation of why the separate assessment or finding is not in used. 
SECTION 5. Reevaluation of Current Public Healfh and Environmental 
Standards. - As part of any risk assessment, risk characterization, environmental and 
public health standard or regulation, or general regulatory decision carried out by the 
Secretary, he shall evaluate and consider the environmental health risks to children and 
other vulnerable sub-populations. 
Not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall: 
a) Develop an administrative strategy and process for reviewing standards; 
b) Publish in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation a list of standards 
that may need revision to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable 
subpopulations; 
c) Prioritize ‘the list according to the standards that are most important for 
expedited review to protect children and vulnerable subpopulations; 
d) Identify which standards on the list will require additional research in order to 
be reevaluated and outline the time and resources required to carry out the 
research; 
e) Identify, through public input and peer review public health and environmental 
standards to be re-promulgated on an expedited basis to meet the criteria of 
this subsection; 


f) Propose revised standards that meet the criteria of this subsection not later 
than five (5) years after the date of enactment of this title; 
g) Complete the revision of all standards in accordance with this subsection not 
h) Report to Congress on an annual basis, the progress made by the Secretary 
later than ten (1 0) years after the date of enactment of this title; 
in carrying out the objectives and policy of this subsection. 
ARTICLE 111 
SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN 
SECTION 6. Safer Environmenf for Children. - To ensure a safer environment 
for children, in not later than one year after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall: 
a) Identify environmental pollutants commonly used or found in areas that are 
reasonably accessible to children; 
b) Create a scientifically peer reviewed list of substances identified under 
paragraph one (I) 
with known, likely, or suspected health risks to children; 
c) Create a scientifically peer-reviewed list of safer-for-children substances and 
products recommended by the Secretary for in use areas that are reasonably 
accessible to children that, when applied as recommended by the 
manufacturer, will minimize potential risks to children from exposure to 
environmental pollutants; 
d) Establish guidelines to help reduce and eliminate exposure of children to 
environmental pollutants in areas reasonably accessible to children, including 
advice on how to establish an integrated pest management program; 
e) Create a family right-to-know information kit that includes a summary of 
helpful information and guidance to families, such as the information created 
under paragraph three, the guidelines established under paragraph four, 
information on the potential effects of environmental pollutants, practical 
suggestions on how parents may reduce their children’s exposure to 
environmental pollutants, and other relevant information, as determined by 
the Secretary in cooperation with the Secretary of Department of Health; 
f) Make all information created pursuant to this subsection available to 
government agencies, the public, and on the internet; and 
g) Review and update the lists created under paragraphs two and three at least 
once each year. 


SECTION 7. Compliance in Public Areas fhaf are Reasonably Accessible to 
Children. - Not later than one year after the list of public areas that are reasonably 
accessible to children is created and made available to the public by the Department, 
the Secretary shall prohibit the use of any product that has been excluded from the 
safer-for-children list in State properties and areas. 
ARTICLE IV 
RESEARCH TO IMPROVE INFORMATION ON EFFECTS ON CHILDREN 
SECTION 8. Toxicity Data. - The Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of 
Health shall coordinate and support the development and implementation of basic and 
applied research initiatives to examine the health effects and toxicity of pesticides 
(including active and inert ingredients) and other environmental pollutants on children 
and other vulnerable subpopulations. 
SECTION 9. Biennial Report - The Secretary, the Secretary or Agriculture and 
the Secretary of Health shall submit joint biennial reports to Congress on actions taken 
to carry out this article. 
ARTICLE V 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION IO. 
Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year 
following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
SECTION 1 I, Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision in this Act were 
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby 
shall remain in force and effect. 


SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 13- Ef7ecfivify. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days fro the 
date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved.