Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
| Constitution Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTHCONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 2986

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that
“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".
The said provision is also echoed in the various provisions of Article XII on
National Economy and Patrimony as framework for the State's
environmental mandate. Significantly, the right to a clean environment is
as a human right in the Philippines while protection of that right
is a duty imposed upon the State and certain responsibilities are required of
individuals. The State shall instill environment consciousness among our
people to effectively carry out the different environmental programs and
projects of the government essential for the protection, preservation and
revival of the quality of the environment and natural resources of the
country. The important role of environment and natural resources
personnel is widely accepted.

The State shall also used international environmental policies in the
protection of the natural resources and its citizens against pollution created
by factories and sewage systems. Like the Marpol Convention of 1973
wherein) it covers the oil pollutions in the sea, chemical and harmful
substances excreted by sewers and improper garbage disposal. In Ramsar
Convention of 1971 it provides for the framework for the national and
international action for the proper use of wetlands and its resources. For
the preservation of the endangered species in the country, the State may use
as a guideline or to implement a law for its protection as provided in the
Convention On International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES) of 1973. That the CITES seeks to control the international
trade in species in danger of extinction. For the decrease of air pollution in
the “ the State may use the Montreal Protocol of 1987 wherein it



calls for phasing out production and consumption of compounds that
deplete ozone in the stratosphere such as chlorofluorocarbons, halons,
carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroform.

However, the situations prevailing in the areas contested by business,
environment workers and advocates and of government have placed the
workers’ lives in danger. There are numerous cases, a few of them are: -
Joey Estriber, an environmental activist and radio broadcaster was
abducted on March 3, 2006, in Baler, Aurora. He headed the illegal-logging
and mining campaign Butaris, a Multi-Sectoral Action Group of Aurora.
Elpidio de la Victoria, Program Director of the Cebu City Bantay Dagat
Commission, was shot dead on April 17, 2006. He campaigned for a ban on
commer¢ial and destructive forms of fishing in the Visayan Sea Marine
Triangle, Eyewitnesses pointed to a member of the Philippine National Police
as the gunman. The Cebu City government offered a One Million Peso
reward for information leading to the arrest of De la Victoria's killer - Armin
Marin, an oppositor of the nickel exploration project of the Sibuyan Nickel
Property| Development Corp. and BHP Silliton was shot dead on October 3,
2007. The nickel project was found to be inimical to the biodiversity of
Sibuyan Island, called the Galapagos of Asia. Fernando Sarmiento,
Secretary General of the environmental group Panalipdan-Southern
Mindanao Region, was killed December 23, 2008. He opposed the PhilCo
Mining Corporation gold project in New Bataan, Compostela Valley as
destructive of the environment and people's health. Eliezer Billanes,
GawadngBayaningKalikasan awardee was killed in Koronadal City on March
09, 2009. He opposed the Xstrata mine: in Socsargen. - On April 29, 2009,
Ludinio Monzon, an oppositor to the Boston Mineral Mining Corp/Omega
Gold Mining Company in Davao Oriental was killed. Mike Rivera, an anti-
mining movement leader, was shot dead on May 16, 2010 in front of the
Calapan) United Evangelical Church of the Philippines on Ramirez St., San
Vicente Central, Calapan City. Desidario "Jessie" Camangyan, a radio
broadcaster at Sunrise FM-Mati in Manay town, Davao Oriental, was shot
on June 15, 2010. He was discussing illegal logging in the east coast of
Davao Oriental. - Gensun Agustin, a leader of the illegal magnetite mining in
Buguey in Cagayan Valley, was shot dead on March 1, 2010. He was a
leader of the Alliance for Buguey Community Advocates and the Federation
of Anti-Mining Advocates in Cagayan.

This Bill aims: (a) to promote and improve the health, physical safety,
social and economic well-being of the environment and natural resources
personnel, their living and working conditions, security and terms of
employment; (b) to develop their skills and capabilities in order that they will
be more responsive and better equipped to deliver environmental
management functions in the attainment of projects and programs; (c) to
encourage those with proper qualifications and excellent abilities to join,
contribute their expertise and remain in government service and in the
country; and (d) to help further implementation on the rules and regulations
of the DENR by the help of the conventions, The Environment and Natural
Resources (ENR) Personnel includes but is not limited to the personnel of


the DENR, its Bureaus, Regional Offices, and attached Agencies,
environsjental units in the other government agencies and the ecological
waste management department of the local government units.

