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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _ 5908

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AURELIO D. GONZALES, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Engineering has provided mankind an immeasurable wealth of technological advances that made
the life of man easier and better. It allowed us to utilize technologies never seen before. However,
certain techniques of engineering have also brought drastic changes to the environment, much to its
detriment. Without proper knowledge on environmental engineering, the rate of its destruction
continues to grow exponentially; leaving our already fragile ecosystem in a more compromised
state.

With this in mind, this bill seeks to institutionalize Environmental Engineering which aims to
improve the environment while keeping pace with the technological innovations brought by the
ever-growing knowledge of human engineering. This is in accordance to Article II, Section 16 of
the 1987. Constitution, which states 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.”

As lawmakers of the land, we are responsible in ensuring that environmental engineering shall be
upheld and sustained for years to come. We owe it to the people today, and the generations that will
come after them, that we must preserve what we have when we arrived or at least, give them a
sustainable environment for them to use.

Al 10 D. ONZALES, JR
District, Pampanga


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 5008

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AURELIO D. GONZALES, JR.

AN ACT
REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING IN THE
PHILIPPINES, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

ARTICLEI
TITLE, DECLARATION OF STATE POLICY, COVERAGE, DEFINITION OF TERMS,
AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE

SECTION 1. Short Title, This Act shall be known as the “Environmental Engineering Law of the
Philippines”.

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. The State recognizes the importance of environmental engineers,
environmental engineering technologists, and environmental engineering technicians in nation-
building and development. As such, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to recognize,
promote, strengthen, and regulate the practice of environmental engineering profession in the
Philippines by instituting measures that will result in relevant environmental engineering profession
and enhanced roles and better career prospects for environmental engineering practitioners. The
State shall develop and nurture competent, productive and well-rounded environmental engineering
practitioners whose standards of professional practice and service shall be excellent, world-class
and globally competitive through regulatory measures, programs and activities.

SEC. 3. Coverage. This Act shall cover the following aspects of the practice of environmental
engineering profession:

(a) Examination, registration and licensure of environmental engineering practitioners,

(b) Regulation, supervision, and control of the practice of environmental engineering;

(c) Development, upgrading, and updating of the curriculum of environmental engineering,
environmental engineering technology, and environmental engineering technician
professions, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and
Higher Educational Institutions (HEls) and other stakeholders;


(d) Development and improvement of the professional competence and practice of
environmental engineering practitioners through, among others, continuing professional
development (CPD); and

(e) Creation of relevant positions for environmental engineers, environmental engineering
technologists and environmental engineering technicians and such other positions which
require the knowledge and services of environmental engineering practitioners in all
levels of local government units, relevant National Government Agencies and
instrumentalities, including government-owned- and- controlled corporations (GOCCs)
as well as industries, private establishments, firms, corporations, and institutions.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:

(a) Air Pollution Control Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering in
which scientific and engineering concepts and principles are applied to control of air
pollutant emissions, their generation and release from a source, their transport and
transformation in and removal from the atmosphere, and their effects on human beings,
materials, and ecosystems. It covers monitoring and correction of air pollution problems
originating from relatively small areas, such as an industrial park impacted by one or
more emission sources, to those from large areas, such as urban area impacted by a
number of sources and a variety of contaminants. The overall goal is to improve
ambient air quality, to promote healthy environmental quality, and to protect property
and public health;

(b) Air pollution engineering refers to a branch of environmental engineering concerned
with the control of pollutants in; their generation and release from a source, their
transport and transformation in and removal from the atmosphere, and their effects on
human beings, materials, and ecosystems;

(c) Climate Change Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in
response to actual or expected climactic stimuli or in their effects, which moderates
harm or exploits beneficial opportunities;

(@) Disaster refers to a serious disruption of a functioning community or a society involving
widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which
exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own
resources;

(©) Disaster Mitigation refers to the lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts of
hazards and related disasters. Mitigation measures encompass engineering techniques
and hazard-resistant construction as well as improved environmental policies and public
awareness, land use planning, and climate change.

() Disaster Risk Management refers to the systematic process of using administrative
directives, organizations, and operational skills and capacities to implement strategies,
policies, and improved coping capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of
hazards and possibility of disaster;

(g) Disaster Risk Reduction refers to the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks
through systematic efforts and analyze and manage the casual factors of disasters,
including through reduced exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and
property, wise management of land and the environment, and improved preparedness
for adverse events;

(h) Environmental Engineer refers to an environmental engineering practitioner duly
registered with the Board and the Commission to practice environmental engineering as
defined by this Act;

(i) Environmental Engineering encompasses the application of science and engineering
principles to protect and improve the environment, including air, water and land
resources, to provide safe water, air and land for human habitation and for other
organisms and to rehabilitate polluted sites, solid waste management, environmental


impact assessment, environmental risk assessment and management, atmospheric
pollution abatement; noise pollution abatement; conservation and protection of water
resources; classification of water; protection of watersheds; and management of toxic
and hazardous substances and radiological pollution. The ultimate goal of
environmental engineering is the protection of human populations from the effects of
adverse environmental factors and protection of environments, both local and global,
from potentially deleterious effects of natural and human activities.

