Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA R. SALVADOR-TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Taking care of our environment is directly associated to our health. This is a momentous 
legislation that our country needs to prevent transmission of contagions and be wary of pollution 
and other toxic substances that may be emitted in our ecosystem. The creation of this Registry 
is to tally and study the scientific nature and details of pollutants, toxic chemicals and substances 
so that it can be eliminated or be confined to avoid harming our health and our environment. 
The 1987 Constitution is explicit in stating 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.” 
Thus, the passing of this legislation that promotes the quality of air and prevention of destructive 
effects of pollution is supported by the supreme law of the land.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
JOY MYRA R. SALVADOR-TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
October 9, 2021
11:02 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA R. SALVADOR-TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT CREATING A PHILIPPINE POLLUTANT RELEASE AND TRANSFER REGISTRY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Pollutant Release and 
Transfer Registry Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to: 
a)
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 protect and promote the
people's right to health, and to attain and maintain a balance between development
and environmental protection;
b)
Maintain a quality of air that protects human health and welfare;
c)
Pursue economic growth in a manner consistent with the protection, preservation,
and revival of the quality of our fresh, brackish and marine waters;
d)
Regulate, restrict, or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale and
distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures that present
unreasonable risk and/or injury to health or the environment;
e)
Adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program
which shall ensure the protection of public health and the environment;
f)
Adopt and implement full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public
interest, and to promote a transparent, open, and participatory environmental
management regime; and
g)
Ensure that information on the health and safety of humans and the environment
shall not be regarded as confidential, but shall protect trade secrets and other
confidential information.
Sec. 3. Applicable and Related Laws, Rules, and Regulations. – The following laws and 
their pertinent rules and regulations shall be applicable and taken into account in the 
implementation of the Philippine Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry (PPRTR): 
a)
Republic Act No. 6969 otherwise known as the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and
Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990;
b)
Republic Act No. 8749 otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999;
c)
Republic Act No. 9275 otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004;
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d) 
Republic Act No. 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management 
Act of 2000; and 
e) 
All other environmental laws, rules, and regulations as may be relevant to the 
implementation of the PPRTR, including, but not limited to multilateral and bilateral 
health and environmental agreements to which the Philippines is a party to; 
 
Sec. 4. Scope and Coverage. – The PPRTR shall cover all forms of pollutants and hazardous 
and toxic chemicals, and all forms of emissions and discharges in the environment, whether in 
the air, water, or soil by all facilities and industries operating in the Philippines, subject to the 
guidelines and procedures of the PPRTR on the disclosure requirement for facilities and 
industries. 
 
Sec. 5. Objectives. – The objectives of the PPRTR are: 
 
1) 
To provide timely, relevant, accessible, and comprehensible data to the general 
public to support the identification and assessment of possible risks to humans and 
the environment by indicating sources and amounts of potentially harmful releases 
and transfers to the environment and to minimize its effects on the environment; 
2) 
To simplify and rationalize information gathering about the emission and transfer of 
individual chemicals and wastes to different media, as well as the reporting 
requirements which the industry has to comply; 
3) 
To prevent pollution and the release of pollutants from various sources by 
encouraging the implementation of cleaner technologies and to help the private 
sector comply with environmental rules and regulations; 
4) 
To evaluate the progress of government environmental policies on pollution control 
and prevention and to assess to what extent national environmental goals can be 
achieved; 
5) 
To increase the involvement of the private sector in pollution control and prevention, 
in research and development of clean production and green chemistry, and in 
environmental management to achieve sustainable development; and 
6) 
To improve the quality of air, water, and land resources through the use of data and 
information collected in the system. 
 
