Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
An estimated 583 billion plastic bottles were produced in 2021. That is 100 billion more than 
what was produced just five years ago.1 The amount of single-use plastics used globally has 
tripled since the start of the pandemic, with takeout orders driving the increase.2 The pollution 
of single use plastics have brought serious massive effects to our planet from pilling up our 
dump sites to the point of closure, to reaching our waters, endangering marine life. Our oceans 
have faced “irreparable damage” from plastic pollution for the last 70 years.3 The National 
Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis estimated over 8 million tons of plastic end up 
in the oceans every year.  
Asian nations are known to be a major contributor to plastic waste. According to environmental 
group Greenpeace, the Philippines ranks third as the “worst polluter of the world’s oceans”, 
after China and Indonesia.4 Five Asian countries - China, Indonesia, the Philippines and 
Vietnam and Thailand - accounted for up to 60 percent of the plastic waste leaking into the 
ocean, according to a report by the environmental campaigner Ocean Conservancy and the 
McKinsey Center for Business and Environment.5 This has urged legislators and government 
officials to do their part against plastic pollution. 
Local Government Units in Metropolitan Manila have taken strides in combating the excessive 
use of plastic in the country. The Quezon City government, for example, will resume the full 
implementation of the city-wide plastic bag ban or City Ordinance 2868-2019 as this was lifted 
during the height of the pandemic. According to the said ordinance, restaurants are prohibited 
1 Statista. (2022). Production of polyethylene terephthalate bottles worldwide from 2004 to 2021. Retrieved July 
20, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/723191/production-of-polyethylene-terephthalate-bottles-
worldwide/a. 
2 Rodgers, K. (2021, September 29). Plastic use tripled since start of pandemic, takeout waste played role. 
Www.News4jax.Com. Retrieved July 20, 2022, from https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/09/29/plastic-
use-tripled-since-start-of-pandemic-takeout-waste-played-role/ 
3 Trowsdale, Housden, Meier, A. T. B. (2017, December 10). Seven charts that explain the plastic pollution 
problem. Https://Www.Bbc.Com/. Retrieved December 20, 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-
environment-42264788 
4 Greenpeace: PH is third worst plastic polluter of oceans. (2017, September 23). Newsinfo.Inquirer.Net. 
Retrieved July 20, 2022, from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/932739/greenpeace-environment-water-pollution-
polluter-manila-bay 
5 Tanakasempipat, Kittisilpa, P. J. (2018, June 5). Southeast Asia’s plastic “addiction” blights world’s oceans. 
Www.Reuters.Com. Retrieved July 20, 2022, from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-environment-day-plastic-
idUSKCN1J10LM 
July 22, 2022
4:34 pm
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from distributing single-use plastic/ disposable materials to dine-in customers such as plastic 
spoon and fork, knives, plastic/ paper cups, plates, plastic/ paper straws, coffee stirrers and 
other disposable materials and styrofoam. Hotels, on the other hand, are also not allowed to 
distribute soap, shampoo, shower gels, liquid soap, conditioners, and other items used for 
hygienic purposes in sachets and single-use containers.6 
Aside from Quezon City, other cities in the National Capital Region that have banned or at 
least restricted the use of single-use plastics are Las Piñas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Makati, 
and Muntinlupa. Muntinlupa’s plastic ban is particularly significant also because its entire 
eastern border runs along the edge of Laguna de Bay, the country’s largest lake.7 
These efforts to eliminate or at least reduce our daily use of single use plastic that cause 
deadly flooding, has been felt across the capital city through local laws. Without a doubt, the 
country, especially flood-prone areas, would benefit greatly if these policies were to be 
implemented nationwide. This bill proposes to regulate the production, use, recycling and 