(j) Environmental Engineering Technologist refers to an environmental engineering
practitioner duly registered with the Board and Commission whose competence lies in
the application of environmental engineering technologies. Environmental engineering
technologists shall be graduates of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
Technology or its equivalent conferred by a school, academy, college or university in
the Philippines or abroad which is recognized by the CHED. An environmental
technologist shall also refer to a sanitary inspector with civil service eligibility.

(k) Environmental Engineering Management refers to an entire spectrum of activities
covering environmental impact assessment (EIA), water quality management, ambient
air quality management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk
reduction and management, and other programs and strategies to maintain safe and
healthy environment and protect public health;

()) Environmental Engineering technician refers to an environmental engineering
practitioner duly registered with the Board and Commission whose role is to apply
established methods and techniques of environmental engineering. An environmental
engineering technician shall-be a graduate of associate or certificate programs for
environmental engineering technician offered by a school, academy, college or
university in the Philippines or abroad which is recognized by the CHED. An
environmental engineering technician shall also refer to a sanitary inspector;

(m)Environmental Health and Safety Engineering refers to the branch of Environmental
Engineering in which scientific and engineering concepts and principles are applied to
the examination of indoor and outdoor environmental quality and condition to identify,
monitor, evaluate and eliminate control of hazards that expose people, environment or
property to danger;

(n) Environmental Impact Assessment refers to the process that involves predicting and
evaluating the likely impacts of a project including cumulative impacts on the
environment during construction, commissioning, operation and abandonment. It also
includes designing appropriate preventive, mitigating, and enhancement measures
addressing these consequences to protect the environment and the community’s welfare;

(0) Hazardous Wastes refers to those wastes defined and designated as hazardous wastes by
Republic Act No. 6969, otherwise known as the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and
Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990;”

(p) Noise pollution control engineering refers to a branch of environmental engineering that
is concerned with the control of the generation and propagation of environmental noise/
sound that impact negatively on flora and fauna.

(q) Radioactive and Nuclear Waste Management refers to the branch of Environmental
Engineering in which the basic principles of science and engineering are applied to
responsible mining, milling, processing, refining of radioactive materials, and disposal
of any materjal that contains or is contaminated with radio nuclides at concentrations or
activities greater than the clearance levels established by the Philippine Nuclear
Research Institute (PNRI), and for which no use is foreseen;

(0) Sanitary Engineer refers to a person duly registered with the Board of Sanitary
Engineering and Commission as provided in R.A. 1364, otherwise known as “Sanitary
Engineering law;”



(8) Sanitary Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering which covers the
control of all factors in man’s physical environmental that adversely affect human life,
health and safety. It focuses on the identification and prevention of transmission of
diseases through the control of physical aspects of the environment including food,
water, air, refuse, soil, insects, and vermin and also the control of domestic and personal
hygiene practices. Specific activities include sanitation of establishments, institutions
and public places; insect and vermin control; industrial hygiene; nuisance abatement;
healthful lighting and ventilation; emergency water supply and sanitation;
environmental health impact assessment; disposal of dead persons; water supply system
design and management of both potable and used water and inclusive of those in
buildings/ structures; food sanitation; and other engineering services related to the
protection of public health and welfare;

() Sanitary Inspector refers to a person performing the duties ascribed to an environmental
engineering technologist or technician in this Act;

(u) Sanitary Utilities for Buildings refer to the water supply distribution system, sanitary
drainage system, wastewater recycling and reuse, storm drainage system, and waste
treatment facility in buildings;

(v) Sanitary Utilities in Buildings refer to water supply system, sanitary and storm systems
as well as fire protection systems in building;

(w)Site Remediation refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering in which scientific
and engineering concepts and principles are applied to environmental quality
investigation to characterize the concentrations and locations of contaminants in the soil
and groundwater, conduct risk of assessment to estimate the health hazards of the
contamination to humans and the ecosystem, and strategies to clean-up the site and
return it to safe utilization;

(x) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering and Management refers to a branch of
Environmental Engineering in which scientific and engineering concepts and principles
are applied to the management of municipal solid and hazardous wastes to protect
human health and the environment and the conservation of limited resources through
resource recovery and recycling of waste materials. It covers research, siting, design,
operation and maintenance, monitoring, evaluation, and upgrading of facilities and
related support structures including the functional elements for the control of the
generation, characterization, onsite storage, collection, segregation, transfer, transport,
processing, and recovery, recycling, and ultimate disposal of waste materials in a
manner that is in accord with the best principles of public health, economics,
engineering, conservation, aesthetics, and other environmental considerations;

