':f. '" "'''l 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
OfFICE C:' To' 
C;t:iAl' 1.1'(\' 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 975 
10 Jill -8 1111 :28 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to rationalize the implementation of national policies, standards 
and regulations relating to occupational safety and health and environmental protection. 
Studies show that there are a number of government agencies, both national and 
local, that are involved in the administration and enforcement of occupational safety and 
health and environmental protection laws. 
It appears that these agencies are 
authorized by existing laws to partiCipate in the implementation of these concerns. 
In the field of occupational safety and health, there are no less than ten (10) 
agencies that are involved in the implementation of the program. The same is true with 
respect to tHe implementation of environmental protection laws. Studies moreover show 
that there is no single lead agency that coordinates and oversees the implementation of 
the national program on occupational safety and health and the environmental 
protection thereby resulting in the fragmented administration of said programs. 
Existing laws do not provided for a clear delineation of responsibilities of the 
agencies that participate in the implementation of these programs thereby resulting in 
the overlapping and duplication of functions and difficulty in pinpointing direct 
responsibility. 
The bill proposes to identify the lead agency which will be responsible for 
coordinating and overseeing the activities of all agencies that are involved in the 
promotion of occupational safety and health standards and environmental protection 
programs. 
It also seeks to authorize the lead agency, after consultations with 
participating agencies and sectors concerned, to prescribe administrative fines in cases 
of violations of such standards and regulations. 
The administrative fines which may be imposed are in addition to the penalties 
provided for under existing laws. The fine is imposed on a daily basis until the violation 
is corrected. This is an effective measure to ensure compliance with the law. 
For the foregoing considerations, early approval of this bill is earnestly 
recommended. 
C7~ 
MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
(.' 
Sfe:, . IT 
OI'FICE)F y". S[cnE i A!'!Y 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
10 
.JUL -8 All:28 
SENATE 
S. No. 975 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
TO RATIONALIZE THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF ALL 
LAWS ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS AND 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
, Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
the State to: 
Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of 
(a) 
Protect every worker against injury, sickness or death through safe and 
healthful working conditions, thereby assuring the conservation of valuable manpower 
resources and the prevention of unnecessary loss or damage to lives and properties; 
(b) 
Protect and advance the right of the people to a well-balanced and 
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm, harmony and integrity of nature; 
(c) 
Prevent and control pollution of water, air and land from any source which 
will be detri,mental to public health, safety and welfare and adversely affect rational 
utilization of sustainable resources of the country; 
(d) 
Create, develop, maintain and improve conditions under which people and 
nature may prosper in wholesome harmony with each other; 
(e) 
Insure the attainment of an environmental quality thaHs conducive to a life 
of dignity and well-being; and 
1 


• 
(f) 
Promote and support research and training activities which are necessary 
to develop relevant standards in occupational health and safety and legislations to 
protect the environment. 
SEC. 2. 
Lead Agency in Occupational Safety and Health Promotion .. 
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall be the principal agency in 
coordinating and monitoring the activities of all government agencies involved in the 
implementation of all laws to promote occupational safety and health. For purposes of 
this Act, the term "occupational safety and health" shall include any matter that affects 
the safety and health of workers in all places of employment. 
Toward this end, the DOLE shall be primarily responsible for the administration 
and enforcement of all laws, standards and regulations on occupational safety and 
health and shall have the following duties: 
(a) . Review existing poliCies, standards and programs of all government 
agencies' involved in occupational health standards and recommend to the President 
and Congress new policies, standards and programs relative thereto in consultation with 
a tripartite body composed of the representatives of the workers; employers and the 
government; 
(b) 
Enlist the assistance of appropriate government agencies, including local 
government subdivisions, in the implementation and/or enforcement of occupational 
safety and health programs, standards and regulations in accordance with such 
conditions as it may prescribe; 
(c) 
Act as the national monitoring agency on the progress of the 
implementation of policies, programs, research, training and information dissemination 
on workers safety and health and submit a yearly report thereon to the President and 
Congress; and 
(d) 
Promulgate such necessary rules and regulations to effectively carry out 
the provisions and objectives of this Act. 
SEC. 3. 
Lead Agency in Environmental Protection. . The Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall be the principal agency of the 
government in coordinating and monitoring the activities of all government agencies or 
instrumentalities involved in the administration and enforcement of a/l laws, standards 
2 


, 
, 
and regulations relating to environmental protection and the natural resources of this 
country in formulating an intensive and integrated program on environmental protection, 
including, but not limited to, manufacture, importation, processing, distribution, use and 
disposal of hazardous and toxic substances and mixtures; and development, utilization 
and conservation of natural resources and over-all maintenance of a well-balanced and 
healthful ecology. 
Toward this end, the DENR shall be primarily responsible for the administration 
and enforcement of laws, standards and regulations on environmental protection and on 
the natural resources of this country and shall have the following duties: 
(a) 
Review existing policies, standards and programs of all government 
agencies involved in the establishment of environmental assessment and recommend 
to the President and Congress new policies, standards and programs relative thereto in 
consultation with pertinent government and non-government agencies; 
(b) 
Enlist the assistance of appropriate government agencies, including local 
government subdivision, and non-government, organizations in the implementation 
and/or enforcement of environmental health, safety and protection programs, standards 
and regulations in accordance with such conditions as it may prescribe; 
(c) 
Act as the national monitoring agency on the progress of implementation 
of 
policies, 
programs, 
research, 
training 
and 
information 
dissemination 
on 
environmental health, safety and protection and submit a yearly report thereon to the 
President and Congress; and 
(d) , Promulgate such necessary rules and regulations to effectively carry out 
the provisions and objectives of this Act. 
SEC. 4, 
Sanitation. - The Department of Health (DOH) shall be responsible 
for formulating policies, standards and programs in sanitation, The DOH shall make 
periodic inspections for the purpose of issuing/renewing sanitary permits for 
establishments, 
SEC. 5, 
Administrative Sanctions in Cases of Violations. -
(a) In 
addition to the penalties provided for by existing laws, the DOLE may, by appropriate 
regulations, prescribe administrative fines for violations of occupational safety and 
health standards or regulations promulgated there under which in no case shall be less 
3 


.. 
than One Thousand Pesos (Php1,000.00) but not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(Php50,000.00) a day, depending upon the gravity of the violation, starting from the date 
the violation is uncovered until the same has been corrected by the offender. 
The fines shall accrue to the Occupational Safety and Health Fund and shall be 
managed by a Board, with the Secretary of the DOLE as Chairperson and the pertinent 
government agencies as members, which shall implement programs and promote 
research and training in occupational safety and health. 
(b) In addition to the penalties provided for by existing laws, rules and 
regulations, the DENR may, by appropriate regulations, prescribe administrative fines 
for violations of environmental health, safety and protection standards or regulations 
promulga~ed thereunder which in no case shall be less than One Thousand Pesos 
(Php1,000.00) nor more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) a day, depending 
upon the gravity of the violations, starting from the date the violation is in covered until 
the same has been corrected by the offender. 
The fines shall accrue to the Environmental Safety and Protection Fund and shall 
be managed by a Board, with the Secretary of the DENR as Chairperson and the 
pertinent government agencies as members, which shall implement programs and 
promote research and training in environmental protection. 
SEC. 8. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders and rules 
and regulations or part or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are 
hereby repealed, modified, superseded or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 9. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the application 
of such provision to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any reason, the 
remainder of this Act or the application of such provision to other persons or 
circumstances shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 10. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of 
general circulation. 
Approved, 
4