disposal of plastic. This hopes to encourage the use of reusable bags instead of one-time use 
plastic bags. The bill also proposes to provide an “in-store recovery program” where customers 
are given an opportunity to return their used biodegradable plastic bags to the commercial 
establishments that provided them for recycling. The plan provides for the transition from the 
usage of ordinary polymer plastic bag to biodegradable plastic bags in establishments. 
Concerns over the proliferation of plastic waste in the country have become more prominent 
in recent years, with Local Government Units heeding to the calls through ordinances. This 
long overdue change in our consumer culture is a much needed one. 
The approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
6 QC to Resume Ban on Plastic Bags, Single Use Plastics. (2021, February 13). Https://Quezoncity.Gov.Ph. 
Retrieved July 20, 2022, from https://quezoncity.gov.ph/qc-to-resume-ban-on-plastic-bags-single-use-plastics/ 
7 Limos, M. (2020, January 7). So Far, These are the Cities in Metro Manila That Have Banned Plastic. 
Www.Esquiremag.Ph. Retrieved July 20, 2022, from https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/news/metro-manila-
cities-banned-plastic-a00293-20200107 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT  
REGULATING THE PRODUCTION, IMPORTATION, SALE, DISTRIBUTION, 
PROVISION, USE, RECOVERY, COLLECTION, RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL OF 
SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Single-Use Plastic 
Products Regulation Act.” 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
(a) Commercial establishment refers to an establishment or cluster of
establishments engaged in commerce or sales of goods or services including market 
stores, shopping mall outlets, supermarkets, department stores, online stores, grocery 
stores, drug stores, convenience stores, food chains, restaurants, cafes, bars, sari-
sari stores, ambulant vendors, with or without stalls, and the like; 
(b) Compostable plastic product refers to a plastic product that is suitable for
home composting that undergoes degradation by biological processes during 
composting to yield carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass, at a 
rate consistent with other known compostable materials, and leaves no visible, 
distinguishable, or environmentally harmful residue; 
(c) High in replaceability refers to a condition wherein a plastic product is deemed
non-acceptable, unnecessary, or can be replaced by a more efficient and eco-friendly 
alternatives; 
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(d) Importer refers to any entity that imports or distributes single-use plastic 
products, or goods utilizing single-use plastic products, to any commercial 
establishment in the Philippines; 
(e) Low in recyclability refers to a condition wherein the value for recovery and 
reprocessing of a plastic product is low, or nonexistent, due to its design, composition, 
content, and density, among other things; 
(f) Low in retrievability refers to a situation wherein after use of the plastic 
products, a significant volume cannot be recovered, properly recycled, processed or 
disposed of, on account of inefficient recovery schemes, or low value for recovery, 
recycling or reprocessing; 
(g) Plastic footprint refers to the total amount of plastic or composite materials 
used in the production, distribution, promotion, and sale of single-use plastic products 
or services; 
(h) Plastic products refer to bags, containers, food service necessities, 
packaging, and promotional materials, or any other non-healthcare products using 
synthetic polymers as a major component, or as one of the layers thereof, designed 
to be utilized, to carry or protect goods for transportation, distribution, and sale, or to 
promote these products or services; 
(i) Producer refers to any entity that manufactures or distributes single-use plastic 
products or goods utilizing single-use plastic products, to any commercial 
establishment in the Philippines; and 
(j) Single-use plastic products refer to plastic products designed to be disposed, 
destroyed, or recycled, after only one use. 
 