Sec. 6. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
a) 
Pollutant release and transfer registry (PRTR) – are catalogues or registries of 
potentially harmful pollutant releases or transfers to the environment from a variety 
of sources, including information on the nature and quantity of such releases and 
transfers. It includes information about releases or transfers to air, water and soil as 
well as about wastes transported to treatment and disposal sites. It is a means for 
obtaining regular, periodic information about releases and/or transfers of chemical 
substances of interest and for making this information accessible to those who may 
be interested and/or affected by it; it is a tool for promoting efficient and effective 
policies for environmental protection and sustainable development.  
b) 
Emission – emission of a substance to the environment whether in pure form or 
contained in other matter and whether in solid, liquid or gaseous form. It includes 
emissions from landfills, incinerators, waste management and other disposal 
facilities, concrete kilns, sewerage systems, tailings dams, and other industrial 
facilities. 


c) 
Air pollution – any alteration of the physical, chemical and biological properties of 
the atmospheric air, or any discharge thereto of any liquid, gaseous or solid 
substance that will or is likely to create or to render the air resources of the country 
harmful, detrimental, or injurious to public health, safety and welfare or which will 
adversely affect their utilization for domestic, commercial or industrial, agricultural, 
recreational or other legitimate purposes.  
d) 
Water pollution – any alteration of the physical, chemical, biological, radiological 
properties or a body of water resulting in the impairment or its purity or quality, or is 
hazardous or potentially hazardous to health.  
e) 
Hazardous wastes – substances that arc without any safe commercial, industrial, 
agricultural or economic usage and by-products, side-products, process residues, 
spent reaction, media, contaminated plant or equipment or other substances from 
manufacturing operations, and as consumer discards from manufactured products.  
f) 
Hazardous substances/ chemicals – are substances which present either: 1) short 
term acute hazards, such as acute toxicity by ingestion, inhalation or skin 
absorption, corrosivity or other skin or eye contact hazard or the risk of fire or 
explosion; or 2) long term environmental hazards, including chronic toxicity upon 
repeated exposure, carcinogenicity (which may in some cases result from acute 
exposure but with a long latent period), resistance to detoxification process such as 
biodegradation, the potential to pollute underground or surface waters, or 
aesthetically objectionable properties such as offensive odors. It is a chemical for 
which there is statistically significant evidence (based on at least one study 
conducted according to established scientific principles) that acute or chronic health 
effects may occur.  
g) 
Solid waste – all discarded household, commercial waste, non-hazardous institutional 
and industrial waste, street sweepings, construction debris, agricultural waste, and 
other non-hazardous and non-toxic waste. 
h) 
Green chemistry – also known as sustainable chemistry, is the design of chemical 
products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use of generation of hazardous 
substances.  
i) 
Clean production – is a preventive, integrated, continuous strategy for modifying 
products, processes, and services, to enhance efficiency which improves 
environmental performance and reduces costs. 
 
Sec. 7. Lead Implementing Agency. – The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) shall 
be the lead/ implementing agency for the PPRTR. The EMB shall create a special unit, the 
PPRTR Office (PPRTRO), whose sole function shall implement the provisions of this Act. 
 
The PPRTRO shall be headed by an Executive Director and shall be assisted by competent staff 
to be determined based on the exigency of the circumstances. The PPRTRO shall be created 
and established within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
 
Sec. 8. Powers and Functions of the PPRTR Office. – The PPRTRO shall have the 
following powers and functions: 
a) 
Conduct an assessment of existing infrastructure for the full implementation of the 
PPRTR; 
b) 
Conduct information and dissemination campaigns as regards the PPRTR, from 
inception to its implementation stages; 


c) 
Collect, manage, sort and make available to the general public the data and 
information collected in the system in an effective, efficient, accessible and timely 
manner; 
d) 
Maintain a database of covered industries, facilities, and establishments; 
e) 
Issue reports and updates regarding the PPRTR for the general public; 
f) 
Conduct research and studies on pollution control, prevention, and mitigation and on 
green chemistry and clean production; 
g) 
Coordinate with other government agencies and the private sector for the effective 
and efficient implementation of the PPRTR; 
h) 
Issue guidelines for the implementation of the PPRTR; 
i) 
Conduct periodic assessments of the PPRTR system and make recommendations for 
the improvement of the same; and 
j) 
Perform such other powers and functions as may be designated by the Secretary of 
Environment and Natural Resources. 
 