This Bill includes the forest rangers and park rangers that look after
our forest and protected areas. A forest ranger guards or has jurisdiction
over a very large forest area, around 5,000-10,000 hectares. However, his
salary is not as large as the area he is protecting. The same situation exists
in watershed areas.

It is for the foregoing reasons that the approval and passage of this
house bill is earnestly sought.

EDWIN L. OLIV:



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTHCONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2586

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
AND NATURAL RESOURCES PERSONNEL, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the
“Magna Carta for Environmental and Natural Resources
Personnel of 2022”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall instill
the environment consciousness among our people to
effectively carry out the different environmental programs
and projects of the government essential for the protection,
preservation and revival of the quality of the environment
and natural resources of the country. Towards this end, this
Act aims to promote and improve the health, physical
safety, social and economic well-being of environmental
service workers, their living and working conditions, and
terms of employment. It shall develop their skills and
capabilities to make them more productive, prolific and
dynamic in maintaining environmental and inspection
control standards within established policies and
procedures and better equipped in delivering environmental
services and programs. Likewise to encourage those with
proper qualifications and excellent abilities join, contribute


their expertise and remain in government service and to
encourage them to stay in the country.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in and for the
purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:

a) “Department” shall mean the Department of
Environment 'and Natural Resources (DENR); and

b) "Environmental and Natural Resources Personnel or
ENR Personnel" shall refer to:

1) all persons who are engaged in the protection of
the environment, environmental management
and environment-related work;

2) all persons employed as environment and natural
resources officers and personnel in the
environmental and _ ecological solid waste
management units in all local government units,
and administrative and support personnel
employees regardless of their employment status;

3) all persons employed in the environmental units
of the national and regional government agencies
and companies owned and operated by the
government or its political subdivisions and shall
include engineers, environmental management
specialists, science research specialists, foresters,
forest and park rangers, marine environmental
protection officers and personnel, and
administrative and support personnel employed
regardless of their employment status;

4) all persons employed in the environmental unit of
government owned and controlled corporations
including but not limited to pollution control
officers regardless of their employment status;
and

5) all persons employed with the Department, its
Bureaus, Regional Offices and attached Agencies,
regardless of employment status, including but
not limited to permanent, temporary, contractual


service/procurement service regardless of their
employment status.

TION. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all ENR
Personnel employed in the government service including
government owned and controlled corporations regardless of
their employment status.

SECTION. 5. Recruitment and Qualification. -
Recruitment policy and minimum requirements with respect
to the selection and appointment of an ENR Personnel shall
be developed and implemented by the appropriate
government agencies concerned in accordance with policies
and standards of the Civil Service Commission (CSC):
Provided, That in the absence of appropriate eligible
applicant and it becomes necessary in the public interest to
fill a vacancy, a temporary appointment shall be issued to
the person who meets all the requirements for the position
to| which he/she is being appointed except the appropriate
civil service eligibility: Provided, further, That such
temporary appointment shall not exceed twelve (12) months
nor be less than three (3) months renewable thereafter but
that the appointee may be replaced sooner if (a) qualified
civil service eligible becomes available, or (b) the appointee
is| found wanting in performance or conduct befitting a
government employee.

TION. 6. Merit Promotion and Career System. - The
Secretary of the DENR, upon consultation with the proper
government agencies concerned and the Environment and
Natural Resources workers’ organization, shall prepare a
uniform career and personnel development plan applicable
to| all ENR Personnel. Such career and personnel
development plan shall include provisions on merit
promotion, performance evaluation, in service training
grants, job rotation, suggestions and incentive award
system.

The performance evaluation plan shall consider
foremost the improvement of individual employee efficiency
and organizational effectiveness: Provided, that each

pare hes shall be informed regularly by his/her supervisor
ffhis/ her performance evaluation.


The merit promotion plan shall be in consonance with
the rules of the CSC.

SECTION. 7. Code of Conduct. - Within six (6) months
fr the approval of this Act, the Secretary of the DENR,
upon consultation with other appropriate agencies,
professional and environment and natural resources
worker's organization, shall formulate and prepare a Code of
Conduct for ENR Personnel, which shall be disseminated as
widely as possible.