SECTION 3. Phase Out of Single-Use Plastic Products. – The following non-
compostable single-use plastic products shall be phased out within a period of four (4) 
years from the effectivity of this Act: 
(a) Plates and saucers; 
(b) Cups, bowls, and lids;  
(c) Cutlery like spoons, forks, knives, and chopsticks; 
(d) Food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene;  
(e) Oxo-degradable plastics; 
(f) Film wrap, packaging, or bags of less than 50 microns in thickness; and 
(g) Sachets and pouches that are multilayered with other materials. 


 
The following products shall be phased out within a period of one (I) year from 
the effectivity of this Act: 
(a) Drinking straws; 
(b) Stirrers; 
(c) Sticks for candy, balloon, and cotton bud; 
(d) Buntings; 
(e) Confetti; and 
(f) Packaging or bags of less than 10 microns in thickness. 
 
Thereafter, the production, importation, sale, distribution, provision or use of the 
said plastic products shall be prohibited. 
 
Properly labelled flexible disposable plastic drinking straws for persons with 
special medical conditions shall be allowed, when no suitable reusable or compostable 
alternatives are available. 
 
SECTION 4. Phase Out of Other Single-Use Plastic Products. – Two (2) years after 
the effectivity of this Act, and every two (2) years thereafter, the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with the Department of 
Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and 
the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), shall regularly 
determine whether plastic bottles, packaging, or products that are multilayered with 
other materials, such as tetra packs, election or advertising paraphernalia, streamers, 
and other non-compostable single-use plastic products not listed under Section 3 of 
this Act are deemed either high in replaceability, low in recyclability, or low in 
retrievability. Upon determination by the DENR, these products shall be phased out 
within a period of two (2) years. 
 
Products are low in recyclability or retrievability when these are not properly 
recovered or offset, in compliance with the provisions or standards established 
pursuant to Section 7 of this Act. 
 


SECTION 5. Phase Out Plan for Single-Use Plastic Products. – A Phase Out Plan, 
hereinafter referred to as the Plan, shall be formulated by the DENR, in coordination 
with the NSWMC, and in consultation with relevant departments or agencies of the 
government and stakeholders, within six (6) months upon the effectivity of this Act. 
The Plan shall include the following components: 
 
(a) Consumption, Reduction, and Recovery Program. – The DTI, in cooperation 
with the DENR, the DOST, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the 
Department of Health (DOH), and in consultation with stakeholders, shall formulate a 
Consumption, Reduction, and Recovery Program, to achieve a significant reduction in 
consumption and increased recovery for recycling and treatment, or proper disposal 
of single-use plastic products, within the phase out period prescribed by this Act. Such 
measures shall include national consumption reduction, waste recovery targets, and 
other measures ensuring that reusable and compostable alternatives to single-use 
plastic products are made available, and that the said products are not free of charge 
at the point-of-sale to the final consumer; 
 
(b) Producer Responsibility Schemes. – Producer responsibility schemes shall 
be formulated to carry out the objectives of Section 7 of this Act, and as part of interim 
measures, to cushion the impact of single-use plastic products on the environment 
within the phase out periods; 
 
(c) Reusable and Compostable Alternatives to Single-Use Plastic Products. – 
Appropriate strategies to implement the requirements provided under Sections 6 and 
14 of this Act shall be formulated to assist local manufacturers in developing or 
acquiring the appropriate technology and sustainable materials for the production of 
reusable or compostable alternatives to single-use plastic products, which shall also 
be highly recoverable and highly recyclable; 
 
(d) Awareness-Raising Measures. – As part of the Information and Education 
Campaign (IEC) under Section 11 of this Act, the DENR shall, together with the 
Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of the Interior and Local 
Government (DILG), formulate an information dissemination plan to inform consumers 
of: (i) the impact of use and improper disposal of single-use plastic products on the 


environment; (ii) waste reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery systems; and (iii) 
other best practices in waste management; and 
 
(e) Fiscal and Non-Fiscal Rewards and Incentives. – The Department of 
Finance (DOF), the DILG, and the DTI shall establish mechanisms that will provide 
fiscal or non-fiscal rewards and incentives allowed under existing laws, to encourage 
manufacturers, importers, sellers, and end-users to participate in the programs geared 
towards achieving the objectives of the Plan. 
 
SECTION 6. Compostable Plastic. – Producers, importers, and commercial 
establishments may provide compostable plastic products to their consumers. The 
plastic product shall have a visible logo identifying that it is compostable. The 
manufacturing date and name of manufacturer, importer, and distributor shall be 
labelled as well. 
 
The DTI, in coordination with the DENR, DOST, leagues of local government 
units (LGUs), NSWMC, and other government and private agencies and organizations 
concerned shall promulgate the appropriate Philippine National Standard (PNS) for 
compostable plastic products within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
Recoverability, recycling, or reprocessing value of these products into other useful 
materials or commodities shall likewise be explored by the DTI. 
 
