\QgrE 
OFFEE 
THE SECRETARY 
j ., 
A. 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
7 JUL -3 411 3 8  
OF THE PHlLJPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
/ 
RECEIVED BY : +,\ 
S.B. sENAy2 
No. 
3 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to rationalize the implementation of national policies, standards and 
regulations relating to occupational safety and health and environmental protection. Studies 
show that there are a number of government agencies, both national and local, that are 
involved in the administration and enforcement of occupational safety and health and 
environmental protection laws. It appears that these agencies are authorized by existing laws 
to participate in the implementation of these concerns. 
In the field of occupational safety and health, there are no less than ten (10) agencies 
that are involved in the implementation of the program. The same is true with respect to the 
implementation of environmental protection laws. 
Studies moreover show that there is no single lead agency that coordinates and 
oversees the implementation of the national program on occupational safety and health and 
the environmental protection thereby resulting in the fragmented administration of said 
programs. 
Existing laws do not provided for a clear delineation of responsibilities of the 
agencies that participate in the implementation of these programs thereby resulting in the 
overlapping and duplication of functions and difficulty in pinpointing direct responsibility. 
The bill proposes to identify the lead agency which will be responsible for 
coordinating and overseeing the activities of all agencies that are involved in the promotion 
of occupational safety and health standards and environmental protection programs. It also 
seeks to authorize the lead agency, after consultations with participating agencies and 
sectors concerned, to prescribe administrative fines in cases of violations of such standards 
and regulations. 
The administrative fines which may be imposed are in addition to the penalties 
provided for under existing laws. The fine is imposed on a daily basis until the violation is 
corrected. This is an effective measure to ensure compliance with the law. 
For the foregoing considerations, early approval of this bill is earnestly 
recommended. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PFfILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 723 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT TO RATIONALIZE TBE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF 
ALL LAWS ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS AND 
ENVIECONMENTAL PROTECTION AND OTEtER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to: 
(a) Protect every worker against injury, sickness or death through safe and healthful working 
conditions, thereby assuring the conservation of valuable manpower resources and the 
prevention of unnecessary loss or damage to lives and properties; 
(b) Protect and advance the right of the people to a well-balanced and healthful ecology in 
accord with the rhythm, harmony and integrity of nature; 
(c) Prevent and control pollution of water, air and land from any source which will be 
detrimental to public health, safety and welfare and adversely affect rational utilization of 
sustainable resources of the country; 
(d) Create, develop, maintain and improve conditions under which people and nature may 
prosper in wholesome harmony with each other; 
(e) Insure the attainment of an environmental quality that is conducive to a life of dignity 
and well-being; and 
(0 Promote and support research and training activities which are necessary to develop 
relevant standards in occupational health and safety and legislations to protect the 
environment. 
SEC. 2. Lead Agency in Occupational Safety and Health Promotion. - The 
Dzpartrnent of Labor and Employment @OLE) shall be the principal agency in coordinating 
and monitoring the activities of all government agencies involved in the implementation of 
all laws to promote occupational safety and health. For purposes of this Act, the term 
"occupational safety and health" shall include any matter that affects the safety and health of 
-workers in all places of employment. 
Toward this end, the DOLE shall be primarily responsible for the administration and 
enforcement of all laws, standards and regulations on occupational safety and health and 
shall have the following duties: 


(a) Review existing policies, standards and programs of all government agencies involved in 
occupational health standards and recommend to the President and Congress new policies, 
standards and programs relative thereto in consultation with a tripartite body composed of 
the representatives of the workers; employers and the government; 
(b) Enlist the assistance of appropriate government agencies, including local government 
subdivisions, in the implementation and/or enforcement of occupational safety and health 
programs, standards and regulations in accordance with such conditions as it may prescribe; 
(c) Act as the national monitoring agency on the progress of the implementation of policies, 
programs, research, training and information dissemination on workers safety and health and 
submit a yearly report thereon to the President and Congress; and 
(d) Promulgate such necessary rules and regulations to effectively carry out the provisions 
and objectives of this Act. 
SEC. 3. Lead Agency in Environmental Protection. - The Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall be the principal agency of the 
government in coordinating and monitoring the activities of all government agencies or 
instrumentalities involved in the administration and enforcement of all laws, standards and 
regulations relating to environmental protection and the natural resources of this country in 
formulating an intensive and integrated program on environmental protection, including, but 
not limited to, manufacture, importation, processing, distribution, use and disposal of 
hazardous and toxic substances and mixtures; and development, utilization and conservation 
of natural resources and over-all maintenance of a well-balanced and healthful ecology. 
Toward this end, the DENR shall be primarily responsible for the administration and 
enforcement of laws, standards and regulations on environmental protection and on the 
natural resources of this country and shall have the following duties: 
(a) Review existing policies, standards and programs of all government agencies involved in 
the establishment of environmental assessment and recommend to the President and 
Congress new policies, standards and programs relative thereto in consultation with 
pertinent government and non-government agencies; 
(b) Enlist the assistance of appropriate government agencies, including local government 
subdivision, and non-government, organizations in the implementation and/or enforcement 
of environmental health, safety and protection programs, standards and regulations in 
accordance with such conditions as it may prescribe; 
(e) Act as the national monitoring agency on the progress of implementation of policies, 
programs, research, training and information dissemination on environmental health, safety 
and protection and submit a yearly report thereon to the President and Congress; and 
(d) Promulgate such necessary rules and regulations to effectively carry out the provisions 
and objectives of this Act. 
SEC. 4. Sanitation. - The Department of Health (DOH) shall be responsible for 
formulating policies, standards and programs in sanitation. The DOH shall make periodic 
inspections for the purpose of issuingkenewing sanitary permits for establishments. 
SEC. 5. Administrative Sanctions in cases of Violations. - (a) In addition to the 
penalties provided for by existing laws, the DOLE may, by appropriate regulations, 
prescribe administrative fines for violations of occupational safety and health standards or 
regulations 


promulgated there under which in no case shall be less than One hundred pesos (P100.00) 
nor more than Ten thousand pesos (10,000) a day, depending upon the gravity of the 
violation, starting from the date the violation is uncovered until the same has been corrected 
by the offender. 
The fines shall accrue to the Occupational Safety and Health Fund and shall be 
managed by a Board, with the Secretary of the DOLE as Chairperson and the pertinent 
government agencies as members, which shall implement programs and promote research 
and training in occupational safety and health. 
(b) In addition to the penalties provided for by existing laws, rules and regulations, the 
DENR may, by appropriate regulations, prescribe administrative fines for violations of 
environmental health, safety and protection standards or regulations promulgated thereunder 
which in no case shall be less than One hundred pesos (PlOO.00) nor more than Ten 
thousand pesos (PiO,OOO.OO) a day, depending upon the gravity of the violations, starting 
from the date the violation is in covered until the same has been corrected by the offender. 
The fines shall accrue to the Environmental Safety and Protection Fund and shall be 
managed by a Board, with the Secretary of the DENR as Chairperson and the pertinent 
government agencies as members, which shall implement programs and promote research 
and training in envifonmental protection. 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and 
regulations or part or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby 
repealed, modified, superseded or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - Ifany provision of this Act or the application of such 
provision to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any reason, the remainder of this 
Act or the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be 
affected thereby. 
SEC. 10. Effectjvjty Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at feast two (2) national newspaper of 
general circulation, whichever comes earlier, 
Approved,