(y) Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste Management refers to the process which
involves reducing the amount of hazardous substances produced, treating hazardous
wastes to reduce their toxicity, and applying sound engineering controls to reduce or
eliminate exposure to these wastes;

(2) Water Supply Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering concerned
with the scientific principles and analysis of water supply systems; development of
sources of water supply; quality assessment, collection and treatment of water from
sources to drinking water, municipal water works, storm waters, groundwater, surface
water, rain water, seawaters desalination, filtration systems and water re-use
applications; Water quality criteria and standards and their relation to public health,
environment and urban water cycle; Water quality concepts and their effect on
treatment process selection; operation and maintenance of water supply systems;
evaluation of project alternatives on basis of chosen selection criteria for drinking
water;

Water supply engineering within a watershed context to evaluate the water balance
within a watershed, management of watershed environment, determine the available


(aa)

water supply, the water needed for various needs in the watershed, the seasonal
cycles of water movement through the watershed and development of the systems to
store, treat, and convey water for various uses; Design and rehabilitate raw water
abstraction, transport, treatment and distribution processes and systems; Water
supply and treatment to secure water supplies for potable and domestic use;
provisions of potable water supply where water is treated to minimize risk of
infectious disease transmittal, risk of non-infectious illness, and create a palatable
water flavor that meet various end-user needs such as domestic use;

Water Quality Management refers to the protection and improvement of the physical,

chemical, biological, microbiological, and radiological quality of water to maintain its
most beneficial use; and

(bb)

Wastewater Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering in which

the basic principles of science and engineering are applied to the problems of water
pollution control. It covers wastewater characterization, analysis and determination of
waste water: flow rates and constituent loadings, as well as physical, chemical, and
biological treatment processes, and design, wastewater treatment plant residuals
management, and other issues related to wastewater treatment plant performance and
wastewater disposal.

SEC. 5. Scope of Practice. The practice of environmental engineering practitioners shall include

the following:

(a) Water Supply and Wastewater Engineering;

(b) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering;

(©) Air Quality and Noise Pollution Control Engineering;

(d) Sanitary Engineering including Sanitary Utilities for Buildings;

(@) Site Remediation;

(® Environmental Health and Safety Engineering; and

(g) Environmental Engineering Management which covers Environmental Impact

Assessment (EIA), Water Quality Management, Ambient Air Quality

Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management, and other programs and strategies to maintain safe

and healthy environment and protect public health.

1. Environmental Engineer shall perform the following:

(a) Provide consultation services on environmental engineering;

(b) Plan, design, approve, investigate, evaluate, supervise, and monitor
environmental engineering processes, facilities including sanitary utilities in
buildings, and other related projects;

(©) Develop, implement, and manage programs for waste minimization and
recycling, resource recovery, cleaner production, pollution abatement and
mitigation, polluted sites remediation, and other relevant environmental
strategies;

(4) Conduct research on environmental problems, including current and
emerging contaminants, pollutants, and public health issues, and create and
design innovative solutions;

(e) Teach courses in the environmental engineering and allied programs and
serve as resource person; and

(f) Prepare and certify technical and environmental reports for compliance to
environmental laws and regulation.

2. Environmental Engineering Technologist shall perform the following services
under the supervision of an environmental engineer:


(a) Conduct laboratory and field works pertaining to environmental engineering
projects and undertakings;

(b) Recommend the issuance of environmental and other related permits,
clearances, or licenses, including discharge permits, permit to operate air
pollution source and control installations, and sanitary permit; and

(c) Assist environmental engineers in the practice of the profession.

3. Environmental Engineering Technician shall perform the following services
under the supervision of an environmental engineer and environmental
engineering technologist, or both:

(a) Conduct inspection, investigation, and sampling in pollution control
facilities, sanitary utilities in buildings, public places and establishments, and
ambient environment (ambient air, water bodies, land);

(b) Perform well-defined functions related to the practice of environmental
engineering as dirécted by an environmental engineer and/or environmental
engineering technologist; and

(©) Prepare reports and correspondence pertaining to their activities.

ARTICLE IL
BOARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

SEC. 6. Creation and Composition of the Board. There is hereby called a Professional regulatory
Board of Environmental Engineering, hereinafter referred to as the Board, under the administrative
supervision and control of the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC), herein referred to as the
Commission. The Board shall consist of a Chairperson and four (4) Members:

(a) The Chairperson and two (2) members shall be responsible for the environmental
engineering licensure examinations, whereas, the Chairperson and the remaining fourth
(4) and fifth (S") members shall be responsible for the environmental engineering
technologies and environmental engineering technicians’ examinations.

() The Chairperson and members of the Board shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines upon the recommendation of the Commission, from a list of at least three (3)
nominees for each position who shall be endorsed by the duly accredited integrated
professional organization (AIPO) of the environmental engineering practitioners in the
Philippines.