SECTION 7. Responsibility of Producers and Importers. – Within two (2) years 
following the effectivity of this Act, producers and importers of single-use plastic 
products, regardless of whether compostable or recyclable, shall establish and start 
phasing in the extended producers' responsibility programs, aimed at effectively 
preventing plastic wastes from leaking to the environment. To achieve the purposes 
of this section, the producers and importers shall incorporate themselves in 
accordance with Republic Act No. 11232, otherwise known as the "Revised 
Corporation Code of the Philippines," to implement the extended producers' 
responsibility programs that may include the following activities: 
(a) Recovery schemes for plastic wastes through redemption, buy-back, 
offsetting, or any model or strategies that will efficiently effect high retrievability and 
recyclability; 


(b) Transportation of recovered plastic wastes to the appropriate composting, 
recycling, and other diversion or disposal sites in the country; 
(c) Cleanup of plastic wastes leaked to coastal areas, public roads, and other 
sites; and  
(d) Establishment of recycling, composting, thermal treatment, and other wastes 
diversion or disposal facilities of commercial or industrial scale for plastic products, 
when investment therein is viable. 
 
For this purpose, each producer or importer shall recover or offset and divert into 
value chains and value-adding useful products, whenever possible, at least fifty 
percent (50%) of their single-use plastic product footprint, three (3) years after the 
effectivity of this Act: Provided, That the DENR, upon the review and recommendation 
of the NSWMC, shall gradually increase the percentage until a one hundred percent 
(100%) recovery or offsetting of their single-use plastic product footprint is achieved 
five (5) years following the effectivity of this Act. The producer or importer shall submit 
to the DENR a verifiable notarized documentation of its single-use plastic product 
footprint. An independent third party auditor shall be engaged by both the DENR and 
the producer or importer to verify the authenticity of the plastic product footprint report 
and its recovery or offsetting report. 
 
Expenses relevant to the abovementioned activities, and the recovery and 
diversion of their plastic product footprint, are considered part of necessary expense, 
and shall be allowed as deduction from the taxable income of the producers and 
importers, under Section 34(A) of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, 
for a period of five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act. 
 
If a producer or importer fails to meet the recovery or offsetting of plastic product 
footprint target set pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the producer or importer shall 
be required to pay the equivalent amount of five percent (5%) of the cost of the single-
use product set in the market to the producers and importers' responsibility corporation 
created pursuant to Section 7 hereof, net of whatever amount already spent for 
recovery for the period. The producers' and importers' responsibility corporation may 
increase the rate or amount three (3) years after the effectivity of this Act. 
 


Producers and importers shall provide appropriate labelling for their packaging 
and products, providing information on specific plastic types and packaging structure, 
and other information important in the proper recovery and diversion of their wastes 
after use. For this purpose, the DTI in coordination with the recycling and waste 
processing industry is mandated to formulate the guidelines for proper labelling of 
packaging and plastic products. 
 
Implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for this section shall include, but not be 
limited to, multi-sectoral compliance monitoring schemes, accountability mechanism, 
transparency, and data reporting on recovery plan. 
 
SECTION 8. Responsibility of Commercial Establishments. – Sixty (60) days after 
the effectivity of this Act, commercial establishments shall undertake the following 
activities: 
(a) Promote the use of highly reusable, recyclable, and retrievable products in 
their establishments, or make available for sale locally made products such as bayong, 
buli, and other reusable containers and bags that are made of abaca, water lily, and 
other organic or compostable materials or reusable or recyclable containers that 
promote circular economy; 
 
(b) Charge their customers a minimum fee of Five pesos (P5.00) for every single-
use plastic bag: Provided, That the imposition of the minimum fee shall not preclude 
the LGUs from imposing other fees and charges on the use of plastic bags; 
 
(c) Charge take-out food or delivery services a minimum fee of Five pesos 
(P5.00) for every single-use plastic product provided, regardless of whether it is a 
disposable or compostable alternative; and 
 
(d) Establish an effective in-store recovery program that will facilitate and 
encourage customer return of their used plastic products to the commercial 
establishment, and implement the recovery scheme established pursuant to Section 7 
of this Act. 
 


