SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 1928 
) 
) 
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Introduced by Se.n. Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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NOV 18 P2:31 
Studies show that buildings consume one-third of the total energy 
produced in the country while causing greenhouse gas emissions during 
consumption. There is a need to make buildings energy efficient and energy 
conservant in order to promote the country's environmental sustainability. The 
lack of regulation of building energy consumption could lead to energy scarcity. 
The inability to regulate or prevent greenhouse gas emissions of buildings would 
also significantly impact the country's treasured long coastlines and its reliance 
on agricultural livelihood. 
As a means of addressing this problem, foreign jurisdictions have 
developed green building standards and incentivized the construction of green 
buildings. 
Green buildings are structures particularly designed to utilize 
processes that are environmentally conscious, responsible, and resourceful. 
Green buildings contemplate energy conservation throughout the stages of 
construction, operation, maintenance, and even demolition. In this manner, 
green buildings promote a more stable environmental community around it as 
well as healthy indoor environments for occupants. 
The proposed measure requires government buildings to adopt green 
building standards. Hence, a green building management standard is mandated 
to be established by the Department of Public Works and Highways. The 
Department is further empowered to require and monitor compliance with the 
standards by all covered buildings. 
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Considering the pressing need for environmental conservation, the 
passage of this measure is urged. 
~/0£:J 
MA~TO" 
M. LAPIDJ 
Senator 
r 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1928 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Sen. Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
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I~OV 18 "? :31 
ESTABLISHING A GREEN BUlI,DING STANDARD FOR 
GOVERNMENT BUILDING PROJECTS IN THE COUNTRY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:" 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "The Green 
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Building Act of 2013", 
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SEC. 2. State Policy. - It is the policy of the State to regulate the energy 
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efficiency of buildings, such as by mitigating their environmental, economic, and 
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social impact, in order to promote environmental sustainability and energy 
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conservation within the country. Pursuant thereto, the State shall establish 
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standards to make the construction, operation, and overall management of 
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bUildings environmentally sound and ecologically healthy. 
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SEC. 3. 
Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Code, the 
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following terms shall be understood to refer to: 
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a) "Building" means any structure used or intended f<,>r supporting or 
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sheltering any use or occupancy; 
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b) "Construction" means the putting up of any building or structure, 
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or any portion thereof; 
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c) "Design" refers to the process of originating and developing a plan 
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for a structure, system, or component; 
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d) "Government" shall include the national government and all local 
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government units, as well as deparb;'nents;" regulatory agencies, 
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instrumentalities, and implementing unit~ of the same; 
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e) "Green building" means an integrated or holistic building 
approach to the planning, design, construction, and operation of 
buildings and their surrounding landscapes with the purpose of 
mitigating the environmental, economic, and social impacts of 
buildings to promote energy efficiency, structural and operational 
sustainability, security, safety, operational cost-effectiveness and 
productiveness, accessibility, and aesthetic design; 
f) ""Historical shrines" shall refer to historical sites or structures 
hallowed and revered for their history or association as declared by 
the National Historical Contmission of the Philippines; 
g) "Historic structure" means any building or structure listed on or 
eligible for listing by the National Historical Commission of the 
Philippines; 
h) "Maintenance" or "Operation" means the performance of routine 
actions in keeping any building or structure in good condition; 
i) "Renovation" means any change, addition, or modification to an 
existing building; 
j) "Retrofitting" means the act of adding a component or accessory to 
existing government buildings to conform with green building 
standards; 
k) "Standard" refers to the Green Building Management Standard, to 
be promulgated pursuant to this Act and which shall require 
particular levels of quality for government buildings and structures. 
SEC. 4. Applicability. - The provisions of this Act shall apply to all 
government-owned buildings: Provided, That all historical shrines shall be 
exempt from the coverage of this Act:: Provided further, That should the 
provisions of this Act be adopted in the operation, maintenance, renovation, or 
expansion of historic structures, the historical significance of the structure shall 
not be compromised. 
Government buildings and structures that are unoccupied or that serve a 
specialized function, including, but not limited to, pump stations, garages, or 
storage buildings, shall not be subjected to the requirements of this Act. 
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SEC. 5. 
Green Building Management Standard. - A Green Building 
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Management Standard shall be developed by the Department of Public Works 
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and Highways (DPWH) applicable standards for planning, designing, 
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constructing, operating or maintaining, renovating, and expanding building 
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projects as well as for the purpose of retrofittjng existing buildings. 
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SEC. 6. 
Implementation and Monitoring. -
The DPWH shall be 
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principally responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the 
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provisions of this Act. For this purpose, it shall have the following powers and 
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functions: 
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a) Establish the Green BUilding Management Standard and 
promulgate such other rules and regulations necessary for the 
proper implementation of this Act; 
b) Make policy recommendations designed to continually improve 
and update the proper implementation of this Act, including 
providing assistance in the development, adoption, and revisions 
of this Act, as well as suggesting incentives to promote green 
building practices; 
c) Evaluation of the effectiveness of green building policies and their 
impact on environmental health, including the relation of the 
development 
of 
the 
green building 
policies 
to 
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environmental challenges in a particular locality; 
d) Promotion of green building information and education to the 
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public; 
e) Monitor compliance with the provisions of this Act; 
f) Monitor the issuance of "Green Building" certifications by 
authorized accrediting bodies; 
g) Maintain a registry of "Green Building" accrediting bodies, which 
it shall make available to the Rublic; 
h) Maintain a registry of "Green Building" certified government 
institutions, which it shall make available to the public; 
i) Enlist the assistance of other agencies or the private sector to ensure 
the effective and efficient implementation of and strict compliance 
with the provisions of this Act; and 
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j) Exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary for 
or incidental to the attainment of the purposes and objectives of 
this Act. 
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SEC. 7. Green Building Education and Information. - The DPWH shall 
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take measures, including the design, development, and dissemination of 
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information and education materials, to promote and implement this Act. It shall 
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ensure that objective, accurate, comprehensive, and updated information on 
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green building policies and standards are available at all times not only to 
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government institutions but also to the general public. 
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SEC. 8. 
Green Building Certification. -
Upon a covered agency's 
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satisfaction of green building standards, as provided for under this Act, the 
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Green Building Management Standard, and the implementing rules and 
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regulations, a "Green Building" certification shall be issued. 
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SEC. 9 Funding Provision. - The Secretary of the DPWH shall include in 
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the Department's programs the prompt implementation of this Act, funding of 
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which shall be provided for in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 10. Repealing Clause . .;. All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
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orders, rules and regulations, or portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are 
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 11. Separability Clause. If any part of provision of this Act shall be 
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held unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not 
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 12. EffectiVity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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