THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
43 
4 
S.B. No. 
& 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
The alarming 
the need to protect 
EXPLANAT.ORY 'NOTE 
rate of environmental degradation merits 
and preserve the ecological foundation 
our increasing concern for 
of Mother Earth. For the 
past few years, the science of environment has become more and more complex. 
Environmental issues and concerns, like ozone depletion and global warming, 
are becoming too technical and complicated for the general public to understand. There 
-is an urgent need to extensively educate the  people to instill and promote public 
awareness of the need to enhance environmental quality and maintain ecological 
balance. 
Adequate assistance is imperative to enable them to understand the 
consequences of the increasing demands of development on the environment and its 
resources, and their responsibility to maintain environmental stability so that future 
generations may enjoy their share of the environment's benefits and rewards. In so 
doing, wanton destruction of the environment may thus be prevented and sustainable 
development achieved. 
This bill will create a massive and comprehensive education and training 
campaign needed for the success of lpublic policy on environmental issues. Through 
popularization of the issues, it is hoped that private initiative in the protection of the 
environment will be enhanced. Hence, its immediate passage is urgently requested. 
4 
GGO EJERCITO ESTRADA 
< J Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
.
I
 
..Y 
4 
%
.
 
SENATE 
4 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by !Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE OFFICE OF ENVIROWMENTAL EDUCATION, DEFINING ITS 
FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE, 
AND FORiOTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and ‘House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the National 
Environmental Education Act of 2004. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy- It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to ensure the sustainable use, development, management, renewal and conservation of 
the country’s forest, mineral, land, offshore areas and other natural resources, including 
the protection and enhancement of the quality of the environment, and equitable access 
of the different segments of the population to the development and use of the country’s 
natural resources, not only for the present generation as well as. 
In order to efficiently sustain this commitment, a program of environmental 
education to instill and promote public awareness on environmental issues is 
necessary. 
SECTION 3. Creafion of the Office of Environmenfal Education. - There is 
hereby created an Office of enviropment Education, hereinafter referred to as the 
OFFICE which shall be a regular division of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources. 
SECTION 4. Mandafe. - The OFFICE shall be the primary government agency 
responsible for the environmental education and training of all sectors of society. 


SECTION 5. Functions andl Responsibilities. - In pursuit of its mandate, the 
OFFICE shall have the following functions and responsibilities: 
a. develop and implement a1 national integrated and comprehensive action plan 
for environmental education and training: 
b. encourage understanding' of policies and support activities designed to 
enhance environmental quality and maintain ecological balance; 
c. formulate and prescribed an expanded and varied program of curriculum 
development to include value formation and behavioral change on environment 
concerns and issues for schools, college and universities; 
d. provide support for the 'initiation and maintenance of programs for 
environmental education for the general public; 
e. design and conduct massive information dissemination campaign and 
environmental education and training programs; 
f. deputized or request the assistance of appropriate government agencies, local 
government units and non-governmental organizations for the purpose of implementing 
this Act; 
g. exercise such other functionlas may be'necessary in pursuit of its mandate. 
SECTION 6. Organization. - The authority and the responsibility for the 
implementation of the mandate of the OFFICE and the exercise of its function and 
responsibilities shall be vested in the Executive Director of the Office. He shall be 
appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 
The Executive Director shall have the following functions: 
a. exercise overall supervision and control relative to the functions and activities 
of the OFFICE; 
b. establish policies and standards for the efficient and effective operation of the 
OFFICE in accordance with the overall program of government; 
c. implement rules, regulations and other issuances necessary in executing 
policies, plans, projects and programs of the OFFICE; 
d. perform such other functions as may be provided by law or as approximately 
assigned by the President or the Secretary of the Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources. 
SECTION 7. Staff of fhe Authorify. - To achieve its desired goals and 
objectives, the OFFICE, through the Executive Director, shall organize its working staff 
of not less than ten employees, fix their salaries and remunerations, subject to the 
provisions of the Civil Service Law. 


SECTION 8. National Environment Education Advisory Council. - There is 
hereby created a National Environmental Education Advisory Council composed of 
representatives appointed by the respective Department Secretary/University President, 
who shall serve as Ex-Officio members, from the following agencies: 
a. Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
b. Department of Education, Culture and Sports 
c. Department of Science and Technology 
d. Philippine Information Agency 
e. University of the Philippines I 
The Advisory Council shall be primarily tasked to advise the Executive Director 
on the design and promulgation of, policies, methods, techniques, programs and 
projects relative to environmental education and training, and to monitor and evaluate 
the overall performance of the OFFICE and recommend necessary measures thereon. 
SECTION 9. Transitory Provision. - The Secretary of Environment and 
Natural Resources shall oversee the implementation of this Act within 90 days after its 
effectivity. 
SECTION I O .  Appropriafions.i - The Amount necessary for the implementation 
of this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year appropriations of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources. ,The succeeding appropriation for the Office shall 
be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act for the fiscal year immediately 
following the effectivity of this Act and every year Ithereafter. 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If for any cause, any part of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions shall remain in force and in effect. 
SECTION 12- Repealing Clause. - All acts; decrees, general orders, letters of 
instruction, regulations and circulars; or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,