The fees collected pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) shall be reflected in the 
receipts. The DOF shall prescribe the rules and regulations to be issued to implement 
this section with respect to the collection, recording, and remittance of fees: Provided, 
That fifty percent (50%) of the said fees shall be remitted to the National Government 
and deposited to the National Solid Waste Management Fund pursuant to Section 46 
of Republic Act No. 9003, while the other fifty percent (50%) shall be remitted to the 
barangay where the fee was collected, to finance exclusively their solid waste 
management programs. 
 
SECTION 9. Lead Agency. – The DENR, in coordination with the NSWMC, unless 
otherwise provided herein, shall be the primary government agency responsible for 
the implementation and enforcement of this Act. 
 
SECTION 10. Monitoring and Market Inspections. – The DENR and the DTI shall, 
in coordination with the LGUs and local law enforcement agencies, instigate the 
regular and routine inspection and monitoring of the point-of-sale stores and the 
facilities of commercial establishments, producers, and importers, to determine 
compliance with this Act. Inspection and monitoring shall include the following: 
(a) Entry or access to the premises of operation and business, including storage 
rooms and stockrooms; 
(b) Inspection of off-site storage facilities, distribution centers, and trans-
shipment points; and 
(c) Inspection of the recovery, recycling, treatment, and disposal facilities, to 
determine if residual plastic products are being properly diverted and 
disposed of. 
 
SECTION 11. Public Access to Information. – The public shall have access to 
records, reports, or information concerning the implementation and mandates of this 
Act. 
The said documents shall be made available for inspection or reproduction 
during normal business hours: Provided, That the DENR, the DTI or concerned LGU 
may consider Il confidential a record, report, or information, or particular portions 
thereof, and shall therefore not be made public when such would divulge trade secrets, 
production or sales figures, or methods, production, or processes unique to the 


manufacturer, seller, or distributor, or would otherwise tend to adversely affect the 
competitive position of such manufacturer. 
 
SECTION 12. Information and Education Campaign. – The DENR, in coordination 
with the LGUs, the DILG, the DTI, the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and other private or nongovernment 
organizations and concerned agencies, shall conduct a continuing IEC on the proper 
implementation of this Act, including the necessity to regulate plastic products in the 
country, in relation to our environment. 
 
The said IEC shall be incorporated in the public IEC under Section 55 of 
Republic Act No. 9003, otherwise known as the "Ecological Solid Waste Management 
Act of 2000"  
 
SECTION 13. Linkage Mechanism. – The DENR and the NSWMC, in coordination 
with the DTI, may consult, and enter into an agreement with other government 
agencies, LGUs, or with concerned nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or 
people's organizations (POs), or private enterprises in the furtherance of the objectives 
of this Act. 
 
SECTION 14. Shift to Alternatives. –  The DOST, in cooperation with the Department 
of Agriculture (DA), the DTI, the DENR, and the NSWMC, shall develop and implement 
a program that will assist local manufacturers in developing or acquiring sustainable 
sources of raw materials, appropriate technology for the production of highly reusable, 
recoverable, recyclable, or compostable materials, as an alternative to plastic products 
and provide applicable incentives therefor. Consistent with the program, the DTI, 
through the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), shall take the lead in developing 
the appropriate standards for alternatives. 
 
SECTION 15. Production and Importation Control. –  The DTI shall, in cooperation 
with the DA, DOST, DENR, and NSWMC, develop a framework plan that will ensure 
that the single-use plastic products being produced or imported in the country will 
maximize its   purpose, minimize its waste footprint, and increase its recoverability and 
recyclability. For this purpose, standards shall be established for the dimensions, 


thickness, labelling, structures, capacity, color-coding, materials and other relevant 
parameters of a particular single-use plastic product. 
 
SECTION 16. Role of the National Solid Waste Management Commission. – The 
NSWMC, created pursuant to Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9003 shall, in addition to 
its functions under the said law, aid and assist in the implementation and enforcement 
of this Act. The NSWMC shall, in partnership with research institutions and academic 
communities, conduct relevant studies to realize the harmonious implementation of 
this Act with Republic Act No. 9003. It shall also ensure that the provisions of this Act 
are made part of the programs being implemented under Republic Act No. 9512, 
otherwise known as the "National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 
2008". 
 
The DENR shall provide the necessary financial and manpower resources to 
enable the NSWMC to perform its additional functions under this Act. 
 