SEC.7. Terms of Office. The Chairperson and members of the Board shall hold office for a term of
three (3) years from the date of appointment, or until their successors shall have been appointed or
qualified. They may, however, be reappointed for only a second term as may be recommended by
the Commission and the AIPO of the environmental engineering practitioners. Each member shail
qualify by taking an oath of office before entering the performance of the duties. Vacancies in the
Board shall be filled by the President of the Philippines, from the list of candidates endorsed by the
Commission, who were chosen and recommended from the list of nominees submitted by the AIPO
of the environmental engineering practitioners, but for the unexpired term only. At the expiration of
the term or removal of the Board Chairperson, the most senior of the Board member shall
temporarily assume and perform the duties and functions of the Chairperson, until a permanent one
is appointed by the President.

SEC. 8. Qualifications and Disqualifications of the Members of the Board. A member of the
Board at the time of the appointment shall possess the following qualifications:
(a) Must be Filipino citizen and a resident of the Philippines for at least five (5) years;
(b) At least thirty-five (35) years of age of good moral character and of proven integrity in
the personal and professional conduct;


(c) Holds a degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering or Bachelor of
Science in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering (BSEnSe) or Bachelor of Science in
Sanitary Engineering (BSSE) from a university, school, college, academy or institute in
the Philippines that is recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
Provided, That the Chairperson must preferably be a holder of a Master’s or a doctorate
degree in Environmental Engineering;

(@) A registered Environmental Engineer with a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant
experience;

(©) Must neither be an official nor a faculty member, nor shall have pecuniary interest in any
university, college, school or institution conferring bachelor’s degree in environmental
engineering for at least three (3) years prior to the appointment. A person must not be
connected with a review center, or with any group or association which offers or
conducts review classes or lectures in preparation for the licensure examinations, at the
time of the appointment and during the incumbency as chairperson or member of the
Board.

(f) Must not be an incumbent officer of the AIPO of the environmental engineering
practitioners within a period of three (3) years prior to nomination; and

(g) Must not have been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude.

SEC. 9. Compensation and Allowances. The Chairperson and members of the Board shall receive
compensation and allowances comparable to those being received by the chairpersons and members
of existing Boards under the Commission as provided for in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Powers, Functions, and Responsibilities of the Board. The Board shall exercise the
following powers, functions and responsibilities:

(@) To promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary in carrying out the
provisions of this Act;

(b) To regulate the registration, licensure and the practice of environmental engineering, in
accordance with the provisions of this Act;

(c) To issue the certificate of registration and professional identification cards to successful
registrants;

(a) To administer oaths in accordance with the provisions of this Act;

(e) To issue special temporary permit to qualified foreign environmental engineering
practitioners, who may be authorized by existing laws to practice environmental
engineering in the Philippines for a specific project and duration of time only;

(f) To monitor the conditions affecting the practice of the environmental engineering
profession and, whenever necessary, adopt such measures deemed proper for the
enhancement of the profession and the maintenance of high professional technical and
ethical standards;

(g) To hear and investigate cases airing from violations of this Act, its Implementing Rules
and Regulations (IRR), Code of Ethics, administrative policies, orders and issuances
promulgated by the Board. For this purpose, the Board shall issue subpoena and
testificandum and/or subpoena duces tecum to secure the attendance of the respondents
or witnesses and the production of documents relative to the investigation conducted by
the Board;

(h) To hear and investigate cases filed before the Board where the issue or question strictly
concerns the practice of the professions, in which case the hearing shall be presided over
by at least one (1) member of the Board assisted by a Legal or Hearing Officer of the
Commission;

(i) To conduct, through the Legal Officers of the Commission, summary proceeding on
minor violations of this Act, its IRR, including the general instructions to examinees,


and render summary judgment thereon, which, unless appealed to the Commission, shall
become final and executor after fifteen (15) days from the receipt of the decision;

(j) To suspend, revoke, reissue or reinstate the certificate of registration and professional
identification card or special temporary permit for causes provided by this law;

(k) To prepare, adopt, and issue the syllabi or Tables of Specifications (TOS) of the subjects
for examination, in consultation with the academe; determine and prepare the questions
for the licensure examinations which shall strictly be within the scope of the syllabus or
table of specifications of the subjects for examination; score and rate the examination
papers and submit the results in all subjects duly signed by the members of the Board to
the Commission within thirty (30) days from the last day of examination, unless
extended for justifiable cause, and subject to the approval of the Commission;

(I) To prescribe and adopt a Code of Ethics for Environmental Engineers, Environmental
Engineering Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians in consultation
with the AIPO;

(m)To prescribe guidelines in the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program and
to create the CPD Council with the objective of providing and ensuring the continuous
development of all environmental engineering practitioners;

(n) To adopt an official seal of the Board; and

(0) To perform other functions and duties as may be necessary to implement this Act.

