'THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF 1HE REPIJBLIC ) 
Third IZegular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
7 
-4 ? 7 
', 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The environments in our homes and commnnitics pose long-tcrm risks to our health. 
Whether it be the location of a toxic waste dump, lrafic patterns allouing diesel-powered trucks 
to rumble past a school, or canccr-causing formaldehyde in our homes and offices, the places we 
live and work in can cause real hazards to our health. 
It is important for the governnient to provide support for efforts to improve community 
design and will issue grants to allow local governments and coinmunities to address 
environmental health hazards in the grassroots level. 
It is also important to ensure that 
coinmunities are involved in public health decisions that directly impact them. 
'I'his bill seeks to require government agencies to support health impact asscssmcnts and 
take other actions to improve health and the environmental quality ol' communitics. 


‘TlHIKIEEN’~l~1 
CONGRMS OF THE REPIlB1,IC ) 
01: THE PHILII’PINES 
1 
Third lZegular Session 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO SUPI’OIVI’ HEALTH IMPACT 
ASSBSSMI2NTS ANI) ’TAKE O‘1IIBR AC‘I’IONS TO IMPIiOVll ’HIl~ 
III~AI,~I~II 
AND ‘1111: 
ENVJliONMHNI’ALz QLJAJ,ITY OF COMMlJN17‘JBS 
Re it enacted by /he Senale and lhe Iiouse of Representulives of lhe Philippines in 
Congress ussemhled: 
SEC‘I’ION 1. Slzorl Title. - ‘lhis Act shall be known as the “1 lcaltliy Places Act of 2007.” 
SIICTION 2. I>eclurution of’I’olicy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and advance 
the right of the people to a balanced and healthrul ecology in accord with the rhythm and 
harmony of nature. I’ursuant to this policy, this Act shall require government agencies lo support 
health impact assessments and take other actions to improve the health and the environincntal 
quality of communities. 
SEC‘I’ION 3. fkfinilion of’7’crnzs. - For purposcs of this Act, the term: 
(A) “Built environment” meals an environnient consisting or all buildings, spaces, and 
products that are created or modified by people, including homes, schools. 
workplaces, parks and recreation areas, greenways, business areas. aid 
transportation systems; electric transmission lines; waste disposal sites: and land- 
use planiiiiig and policies that impact urban, rural, and suburban communities; 
(13) 
“tnvironmental health” means the health and well-being of a population as affected 
by thc direct pathological effccts of chemicals, radiation, and sonic biological 
agcnts; and the effects of the broad physical, psychological, social, and aesthetic 


enviroiunen 1; 
"Eligible entity" means any unit of the national goverinncnt or local govcrnnients 
the jurisdiction of which includes individuals or populatioiis the health of which are 
or will be affected by an activity or a proposed activity. 
(C) 
The tern1 shall also mean a local community that bears a disproportionalc 
burden of exposure to cnvironrnental health hazards; has cstablished a coalition 
with not less than one (1) community-based organization; and with not less than one 
(1) public hcalth entity; hcalth care provider organization; or acadcmic institution; 
ensures planned activities and funding streams are coordinated to iniprove 
community health; and submits an application; 
(I)) "Eligible institution'" means a public or private nonprofit institnlion that submits to 
the Secretary of 1Iealth an application for a grant under thc grant program at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such agreements, assurances, and information 
as the Secretary may require; a 
(E) "Health" means, but is not limited to, cludes levels of physical ricctivity; 
consumption of nutritional foods; rates of crime; air, watcr, and soil quality; risk of 
injury; accessibility to healthcare services; aid other indicators as determined 
appropriate by the Secretary of Ilcalth; and 
Health impact assessment" means aiy combination of procedures, methods, tools, 
and means used under section 4 to analyze the actual or potential effccts of a policy, 
program, or project on the health of a population, including the distribution of those 
cffects within the population. 
(F) 
SI?C1'ION 4. In1er-.4gcncy Working Group on Ihvironmenful ffeulth. - 'fhc Sccrctary of 
Health, in coordination with the Secretary ol' Environment and Natural Resources, shall establish 
an Inter-Agency Working Group to discuss environn~ental health conccrns, particularly coiicerns 
disproportionately affecting disadvantaged populations. 
The Inter-Agency Working Group shall be composed of a rcprescntativc from each 
department or government agency. as appointed by the head of the department or government 