TION. 8. Normal Hours of Work. - The normal hours
of work of any ENR Personnel shall not exceed eight (8)
hours a day or forty (40) hours a week.

Hours worked shall include:

a) the time during which an ENR Personnel is
required to be on active duty or to be at a
prescribed workplace;

b) the time during which an ENR Personnel is
permitted to work;

c) the time during which an ENR Personnel is
required in a place other than the prescribed
workplace.

Provided, That, the time when an ENR Personnel is
placed on "On Call" status shall not be considered as hours
worked but shall entitle the ENR Personnel to an "On Call"
pay equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of his/her regular
wage. "On Call" status refers to a condition when ENR
Personnel are called upon to respond to urgent or
immediate need for environmental emergencies such as
pollution incidences and other emergencies such that
he/she cannot devote the time for his/her own use.

| An ENR Personnel can also teach or practice their
profession after office hours.

SECTION. 9. Overtime Work. - Where the exigencies of the
service so require, any ENR Personnel may be required to
render service beyond the normal eight (8) hours a day,
inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays or nonworking holidays. In


such a case, the ENR Personnel shall be paid an additional
compensation in accordance with existing laws and
prevailing practices.

SECTION. 10. Work During Rest Day.-

a) Where an ENR Personnel is made to work on
his/her scheduled rest day, he/she shall be paid an
additional compensation in accordance with existing laws,
rules and regulations.

b) Where an ENR Personnel is made to work on any
special holiday he/she shall be paid an additional
compensation in accordance with existing laws. Where such
holiday work falls on the personnel's scheduled rest day,
he/ she shall be entitled to an additional compensation as
may be provided by existing laws.

SECTION. 11. Compensation. - The existing laws on the
salary scale of government employees shall apply in
determining the salaries of ENR Personnel. In case of
violation of this provision, the ENR Personnel concerned
shall file the necessary complaint to the ENR Management
and Consultative Council or the Civil Service Commission
(CSC).

SECTION. 12. Leave Benefits for ENR Personnel. - ENR
Personnel are entitled to all leave benefits and privilege such
as but not limited to maternity, paternity, sick leave and
vacation leaves, as provided for under existing laws:
Provided, That upon separation of ENR Personnel from
service, they shall be entitled to all accumulated leave
credits with pay.

SECTION. 13. Highest Basic Salary Upon Retirement. -
Upon retirement, the ENR Personnel shall automatically be
granted an increase of one (1) Salary Grade higher than
his/her basic salary and his/her retirement benefit
thereafter, computed on the basis of his/her highest salary
received: Provided, That he/she has reached the age and
fulfilled the service requirements under existing laws.

SECTION. 14. Other Benefits. - Aside from the benefits
received as required under existing laws and executive


orders, an ENR Personnel shall receive the following
allowances:

a) Honorarium. ENR Personnel who rendered service
beyond the established irregular workload of ENR Personnel
whose broad and superior knowledge, expertise or
professional standing in a specific field contributes to
productivity and innovativeness shall be entitled to receive
honorarium subject to rules to be set by the Department.

b) Hazard Allowance. ENR Personnel involved in
jous undertakings such as, but not limited to conduct
of field inspections and air/water/chemical and hazardous
waste monitoring and sampling, forest ranger work and
assigned in the following units: environmental impact
assessment division, environmental quality division,
pollution control divisions, environmental protection units,
and research and development divisions and other
environment and natural resources offices/field offices
located in difficult areas which expose them to great danger,
contagion, radiation, volcanic activity /eruption,
occupational risks or threats to life, shall be compensated
with hazard allowances equivalent to at least twenty-five
‘cent (25%) of the monthly basic salary.

c) Subsistence Allowance/Transportation Allowance.
ENR Personnel who are required to render service in
forest/watershed areas, pollution incident sites and other
areas, in order, to make their services available at all times,
shall be entitled to daily full subsistence allowance for three
(3) meals which shall be computed in accordance with
prevailing circumstances. Those assigned out of their
regular work stations shall be entitled per diem in place of

is allowance. Actual transportation allowance shall also
be provided to ENR Personnel on field work.

d) Clothing and Laundry Allowance. All ENR Personnel
shall be entitled to a minimum of One Thousand Five
Hundred Pesos (PhP 1,500.00) clothing allowance annually,
which amount shall be adjusted as needed.