The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the Board shall be

subject to review and approval of the Commission. However, the Board’s decisions,

resolutions and orders rendered in administrative cases shall be subject to review only if on
appeal.

SEC. 11. Annual Report. The Board shall, at the end of each calendar year, submit to the
Commission a detailed report of its activities and proceedings during the year embodying also such
recommendations as it may deem proper to promote the policies and objectives of this Act.

SEC. 12. Removal of Board Members. The President, upon recommendation of the Commission,
may remove any member of the Board on the following grounds: neglect of duty, incompetence,
malpractice, tolerance of irregularities in the examinations, or for unprofessional, unethical, or
dishonorable conduct, after having been given the opportunity to defend oneself in a proper
administrative investigation.

ARTICLE Hl
LICENSURE, REGISTARTION AND PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING

SEC. 13. Examination’ Requirement. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act, all
applicants for registration for the practice of environmental engineering shall be required to pass a
written technical examination which shall be given at such times and places as may be determined
by the Commission.

SEC. 14. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineers Licensure Examinations.
‘An applicant for the licensure examination for environmental engineer shall establish to the
satisfaction of the Board that the following qualifications are met:
(a) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity for
practice of environmental engineering with the Philippines;
(b) Has good reputation and good moral values;
(c) Has not been convicted by the court of any offense involving moral turpitude; and
(d) Holds a Bachelor's degree in Science of Environmental Engineering from a university,
college, academy or institute duly constituted and recognized by the CHED.




Subject to the evaluation of the Board, the following may be allowed to take the
Environmental Engineering Board Examinations within seven (7) years upon the effectivity
of this Act:

(a) A holder of a degree in ecological and environmental engineering, sanitary
engineering, environmental and sanitary engineering, or sanitary and public
health engineering from a recognized and legally constituted school, college, or
university in the Philippines;

(b) A holder of a degree in any field of engineering plus a Master’s Degree in
Environmental Engineering from a recognized and legally constituted school,
college or university in the Philippines; and

(c) A holder of a degree in any field of engineering from a recognized and legally
constituted school, college or university in the Philippines, with at least two (2)
years of environmental engineering experience.

SEC. 15. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineering Technologists
Licensure Examination. An applicant for the licensure examination for the environmental
engineering technologists shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that the following
qualifications are met:

(a) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity for

the practice of environmental engineering with the Philippines;

(b) Has a good reputation and good moral values;

(c) A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering Technology;

(@) Has not been convicted by the court of any offense involving moral turpitude; and

(e) Is in good health.

SEC. 16. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineering Technicians Licensure
Examination. An applicant for the licensure examination for environmental engineering technicians
shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that the following qualifications are met:
(a) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity for
the practice of environmental engineering with the Philippines;
(b) Has a good reputation and good moral values;
(©) Is an Associate or holds a Certificate in Environmental Engineering, or finished two
years of the prescribed curriculum of BSEnE;
(d) Has not been convicted by the court of any offense involving moral turpitude; and
(@) Is in good health.

SEC. 17. Subjects of the Environmental Engineering Licensure Examination. Unless modified
by the Board and the Commission, the Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering
Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians Licensure Examination shall cover the
following subjects:
(a) Water Supply and Wastewater Engineering;
(b) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering;
(©) Air Quality and Noise Pollution Control Engineering;
(@) Sanitary Engineering including Sanitary Utilities for Buildings;
(@) Site Remediation;
(®) Environmental Health and Safety Engineering; and
(g) Environmental Engineering Management- covers Environmental Impact Assessment,
Water Quality Management, Ambient Air Quality Management, Climate Change
Adaptation and Mitigation, Disaster Risk reduction Management, and other programs
and strategies to maintain safe and healthy environment and to protect public health.
The Board, subject to the approval of the Commission, may amend or revise the subjects,
the syllabi, and the system and procedure in the Environmental Engineering, Environmental


Engineering technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians Licensure
Examination.

SEC. 18. Rating in the Licensure Examination. To be qualified as having passed the
Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Environmental
Engineering Technicians Licensure Examination, a candidate must obtain a weighted general
average of at least seventy percent (70%), with no grade lower than fifty percent (50%) in any given
subject. However, an examinee who obtains a weighted general average of seventy percent (70%)
higher, but obtains a rating below fifty percent (50%) in any given subject, must retake the
examination in the subject or subjects where the grade obtained is below fifty percent (50%).

An examinee who fails to pass the examination for the third (3") time shall be allowed to take
another examination only after the lapse of one (1) year from the last examination taken and after
having completed a refresher course in government-recognized institution.

SEC. 19. Oath of Environmental Engineering Practitioner. All successful registrants, with or
without examination, shall take the prescribed professional oath before any member of the Board or
any authorized official of the Commission prior to entering the practice of the profession.