agency, that has jurisdiction over, or is affected by, cnvironniental policies and projects. 
including the 
(A) Department of Agriculture; 
(B) 
(C) Department ol’National Defense; 
(I)) 1)epartnient of Education; 
(E) Department of Energy; 
(I;) 
Dcpartmcnt of llealth; 
(G) Departinelit of Interior and Local Government; 
(11) Department of Labor and €mployinent; 
(I) 
Department of Department of Transportation and Communications; 
(J) 
Departmcnt of Ihvironmcnt and Natural Resources; and 
(K) Such other government agencies as the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of 
Environment and Natural Resources shall jointly determine to be appropriate. 
Dcpartmcnt o f  Trade and Industry; 
The Inter-Agency Working Group shall 
(A) Facilitate communication and partnership on environmental hcaltli-related projccts 
and policies lo generate a better understanding of tlie interactions between policy 
areas; and to raise awareness of the relevance of health across policy arcas to ensure 
that the potential positive aid negative health consequences of decisions arc not 
ovcrlooked; 
(B) Serve as a centralized mechanism lo coordinate a natioiial effort to discuss and 
evaluatc evidence and knowlcdge on the rclationship between the general 
environment aid the health of the population of the Philippines; determine the 
range of effcctivc, feasiblc, and comprchensivc actions to irnprovc cnviromncntal 
health; and examine and better address the influence of social and environmental 
detcrniinants of health; 
(C) Survey departments and government agencies to determine which policies are 
effcctive in encouraging, and how best to Facilitate outrcach without duplicating, 
efforts relating to environmental health promotion; 


Establish specitic goals within and across departments and government agencies ibr 
eiivironniental health promotion, including determinations or accountability for 
reaching those goals; 
Ilevclop a strategy for allocating responsibilitics and ensuring participation in 
environmental health promotions, particularly in the case of competing agency 
priorities; 
Coordinate plans to communicate research results relating to cnvironniental health 
to eiiablc rcportiiig aid outreach activities to produce niorc r~scful and tinicly 
information; 
Iistablish an interdisciplinary committee to continue research efforts to furthcr 
understrtnd the relationship between the built environment and health fkactors, 
including air quality, physical activity Icvcls, housing quality, access to primary 
health care practitioners and health care facilities, injury risk, and availability of 
nutritional, frcsh food, that coordinates the expertise of the public health. urban 
planning, and transportation communities; 
I>evelop an appropriate research agenda for deparlmcnts and governmcnt agencies 
to support longitudinal studies; rapid-response capability to evaluate imtural 
conditions and occurrences and extensions of national databascs; and to review 
evaluation and economic data relating to the impact of governnieiit interventions on 
tlic prevention of cnvironmental liealth concerns; 
Initiate environmental health impact demonstration projects to develop integrated 
placc-bascd models for addressing community qual ity-of-life issues; 
Provide a description of evidence-based best practices, model programs, effective 
guidclines, and other strategics for promoting cnviroiimentd hcalth; 
Male recomniendatioiis to improve government el'forts relating to environmentd 
health promotion and to ensure government cfforts are consistent with available 
standards and evidence and other programs in cxistcnce as ol' the date of enactment 
of this Act; 
Monitor government progress in meeting specific enviroimental health promotion 