In addition to the above, all ENR Personnel who are
required to wear uniforms regularly shall be entitled to a
eaoes of Two Hundred and Fifty Pesos (PhP250.00) per


month laundry allowance. Provided further, That these rates
shall be reviewed periodically and increased accordingly as
needed.

| e) Housing and Living Quarters Allowance. All ENR

Personnel who are transferred to another assignment due to
the exigency of the service shall be entitled to free housing
within the agency concerned: Provided, That if living
quarters are not available within the agency and the
personnel has his/her residence outside of fifty (50)

ilometer radius from such government facility, he/she
shall receive a housing allowance, and: Provided further,
That the rate of such housing allowance shall be
periodically adjusted for inflation. For purposes of this
Section, the Department is authorized to develop housing
projects in its own lands, not otherwise devoted for other
uses, for ENR Personnel in coordination with appropriate
BOK ernment agencies.

f) Longevity Pay. A monthly longevity pay equivalent to
ten percent (10%) of the monthly basic pay shall be paid to
an ENR Personnel for every five (5) years of continuous,
efficient and meritorious services rendered as certified by
the chief of office concerned, commencing with the service
after the approval of this Act.

g) Remote Assignment Allowance. ENR Personnel who
accept assignments as such in remote areas or isolated
stations, which for reasons of far distance or hard
accessibility, such positions had not been filled for the last
two (2) years prior to the approval of this Act, shall be
entitled to an incentive bonus in the form of remote
assignment allowance equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of
their basic pay, and shall be entitled to reimbursement of
the cost of reasonable transportation to and from such
remote post or station, upon assuming or leaving such
position and during official trips.

In addition to the above, such ENR Personnel
mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be given priority
in| promotion or assignment to better areas. Their tour of
duties in the remote areas shall not exceed two (2) years,
except when there are no positions for their transfer or they
prefer to stay in such posts in excess of two (2) years.


|) Medical Examination. During the tenure of their
employment, ENR Personnel shall be given a compulsory
medical examination once a year and immunization as the
case may warrant. The medical examination shall include,
but not be limited to:

1. Complete physical examination;

2. Routine laboratory, chest x-ray and ECG;
3. Psychometric examination;

4. Dental examination; and

5. Other indicative examination.

Provided, That where medical examination shows that
medical treatment and/or hospitalization is necessary for
those already in government service, the treatment and/or
hospitalization including medicines shall be provided free
either in a government or a private hospital by the
government entity paying the salary of the ENR Personnel
especially in occupational-health related illness. Provided,
further, That the cost of such medical examination and
treatment shall be included as automatic appropriation in
said agency's annual budget.

i) Personal Protective Equipment. ENR Personnel which
regularly conduct field inspection, monitoring and sampling
shall be provided by their respective offices with the proper
personal protective equipment (PPEs) in accordance with
existing laws on occupational health and safety.

SECTION. 15. Compensation for Injuries/Illnesses. - ENR
Personnel shall be protected against the consequences of
employment injuries/occupational-related illnesses in
accordance with existing laws. Injuries incurred while doing
overtime work shall be presumed work-connected.

SECTION. 16. Non-DENR ENR Personnel. - ENR Personnel
not employed by the Department, who are involved in
environmental management and environment and natural
resources protection functions, and regardless of their
employment status may avail of the benefits of this Act,
chargeable against their respective agencies local


government units/offices/government owned and control
corporations, upon certification of the Secretary of the
DENR.

SECTION. 17. Honorarium for other services. - ENR
Personnel shall be allowed to render consultancy services to
the private sector and shall be entitled 'to receive such
honorarium that may' be paid to them by the private entity
concerned. Such payments shall be over and above their

from the government during the period of the
consultancy and skill not be considered as double
compensation: Provided, That the consultancy work will not
jeopardize or adversely affect the operations or activities of
his originating office: Provided, further, That the Secretary
of the Department approves such consultancy.

SECTION. 18. Exemption from the Attrition Law and
Civil Service Rule on Nepotism. - Appointment of ENR
Personnel to positions of research assistant and upwards
shall not be covered by the Attrition Law and CSC rule on
nepotism in consideration of the highly technical nature of
these positions.