SEC. 20. Issuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional Identification Card. The
Board and the Commission shall issue a certificate of registration to a registrant who has met all the
requirements for registration under this Act. The certificate of registration shall bear the full name
of the registrant, the signatures of the Chairperson of the Commission and all members of the
Board, and the official seals of the Board and the Commission. The certificate of registration shall
be the evidence that the person named therein is entitled to practice the environmental engineering,
environmental engineering technology or environmental engineering technician profession, as the
case may be, with all the privileges appurtenant thereto.

A professional identification card indicating the registration number, and dates of its
issuance and expiry, duly signed by the Commission Chairperson, shall likewise be issued to a
successful registrant. The professional identification card shall be renewed every three (3) years,
subject to compliance with the requirements as may be prescribed by the Board and the
Commission.

SEC. 21. Registration without Examination. Within the periods specified below, the Board shall
issue certificates of registration and professional identification cards to the following qualified
persons without examination: Provided, That the persons possess the following qualifications as
validated by the Board:-

1. Environmental Engineers must satisfy the following requirements:

(a) Hold a degree in ecological and environmental engineering, environmental
engineering, sanitary engineering, environmental and sanitary engineering, or
sanitary or public health engineering, with at least five (5) years of
environmental engineering experience; or a degree in any field of engineering
plus a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from a recognized and
legally constituted school, college or university in the Philippines.

This provision may be exercised within seven (7) years afier the effectivity of this

Act,

2. Environmental Engineering Technologists must satisfy the following requirements:

(a) Employed as pollution control officers or environmental management specialists
or employed with a permanents status as a Sanitary Inspector or Sanitarian at the
Department of Health (DOH) or other local government agencies.

(6) With ten years (10) of experience; and

(c) Baccalaureate degree

3. Environmental Engineering Technicians must satisfy the following requirements:


(a) Employed with a permanent status as Sanitary Inspector or Sanitarian at the
Department of Health (DOH) or other local government agencies for at least ten
(10) years; and

(b) With appropriate civil service eligibility.

Provided further, That qualified Environmental Engineering Practitioners shall

register within two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 22. Foreign Reciprocity. No foreigner shall be admitted to the licensure examination or be
given a certificate of registration and professional identification card, or be entitled to any of the
rights and privileges under this Act, unless the requirements for the registration or licensing ins aid
foreign country or state are substantially the same as those required and contemplated by the laws of
the Philippines, and that the laws of such foreign country or state specifically permits Filipino
environmental engineering practitioners to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as
the subjects or citizens of such foreign country or State.

SEC. 23. Special Temporary Permits. The following are required to secure a special temporary
permit from the Board, subject to the approval of the Commission:

(a) Environmental engineering practitioners from other countries called in by the
government for consultation and for a specific project; or both, Provided, That such
foreign environmental engineering practitioners are legally qualified to practice
environmental engineering in their country or State.

(b) Foreign consultants specializing in the field of environmental engineering, who, in the
judgment of the Board, may benefit the local practitioners through the transfer of
technology: Provided, That such registrants shall satisfy the following conditions:

(1) That, at the time of the engagement, no Filipino environmental engineering
practitioner in the country is competent, available and willing to perform the
services for which the foreigner has been hired; and

(2) Any particular or specific engagement shall not be in excess of one (1) year,
renewable at the discretion of the Board and the Commission.

SEC. 24. Refusal to Register. The Board shall not register any applicant for registration with opr
without licensure examination, who suffers from any of the following disqualifications:
(a) Conviction by final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction of any offense involving
moral turpitude;
(6) Conviction by final judgment in any administrative case involving immorality or notoriously
undesirable conduct;
(©) Adjudged guilty for violation of the General Instructions to Examines by the Board;
(d) Declared to be of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
(e) Proven to be afflicted with addiction to substance/s impairing the ability to practice the
profession through a finding to this effect by a medical or drug testing facility accredited by
the government.
In case of refusal to register, the Board shall issue to the applicant a written statement setting
forth the reasons for such refusal and shall file a copy thereof in its records.

SEC. 25. Suspension and Revocation of the Certificate of Registration and Professional
identification Card or Special Temporary Permit. The Board shall have the power, after due notice
and hearing, to suspend a member for a period of six (6) to twelve (12) months, depending on the
gravity of the offense or revoke the certificate of registration and professional identification card or
special temporary permit on any of the following grounds:
For Suspension:

(a) Unjustified refusal to join or to remain a member in good standing of the AIPO;


(b) Unjustified or unexplained neglect or failure to pay the annual registration fees for five (5)
consecutive years; and

(c) Unjustified or unexplained non-renewal of the professional identification card for more than
five (5) consecutive years.

For Revocation:

(a) Violation of any provision of this Act, its IRR, Code of Ethics and other policies and
regulatory measures of the Board and the Commission, or both;

(b) Perpetration or use of fraud in obtaining the certificate of registration, professional
identification card or special temporary permit;

(c) Gross incompetence, negligence, or ignorance in the practice or exercise of the profession
resulting to death, injury of persons and damage to property;

(d) Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a person who is not an environmental engineering
practitioner by allowing oneself to use the certificate of registration, professional
identification card or special temporary permit, among others;

(e) Practice of the profession during the suspension from the practice thereof; and

(f) Addiction to a drug or alcohol abuse impairing oneself ability to practice the profession or
being declared of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction.