goals; 
(M) Assist in cnsuring, to the niaxiinutn cxtcnt practicable, intcgration of the impact of 
environniental policies, programs, and activities ol'the government: 
(N) Assist in the expansion of national public hcaltli and trawl surveys to provide niorc 
detailed infornmtion about the connection between the built environinent and 
health; 
(0) Assist in the development of interdisciplinary education program to train 
professionals in conducting recommended rcscarch; and to prcparc practitioncrs 
with appropriate skills at the intersection ol' physical activity, public hcalth, 
transportation, and urbrln planning; and 
Assist the Secretary of Health with the development of guidance for the assessment 
of the potential health effects of land use, housing, and transportation policy and 
plans. 
(P) 
The Intcr-Agency Working Group shall meet at least three (3) tinics cach year. 
The Secretary of Health shall sponsor an annual conference on environniental health and 
hcaltli disparities to enhance coordination, build partnerships, and share best practices in 
environmental health data collection, analysis, and reporting. 
SECTION 5. Ifeulth ItlZpUC6 ~1.s.ses.smenf.s. - The Secretary of Health shall establish a 
program focused on advancing the field of hcalth inipacl assessment, including collccting and 
disseminating best practices; administering capzlcity building grants; providing technical 
assistance and training; conducting evaluations; awarding competitive extramural research 
grants. I3e shall likewise develop guidance for the conduct health impact assessinents and 
establish a grant program to allow eligiblc entities to conduct hcalth impact asscssmcnts. 
The Secretary of Health, in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Working Group, shall 
develop guidance for the assessment 01' the potential health effects of land usc, housing, and 
transportation policy 'and plans, including background on international efforts to bridge urban 
planning and public hcalth institutions and disciplincs, including a review of hcalth impact 
assessment best practices internationally; evidence-based causal pathways that link urban 


planning, ~ransportalion, and housing policy and objectives to human health objectives; data 
rcsourccs and quantitative and qualitative forecasting incthods to evaluate both the status of 
health determinants and health effects; and best practices for inclusive public involvemcnt in 
planning decision-making. 
The Secretary of' I-Iealth, shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall 
provide funding and technical assistancc lo eligible entities to prepare hcalth impact asscssnients 
to ensure that appropriate health factors are taken into consideration as early as practicable 
during any planning, rcvicw, or dccision-making process; and to cvalnatc tlic cffect on the hcalth 
of individuals and populations, and on social and economic development, of' decisions made 
outside of the health sector that rcsnlt in modifications of a physical or social environment. 
To receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall subniit to thc Secretary of 
I-lcalth an application in accordance with this subsection, in such timc, in such manner, and 
containing such additional information as the Secretary may require. 
An application under this Scction shall include an assessment by thc eligible entity of the 
probability that an applicable activity or proposed activity will have at least 1 significant, adverse 
health effect on an individual or population in the jurisdiction of thc cligiblc entity, bascd on thc 
criteria described in subparagraph. 
The criteria referred to in the preceding paragraph include, with rcspcct to the applicable 
activity or proposed activity any 
(A) Substantial adverse effect on existing air quality, ground or surface water quality 
or quantity, or traffic or noise levels: a significant habitat arm; physical activity: 
injury; nicntal hcalth; social capital; acccssibility; the character or quality of an 
important historical, archeological, architectural, or aesthetic resource (including 
neighborhood character) of the coinniuiiity of thc eligible cntity or any other 
natural resource; 
(13) Increase in solid wastc production; or problems relating to crosion, flooding, 
leaching, or drainage; any requirement that a large quantity of vegelation or fauna 
be rcinoved or destroyed; and 
(C) C:onl'lict with the plans or goals of the cominunity of the eligible entity: 


