FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBlRl 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Local Government Code of 1991 was conceived and implemented in 
order to provide better and faster implementation of service of the government to 
the grassroots level. Because of the promise that the Code has shown upon its 
implementation, various mechanisms have been explored to better coordinate the 
national and local governments and enhance the cooperative interaction between 
them. 
As a lot of laws dealing with the protection and conservation of our 
environment and natural resources have been enacted, their complexities make it 
impractical for the national government to be the sole agency in implementing said 
laws. Under such circumstances, a more coordinated and cooperative action from 
the national and local governments on the enforcement of laws on environmental 
protection and conservation of natural resources is needed because poor 
enforcement of such laws leads to environmental problems primarily affecting the 
local government. Empowering local governments in enforcing and implementing 
these laws will make them more vigilant and proactive in their communities thereby 
reducing and preventing the risks of environmental problems and disasters. 
In view of the above, this bill seeks to increase the role of local 
governments in monitoring the implementation of national laws on environmental 
protection and conservation of natural resources. 
Approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
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t r 1 ' 1 1  
, 
"i: 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBlRl 
AN ACT 
EMPOWERING LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs) 
TO MONITOR THE ENFORCEMENTOF LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS ON 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF NATURAL 
RESOURCES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Tit/e. This Act shall be known as the "Local Initiative on 
Environmental Protection and Conservation of Natural Resources Act of 2007". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy, It shall be the policy of the state to promote 
more effective coordination between the national and local governments. 
SECTION 3. Objective. The objective of this Act shall be to establish 
coordination between the national and local governments in the implementation of 
national laws on environmental protection and conservation of natural resources. 
SECTION 4. Coverage. This Act shall involve all local governments nationwide 
and shall cover the implementation of all national laws on environmental protection and 
conservation of natural resources. 
SECTION 5. Inspection. Local government executives, members of the local 
sanggunian and duly appointed officials of the local governments shall have ready 
access to the facilities and areas of operations of processing and manufacturing 
concerns and concessions of forest, mineral and aquatic resources in their areas of 
jurisdiction for the purpose of inspecting and determining compliance with existing laws, 
rules and regulations on environmental protection and conservation of natural 
resources . 
SECTION 6. Notice of Possible Violations. Local governments, through a 
resolution of their local sanggunian, shall serve formal notice to the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) upon discovery of possible violations of 


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national laws on environmental protection and conservation of natural resources by 
processing or manufacturing concerns or concessionaires of forest, mineral or aquatic 
resources. 
SECTION 7. Enforcement. In the event of failure by the DENR to act on the 
formal notice seven days after it has been served, local governments may, by a majority 
decision of the local sanggunian, exercise police power, and compel compliance from 
or impose sanctions on concerned parties, as provided for in the relevant national laws, 
rules or regulations on environmental protection and conservation of natural resources. 
SECTION 8. Validity of Local Government Action. Local government action on 
the enforcement of national laws, rules and regulations on environmental protection and 
conservation of natural resources as provided for in Section 3 above shall remain valid 
until superseded by a subsequent action by DENR or the courts of the Philippines. 
SECTION 9. Jurisdiction. For the purpose of implementing the intent and 
provisions of this Act, the respective jurisdiction of local governments shall be as 
follows: 
7) Barangay government - processing or manufacturing concerns or 
concessionaires of forest, mineral or aquatic resources whose area of 
operation is exclusively within the territorial jurisdiction of the barangay. 
2) Municipal governmenf - processing or manufacturing concerns or 
concessionaires of forest, mineral or aquatic resources whose area of 
operation covers more than one barangay but exclusively within the 
territorial jurisdiction of the municipality. 
3) Provincial government - processing or manufacturing concerns or 
concessionaires of forest, mineral or aquatic resources whose area of 
operation covers more than one municipality but exclusively within the 
territorial jurisdiction of the province. 
SECTION I O .  Implementation. The Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources and the Department of Interior and Local Government, in consultation with 
the League of Provinces and Cities, League of Municipalities and the Liga ng mga 
Barangay shall formulate and enforce the rules and regulations necessary for the 
effective implementation of the intent and provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 13. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its 
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Approved, 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. The declaration of unconstitutionality or 
invalidity of any provision of this Act shall not affect the other provisions thereof. 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in Filipino and English. 
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