‘The Board shall periodically evaluate the aforementioned grounds and revise or add new ones as

the need arises, subject to approval by the Commission.

SEC. 26. Filing of Charges. The rules on administrative investigation of the Commission shall
govern the filing of charges and the conduct of hearing and investigation, or both subject to
applicable provisions of this Act, RA No. 8981 and the Rules of Court.

SEC. 27. Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration, Replacement of Lost or Damaged
Certificate of Registration, Professional Identification Card or Special Temporary Permit
Suspensions imposed against a member shall be automatically lifted upon expiration of the period
indicated in the suspension order. The Board may upon petition, reinstate, reissue a revoked
certificate of registration after two (2) years from the effectivity of the revocation, which is
reckoned from the date of surrender of the said certificate of registration and professional
identification card, or both to the Board and the Commission. The Board may not require the holder
thereof to take another licensure examination. The petitioner shall prove to the Board that one has a
valid reason to resume the practice of the profession. For the grant of one’s petition, the Board shall
issue a Board Resolution, subject to the approval by the Commission.

‘A duplicate copy of.a lost certificate of registration, professional identification card or special

temporary permit may be reissued in accordance with rules thereon and upon payment of the

prescribed fee therefor.

SEC. 28. Use of Seal. All environmental engineering practitioners shall obtain a seal of such design
as the Board shall authorize and direct: Provided, however, That the certificate of registration
number issued by the Board shall be included in the design of the seal. Plans and specifications
prepared by, and under the direct supervision of an environmental engineer shall be stamped with
such seal during the validity of the latter’s certificate of registration. It shall be unlawful to affix the
seal on any document after the environmental engineer's certificate of registration shall have been
renewed or re-issued.

SEC. 29. Display of Certificate of Registration in the Place of Practice. The proprietor ot manager
ofa firm, partnership or association which employs an environmental engineer shall post or cause to
be posted in a conspicuous place within the place of business of the firm, partnership or association,
the certificate of registration of the environmental engineer.


SEC. 30. Roster of Environmental Engineering Practitioners. The Commission shall keep of all
duly licensed and registered environmental engineers, environmental engineering technologists and
environmental engineering technicians, with their names; registration numbers and places of
business. The Commission shall regularly update such roster and make it available to all interested
parties, upon request.

SEC. 31. Comprehensive Environmental Engineering Specialty Program. Within ninety (90) 90
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Board, in coordination with the AIPO for environmental
engineering practitioners and recognized specialty organizations, is hereby mandated to formulate
and develop a comprehensive environmental engineering specialty program that would upgrade the
level of skills and competence of environmental engineering specialist in the country, such as the
areas of Water Supply and Wastewater Engineering, Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering, Air
Quality and Noise Pollution Control Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Site Remediation,
Environmental Health & Safety Engineering, Environmental Engineering Management and such
other areas as maybe determined by the Board.

SEC. 32. Environmental Engineering Code for Environmental Engineering Practitioners- The
Board shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for Environmental
engineers, environmental technologist, and environmental technicians prescribed and issued by the
AIPO of environmental engineers.

ARTICLE IV
PENAL AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 33. Vested Rights. All sanitary engineers registered under RA No. 1364, otherwise known as
the “Sanitary Engineering Law” shall automatically be registered under the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 33. Practice of Firms. The practice of environmental engineering is a professional service
based on individual and personal qualifications, A firm, association or partnership may practice this
profession Provided, That the principals of the firm, association or partnership are environmental
engineers.

SEC. 35 Integration of the Environmental Engineering Professions. - The environmental
engineering profession shall be integrated into one (1) national organization which shall be
recognized by the Board as the one and only Accredited Integrated Professional Organization
(AIPO) of the environmental engineering practitioners. Every environmental engineering
practitioner shall, upon registration with the Board, ipso facto become a member of the AIPO and
shall all the benefits and privileges appurtenant to their membership in the AIPO, upon payment of
the required membership fees and dues.

SEC. 36. Appointment of Environmental Engineers to Relevant Positions in the Provincial,
City and Municipal Governments and Establishment with Environmental Engineering
Functions. Within two (2) years after the approval of this Act, all provinces, cities and
municipalities may appoint an environmental engineer in their respective Provincial, City and
Municipal Engineering Offices.