Sec. 9. Guidelines and Procedure Implementing the PPRTR. – The guidelines and procedure 
implementing the PPRTR shall be issued by the Secretary of Environment and Natural 
Resources within six (6) months from the date of the effectivity of this Act. 
 
A Technical Working Group (TWG) is hereby constituted to formulate the guidelines and 
procedure to establish the PPRTR. The TWG shall be supported by the PPRTRO. The necessary 
Special Orders (SO) shall be issued to constitute the TWG. 
 
The TWG shall be composed of at least seven (7) members representing various government 
agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment 
(DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Transportation and 
Communication (DOTC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and 
Department of Agriculture (DA) among others, the private sector and industries, non-
government and civil society organizations, local government units (LGUs), and the academe, 
who shall be designated and appointed by the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources. 
The Secretary shall ensure that sufficient environment and health experts, and frontline 
community members, are represented in the TWG. 
 
Sec. 10. Contents of the Guidelines and Procedure Implementing the PPRTR. – The 
guidelines and procedure shall contain, but not be limited to the following information: 
a) 
List and schedule of covered substances, chemicals and pollutants, and their 
classification; 
b) 
List of covered facilities, establishments and industries; 
c) 
Procedure and method of obtaining, reporting, and disseminating information; 
d) 
Procedure for citing non-compliant and violating facilities; and 
e) 
Guidelines to ensure accessible, timely, relevant and accessible public access to 
information on the PPRTR, taking into account the right of businesses and industries 
to the protection of trade secrets and other intellectual property and related rights. 
 
The information indicated in this provision shall be modified accordingly in 
consonance with international developments and evolving practices related but not 
limited to pollution control, prevention and mitigation, green chemistry, and clean 


production, based on researches, studies, international laws, treaties and 
conventions, jurisprudence, and the like.  
 
Sec. 11. Pilot Test of the PPRTR. – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR) and the EMB shall identify areas where the PPRTR shall first be implemented for the 
first reporting year. The areas shall be chosen on the basis of the availability of current pollution 
data and information, private sector cooperation and participation, and availability of needed 
infrastructure.  
 
The pilot areas shall be as far as practicable in different regions and locations and which would 
be representative of the general conditions in the rest of the country. 
The pilot test shall be conducted within three (3) months from compliance with Section 9 of this 
Act. 
 
Sec. 12. Penalties. – Businesses that fail to comply with the requirements of this Act shall 
suffer a fine of not less than FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (PS0,000.00) but not more than ONE 
MILLION PESOS (P 1,000,000.00) and suspension of their license to operate for one (1) month 
for the first offence and and their license to operate may also be revoked.  
 
Sec. 13. Transitory Provisions. – Existing inventories, records and listings of pollutants, 
chemicals, and substances as provided for in other laws, rules and regulations, such as but not 
limited to the Priority Chemicals List (PCL) of the DENR, shall be taken into consideration in the 
formulation of the list and schedules or the PPRTR.  
 
Data and information in existing inventories, records, and listings shall be included in the initial 
list of the PPRTR, provided that all the chemicals in the PCL of the DENR shall be used as the 
initial list of the system. The consolidation shall be completed within one (1) year from the date 
of effectivity of this Act.  
 
Monitoring, data collection and listing, and inventories, conducted and managed by other units 
and offices of the DENR and other relevant government agencies shall continue, subject to the 
guidelines and procedure as prescribed by Section 9 of this Act, on the mandatory sharing and 
forwarding of information to the PPRTR system. 
 
Sec. 14. Funding. – Upon the effectivity of this Act, the EMB shall allocate from their existing 
funds such amounts as may be necessary for the additional funding requirements that may be 
needed by the PPRTR, subject to the usual government accounting and auditing rules and 
regulations. 
 
In the year following the effectivity of this Act and in subsequent years thereafter, the 
operational funds and expenses of the PPRTR shall be provided for in the annual budget of the 
DENR. Provided that, the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources may allocate 
additional funding for the PPRTR as the circumstances and exigencies may require. 
 
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. – If any provision, or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
 


Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter 
of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with, the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
 
Sec. 17. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) clays after its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,