SECTION 17. Role of LGUs. – The LGUs shall be primarily responsible for the 
implementation and/or monitoring of compliance with wastes segregation, collection, 
recovery, transport, recycling, and disposal of plastic products. The LGUs may enjoin 
the participation of other concerned government agencies, private entities, and 
industries for this purpose. 
 
The DENR shall, in coordination with the NSWMC and the DOST, provide the 
LGUs with technical assistance, trainings, and continuing capability-building programs 
to attain the objectives of this Act.  
 
SECTION 18. Fines and Penalties. – Deliberate violations of Sections 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 
14 and 15 of this Act, and the falsification of documents required pursuant to this Act, 
or misrepresentation of persons producing, importing, or distributing single-use plastic 
products, and commercial establishments shall be penalized in the following manner: 
 
(a) Large, Medium and Small Enterprises: 


(1) A fine of not less than Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000.00) 
but not exceeding Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) for the first 
offense; 
(2) A fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) but 
not exceeding Seven hundred fifty thousand pesos (P750,000.00) for the second 
offense; and 
(3) A fine of not less than Seven hundred fifty thousand pesos 
(P750,000.00) but not exceeding One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) and 
automatic revocation of its business permit for the third offense. 
 
(b) Micro Enterprises, and Other Smaller Businesses: 
(1) A fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not 
exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) for the first offense; 
(2) A fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but 
not exceeding Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) for the second 
offense; and 
(3) A fine of not less than Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) 
but not exceeding Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) and automatic 
revocation of its business permit for the third offense. 
 
The Pollution Adjudication Board of the DENR shall hear and adjudicate cases 
of violations or offenses in this section, and impose appropriate fines therefor. For 
purposes of the imposition of appropriate fines hereof, the DTI shall establish the 
classification of commercial establishments based on their capitalization. 
 
Forty percent (40%) of the fines collected under this Act shall be allocated to or 
retained by the barangay where the fined prohibited acts are committed in order to 
finance the solid waste management of said unit. 
 
SECTION 19. Administrative Action. – Without prejudice to the right of any person 
to file an administrative action, the DENR shall, on its own instance or upon verified 
complaint by any person, institute administrative proceedings in the proper forum 
against any natural or juridical person who violates any of the provisions of this Act 


with respect to standards and limitations provided by this Act, or such order, rule, or 
regulation issued by the DENR pursuant thereto. 
 
SECTION 20. Independence of Action. – The filing of an administrative suit against 
any person or entity does not preclude the right of any other person to file any criminal 
or civil action. 
 
SECTION 21. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. – The Joint 
Congressional Oversight Committee, created under Section 60 of Republic Act No. 
9003, shall likewise monitor the implementation of this Act and review the rules and 
regulations promulgated by the DENR to implement this Act. The Joint Committee 
shall be cochaired by the Chairpersons of the House Committee on Ecology and the 
Senate Committee on Environment. 
 
SECTION 22. Citizen's Suit. – Any citizen can file an appropriate civil, criminal, or 
administrative action in the proper courts or bodies against: any person who violates 
or fails to comply with the provisions of this Act and its IRR; the department or other 
implementing agencies with respect to orders, regulations, and issuances inconsistent 
with this Act; and any public officer who willfully or grossly neglects the performance 
of an act specifically enjoined as a duty by this Act or its IRR, or abuses the authority 
vested upon him in the performance of duty, or in any manner improperly performs the 
duties assigned under this Act or its IRR: Provided, however, That no suit can be filed 
until after a thirty (30)-day notice has been given to the public officer and the alleged 
violator concerned and no appropriate action has been taken thereon. With this, free 
and accessible legal help should be given to individual persons who shall file a lawsuit 
under this Act. 
 
SECTION 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DENR, in coordination 
with the NSWMC, DTI, DOST, and other relevant government agencies and 
organizations, shall promulgate the IRR governing this Act within six (6) months from 
its effectivity. 
 


SECTION 24. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any provision of this Act or 
part thereof is declared unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, 
the other provisions or parts hereof not affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 25. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, ordinances, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 26. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,