No person shall be appointed to the position of environmental engineer or those vested with
environmental engineering functions unless the person is a citizen of the Philippines a resident of
the local government unit concerned, of good moral character, and a licensed environmental
engineer. The appointee must have acquired experience in the practice of the profession of
environmental engineering for at least (5) years in the case of the provincial or city environmental
engineer, and three (3) years in the case of municipal environmental engineer. The appointment of


an environmental engineer shall be mandatory for the provincial, city and municipal governments.
The environmental engineer shall:

(a) Initiate, review and recommend changes in policies and objectives, plans and programs,
techniques, procedures and practices in environmental engineering works in general of
the local government unit concerned;

(b) Advice the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on environmental engineering
matters and concerns;

(c) Administer, coordinate, supervise, and control the implementation of projects relevant to
environmental engineering;

(d) Provide engineering services to the local government unit concerned, including
investigation and survey, engineering designs, feasibility studies and project
management;

(e) In the case of provincial environmental engineers, exercise technical supervision over all
environmental engineering offices of component cities and municipalities; and

(f) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be
prescribed by law or ordinance.

Firms, companies, partnership or associations which are engaged in the installation,
construction, manufacture, operation, or sale on environmental equipment, facilities and
other environmental engineering processes, or hold environmental permits such as
Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC), Water Permit, Discharge Permit, shall hire or
engage the services of a least one (1) environmental engineer. Industries, establishment,
institutions, waterworks, and facilities which generate, treat, discharge or dispose waste
shall also be required to hire or engage the service of at least one ( 1) environmental
engineer who shall, at the same time, perform functions of a Pollution
Control/Environmental Officer.

SEC. 37. Ratio of Environmental Engineers, Environmental Engineering Technologists and
Environmental Engineering Technicians per population of Local Government Units. The IRR
of this Act shall set the standard ration of environmental engineers, environmental engineering
technologists and environmental engineering technicians per unit of population served in every
province, city, or municipality.

SEC. 38. Penal Provision. In addition to the administrative sanctions imposed under this Act, upon
conviction, the penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than five (5)
years, or a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand pesos (P 100,000.00) but not more than
Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 500,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the Courts, shall upon
conviction be imposed on a person who commits any of the following acts:

a. Engaging in the practice of environmental engineering in the Philippines without having
been registered or without having conformed with the provisions of this Act;

b. Presenting or attempting to use as one’s own the certificate of registration or professional
identification card of another environmental engineer, environmental engineering
technologists or environmental engineering technicians or special temporary permit of a
foreign environmental engineering practitioner;

¢. Submitting any false of forged evidence to the Board for the purpose of securing a
certificate of registration, professional identification card or special temporary permit, or
impersonating any environmental engineering practitioner;

d. Attempting to use or using a revoked or suspended certificate of registration, professional
identification card or special temporary permit;


e. Using or advertising any title or description tending to convey the impression that a person
is an environmental engineering practitioner even without a valid certificate of registration,
professional identification card or special temporary permit; or

f. Violating any of the provisions of this Act.

In case the offender is a corporation, partnership or juridical person, the penalty of imprisonment
shall be imposed on the environmental engineer jointly and solidarily with the responsible
professionals, as well the officer or officers responsible for permitting or causing the violation.

SEC. 39. Enforcement-of the Act by the Officers of the Law. The Board and the Commission
shall implement and enforce the provisions of this Act, its IRR and whenever warranted, investigate
complaints for violations of this Act, its IRR and the Code of Ethics and Standards for
Environmental Engineers, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Environmental
Engineering Technicians.

The National Government, any of its provincial, city or municipal government or political
subdivisions, shall assist in the enforcement of the provisions of this Act. The Department of Justice
shall act as legal adviser of the Board and render such legal assistance as may be necessary in
carrying out the provisions of the Act.

SEC. 40. Transitory Provisions. The incumbent Chairperson and members of the Board of
Sanitary Engineering shall continue to serve in such capacity for the purpose of administering the
Sanitary Engineers Licensure Examination to the graduates of Bachelor of Science in Sanitary
Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering until five (5)
years from the effectivity of this Act.

The Board of Environmental Engineering created under Section 6 of this Act shall be constituted
not later than six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. The Board shall administer the
Environmental Engineers Licensure Examination and register environmental engineering
practitioners prior to the full implementation of the qualifications prescribed for environmental
engineers, environmental engineering technologists and environmental engineering technicians in
Sections 14, 15 and 16 of this Act.

SEC. 41. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Board shall, within ninety (90) days upon
effectivity of this Act, formulate and issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to carry
out the provision of this Act.

SEC. 42. Appropriations. The Chairperson of the Commission shall immediately include on the
Commission’s programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The amount necessary to carry out the initial
implementation of this: Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the
Commission. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this
Act shalll be included in the succeeding GAA.

SEC, 43. Separability Clause — If any part or section of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional,
such declarations shall not invalidate the other provisions hereof.

SEC. 44, Repealing Clause ~ All laws, decrees, presidential issuances, proclamations, orders,
ordinances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, in conflict with the provisions of this Act as
pertains to the practice of civil engineering, are hereby amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

SEC. 45. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication on the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.