TION. 19. Rights of an ENR Personnel. - ENR
Personnel shall have the following rights:

a) Protection from discrimination by reason of sex,
sexual orientation, age, political or religious beliefs, civil
status, physical characteristics/disability or ethnicity;

b) Protection from any form of interference,
intimidation, harassment or punishment to include, but not
limited to, arbitrary reassignment or termination of service,
in |the performance of his/her duties and responsibilities;

c) To join, organize, or assist organizations or unions
for lawful purposes;
d) Protection from any act that will prevent his/her

applying professional interventions that the clients situation
may require; and

e) To avail of opportunities for continuing professional
growth and development.


SECTION. 20. Reassignment of ENR Personnel. - A
transfer is a movement from one position to another which
is |of equivalent rank, level or salary without break in
service;

a) | geographical reassignment, hereinafter referred to as
"reassignment," is a movement from one geographical
location to another; and

b) Except in the interest of public service, no transfer or
Seperaphical reassignment shall be made or effected without

itten notice to an ENR Personnel: Provided, That said
written notice, stating the reasons for the reassignment,
shall be made at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of
transfer or reassignment: Provided, further, That, if the ENR
Personnel believes that there is no justification for the
transfer and/or reassignment, he/she may appeal his/her
case to the CSC, which shall cause his/her transfer and/or
reassignment to be held in abeyance: Provided, furthermore,
tt reassignment coinciding with any local or national
election shall be made in compliance with Election Code and
other existing laws and rules: Provided, finally, That the
necessary expenses of the transfer and/or reassignment of
the ENR Personnel and his/her immediate family shall be
paid for by the agency concerned.

Ss TION. 21. Married ENR Personnel. - Whenever
possible, the proper authorities shall take steps to enable
married couples, both of whom are ENR Personnel, to be
employed or assigned in the same office, but not in the
same unit. Provided, that it shall not apply to married ENR
Personnel already assigned in the same office at the time
that this Act takes effect.

SECTION. 22. Freedom from Interference or Coercion. -
It shall be unlawful for any person to commit any of the
following acts of interference or coercion:

| a) to require as a condition of employment that an ENR
Personnel shall not join an ENR workers’ organization or

union or shall relinquish membership therein;

| b) to discriminate in regard to hiring or tenure of
employment or any item or condition of employment in


order to encourage or discourage membership in any ENR
workers’ organization or union;

c) to prevent an ENR Personnel from carrying out
duties laid upon him/her by his/her position in the
organization or union, or to penalize him/her for the action
undertaken in such capacity;

| d) to harass or interfere with the discharge of the
functions of the ENR Personnel when these are calculated to
intimidate or to prevent the performance of his/her duties

id responsibilities; and

e) to otherwise interfere in the establishment,
functioning, or administration of ENR workers’
organizations or unions through acts designed to place such
organization or union under the control of government
authority.

SECTION. 23. Freedom from Discrimination. - It shall be
unlawful for any person or employer to discriminate against
ENR Personnel who falls under any of the following:

a) ENR Personnel that are Solo Parents;

b) ENR Personnel that are Benefactors of Senior
Citizens. Benefactor shall mean any person related to a
Senior Citizen or not who takes care of him/her as a
dependent;

c) ENR Personnel that are Person with Disabilities
(PWD);

and

d) ENR Personnel that are Benefactors or Parents of a
Person with Disabilities (PWD) or Person with Special
Needs of Person with Developmental Disorders.

SECTION. 24. Human Resource Development. - The
Department shall conduct a periodic human resource
development/management study into, among others, the
following areas:



a) Adequacy of facilities and resources to render
quality environment and natural resources
management functions;

b) Opportunities for ENR Personnel to grow
| professionally and develop their potentials and
experience a sense of worth and dignity in their work;

c) Mechanism for democratic consultations;

d) Ways and means of enabling the rank-and-file
workers to avail of educational opportunities for
personal growth and development;

e) Upgrading of working conditions, reclassification of
positions and salaries of ENR Personnel, regardless of
employment status to correct disparity vis-a-vis other
professions; and

f) Allocation of funds for the participation of ENR
Personnel in seminars, conferences, conventions and
similar activities as part of their continuing
professional growth.

