THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Fivst Regular Session 
. .  
A 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANLTEL B. VELAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The alarming rate of environmental degradation today underscores the need to preserve 
and protect the ecological foundation of Mother Earth. 
The environmental issues and concerns besetting us, like ozone layer depletion and global 
warming, are becoming to technical and complicated for the general public to understand. There 
is a 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 should be 
given to the people to enable them to understand the consequences of the increasing demands of 
infrastructure development on the environment, and their responsibility to maintain 
environmental stability so that future generations may enjoy their share of the fruits of the earth. 
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 public policy on environmental issues. Through popularization of the 
issues, private initiative in the protection of the environment will be enhanced. Hence, its 
immediate passage is most urgently requested. 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
7 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
AN ACT CREATING THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, 
DEFINING IT’S FUNCTION§ AND APPROPRIATING FUND§ THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assern bled: 
SECTION 1. Short title - this Act shall be known as the “National Environmental 
Education Act of 2004.” 
SEC. 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 off-shore areas and other natural resources. The State shall protect and enhance the 
quality of the environment and provide 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 but for future generations as well. 
SEC. 3. Creation of the Office of Environmental Education - there is hereby created an 
office of environmental education, (hereinafter referred to as the OFFICE), which shall be regular 
division of the Department of Environment and Natural resources. 
SEC. 4. Mandate - The Office shall be the primary government agency responsible for 
the environmental education and training of all sectors of the society. 
SEC. 5. Functions and Responsibilities - In pursuit of it’s mandate the OFFICE shall 
have the following functions and responsibilities: 
a) develop and implement a national integrated and comprehensive action plan for 
environmental education and training: 
b) encourage understanding of policies and support of activities .designed to enhanced 
environmental quality and maintain ecological balance: 
c) formulate and prescribe expanded and varied program of curriculum development to 
include value formation and behavioral change on environmental concerned issues for schools, 
colleges and universities; 
d) provide support for the initiation and maintenance of programs for environmental 
education for the general public; 


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e) design and conduct massive information dissemination campaigns and environmental 
education and training programs; 
f) exercise such other functions as may be necessary in pursuit of it’s mandate; 
g) deputize or request the assistance of appropriate government agencies, local 
government units and non-governmental organizations for the purpose of implementing this Act. 
SEC. 6. Organization - the authority and the responsibility for the implementation of the 
mandate of the OFFICE and the exercise of its fimctions 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. He 
shall: 
exercise overall supervision and control relative to the functions and 
activities of the OFFICE; 
a> 
b) 
establish policies and standards for the efficient and effective cooperation 
of the OFFICE in accordance with the overall program of the 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 
appropriately assigned by the President or the Secretary of the Department of Environment and 
Natural resources. 
SEC. 7. Staff of the Authority - 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 
to their salaries and remunerations, subject tot the provisions of the Civil Service Law. 
SEC. 8. National, Environmental Education Advisory Council - There is hereby created a 
National Environmental Education, and Advisory Council composed of representatives 
appointed by the respective Department SecretaryRJniversity 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 
The Advisory Council shall be primary 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. 
SEC. 9. Transitory Provision - The Secretary of Environment and natural Resources shall 
oversee the implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity. 


SEC. 10. Appropriations - 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 appropriations shall be included in the General 
Appropriations Act for the fiscal year immediately following the effectivity of this Act and every 
year thereafter. 
SEC. 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 effect. 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause - All acts, decrees, general orders, letters of instructions, 
regulations and circulars, or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 13. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in two 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,