(D) Major change in the quantity or type of energy used by the community of the 
cligiblc entity; 
(E) Hazard presented to human health; 
(1:) Substantial chaiigc in the use. or intensity of use. of land in the jurisdiction of the 
eligible entity, including agricultural, open space, aid recreatioiial uses; 
(G) Probability that the activity or proposed activity will result in an increase in 
tourism in the jurisdiction ofthe eligible entity: 
(1-1) Substantial, adverse aggregate impact on environmental hcalth resulting from 
changes caused by the activity or proposed activity to two (2) or more elements 
of thc environment; or two (2) or more related actions carried out under the 
activity or proposed activity; and 
(I) Otlicr significant change of concern. as dctcrmincd by the cligiblc entity. 
In making an assessment under this Scction, an eligible entity may take into consideration 
any reasonable, direct, indirect, or cumulative effect relating to the applicable activity or 
proposed activity, including the effect of any action that is included in thc long-range plan 
relating to the activity or proposed activity; likely to be carried out in coordination with the 
activity or proposcd activity; dependent on the occurrence of the activity or proposed activity; or 
likely to have a disproportionate impact on disadvantaged populations. 
[ii preparing a health innpact asscssincnt under this subscction, an eligible cntity shall 
follow guidelines developed by the Secretary of Health, in collaboration with the Inter-Agency 
Working Group, that will bc cstablishcd not later than 1 year after the datc of enactment of this 
Act; and will be made piiblicly available at the annual conference described in Section 3(d)(2); 
and may cstablish a balmcc, as the eligible entity determines to be appropriate, betwcen the use 
of rigorous methods requiring special skills or increased use of resources; and expedient, cost- 
effcctivc measures. 
Before preparing and submitting to the Secretary of Health a final health impact 
assessment, an cligible entity shall reyucst and take into consideration public and agencp 
comments, in accordance with this Section. 


Not later than thirty (30) days after the date on which a draft health impact assessment is 
completed, an eligible cntity shall submit the draft health impact assessment to cach dcpaitmcnt 
and government agency, and local government, that has jurisdiction with respect to the activity 
or proposed activity to which the health impact assessment applies; has spccial knowledge with 
respect to an environniental or health impact of the activity or proposed activity; or is authorized 
to develop or enforce any environincntal standard relating to the activity or proposed activity. 
SECTION 6. I-leulth h p a c t  Assessnzenl Dnlubuse. - Thc Sccrctary, shall cstahlish and 
maintain a health impact assessment database, including a catalog of health impact assessments 
received under this Section; an inventory of tools used by eligible entities to prepare draft and 
final health impact assessments; and guidruice for eligible entities with respect to the selection or 
appropriate tools. 
SECTION 7. Grunf Progrum. -- The Secretary of Health shall establish a grant program 
undcr which eligible entities shall receive grants to conduct environincntal hcalth iniprovemcnt 
activities. 
To receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to thc 
Secretary of Health at such lime, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
Sccrctary may require. An eligible entity may use a grant undcr this Scction to promote 
environmental health; and to address environmental health disparities. 
SECTION 8. Additioncrl Reseurch on \he Relulionship Befween the Iluill Environnient 
and lhe Health of Conzmzinily Resident.$. - The Secretary shall provide grants to eligible 
institutions to conduct and coordinate research on the built environment and its inlluence on 
individual and population-based health. He or she shall support research that investigates and 
delines the causal linlcs between all aspects ol' the built environment and the health ol' residents; 
examines the extent of the impact of the built environment (including the various characteristics 
of the built environment) on the health of residents; the variance in the health of residents by 
location such as inncr cities, inncr suhurbs, and outer suburbs; and population subgroup (such as 
children, the elderly, the disadvantaged); or the importance of the built eiivironnient to the total 


health of residents, which is the primary variable ol' interest li'oni a public bcalth pcrspective; 
distinguishes carefully between pcrsonal attitudes and choices and cxternal influences on 
observed behavior to determine how much an observed association between the built 
environment and the health of residents, versus the lifestyle prcfcrcnces of tbc peoplc that choose 
to live in the neighborhood, reflects the physical cliaracteristics ol' the neighborhood; identifies 
or dcvelops effcctivc intervention strategies to promote better hcalth among rcsidcnts with a 
focus on behavioral interventions and enhancernents ol' the built environment that promote 
increased use by residcnts; and in developing the intcrvcntion stratcgics which will rcach out to 
high-risk populations, including low-income urban and rural communities. 
In providing assistance under the grant program under this Section, the Secretary of 
Health shall give priority lo research that incorporales interdisciplinary approaches; or the 
cxpcrtisc of the public health, physical activity, urban planning, and transportation research 
communities in the United Stales aid abroad. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - In 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. 
SECTION 10. 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. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/jab