SECTION. 25. Security of Tenure. - No ENR Personnel
holding a permanent position shall be terminated except for
cause: Provided, That, in the event the ENR Personnel is
found by the CSC to be unjustly dismissed, as the case may
be, he/she shall be entitled to reinstatement without loss of
seniority rights and back wages with twelve per centum
(12%) interest to be computed from the time his/her
compensation was withheld from him/her up to the time of
reinstatement.

SECTION. 26. Highest basic salary upon retirement. -
Upon retirement, the ENR Personnel concerned shall
automatically be granted one (1) Salary Grade higher than
his/her basic salary and his/her retirement benefits shall
be computed on the basis of his/her highest salary received.

SECTION. 27. Hiring of retired ENR Personnel. - An
employee retired under any existing law, who, in the
judgment of the governing board or head of an
environmental agency, possesses technical qualifications
and the capability to undertake environmental management


activities, may be rehired on contractual basis without
refunding the unexpired portion of the gratuity and
accumulated leave benefits received by him from the
Government: Provided, That no qualified environment and
natural resources’ expert is available to undertake said
technical activities.

SECTION. 28. Environmental Awards. - There shall be
established an Environment and Natural Resources Awards
Committee which shall confer annually the Environment
and Natural Resources Awards for outstanding
achievements and excellence or original contribution to
nvironmental protection/management. The Committee
shi promulgate the guidelines in implementing this
Section and shall specify the categories of awards to be
given and the amount of financial reward for each category.

SECTION. 29. Congressional Commission on
Environment and Natural Resources. - There is hereby
created a Congressional Commission on Environment and
Natural Resources (ENVICOM) that shall oversee the
implementation of all the Environment and Natural
Resources laws; review and assess, among others, the state
of the Philippine environmental security, human resources
development in Environment and Natural Resources field;
and the implementation of this Act. The Commission shall
be composed of five (5) Members of the House of
Representatives and five (5) Members of the Senate. It shall
be co-chaired by the Chairpersons of the Committee on
Environment and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
Committees of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Lower
House. Such congressional review shall be undertaken at
least once every five (5) years.

SECTION. 30. Prohibition Against Double Recovery of
Benefits. - Whenever other laws provide for the same
benefits covered by this Act, the ENR Personnel shall have
the option to choose which benefits will be paid to him/her.
However, in the event that the benefits chosen are less than
that provided under this Act, the ENR Personnel shall be
paid only the difference.

SECTION. 31. Prohibition Against Elimination and/or
Diminution. - Nothing in this law shall be construed to


eliminate or in any way diminish benefits being enjoyed by
an Environment and Natural Resources workers at the time
of the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION. 32. Penal Provision. - Any person who shall
Marae interfere with, restrain or coerce any ENR Personnel
in|the exercise of his/her rights or shall in any manner
commit any act in violation of any of the provisions of this
Act, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less
than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) but not more
than Forty thousand Pesos (P40,000.00) or imprisonment of
not more than one (1) year or both at the discretion of the
court.

If the offender is a public official, the court, in addition
to|the penalties provided in the preceding paragraph, may
impose the additional penalty of disqualification from Office.

SECTION. 33. Funding. - The amount necessary to fully
implement this Act shall be provided in the General
Appropriations Act (GAA) of the year following its enactment
into law under the budgetary appropriations of the DENR,
concerned agencies and local government units.

SECTION 34. Annual Report. - The Secretary of the
Department shall submit to the Congressional Commission
on Environment and Natural Resources an annual report on
the implementation of this Act.

SECTION. 35. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -
The DENR after consultation with appropriate agencies of
the Government as well as professional and environment
and natural resources workers’ organizations or unions,
shall formulate and prepare the necessary rules and
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. Rules
and regulations issued pursuant to this Section shall take
effect thirty (30) days after publication in a newspaper of
general circulation.

SECTION. 36. Separability Clause. - The provisions of
this Act are declared separable. In the event that any
provision hereof is rendered unconstitutional, those that are
not affected shall remain valid and effective.


TION. 37. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential
decrees, executive orders and their implementing rules, or
parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby, repealed; amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION. 38. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen
(15) days after its publication in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation.

a ian