THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
". 
S. No. 
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NTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The burden of enforcing environmental laws has always been a pressing rebponsibility of 
the Government. While this is as it should be, vested and interest groups and those who benefit 
much from the exploitation and over-utilization of the environment have escaped responsibility. 
For years, cases of air, land and water pollution due to industrial wastes have been taking 
a great toll on man and nature. Chemicals and their by-products, metal and glass scraps, have 
increased environmental risks and endanger numerous communities. 
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Many industries abuse natural resources such as land, water, plant and wildlife species 
for profit, in violation of law or without giving due consideration to the people dependent OII 
these resources for survival. 
In communities where industries exist and in areas where there are economic and 
commercial activities, it is always the residents and their means of livelihood that are affected in 
cases of grave ecological disasters resulting from such activities. 
Rivers and other bodies of water, a source of daily income and sustenance to many of our 
people, are oftentimes polluted due to toxic wastes emitted by factories. There are cases where 
villages lose fertile land areas needed for food production because of the extractive methods of 
mines and quarries. Realization of these tragedies came too late to the great prejudice and 
suffering of the residents of the locality. 
It is therefore imperative that existing industries, companies, or my other firm engaged in 
any economic activity should assume a measure of responsibility concerning the exploitation of 
natural resources. 
The enactment of this bill is highly recommended. 
MANUEL B. VI LAR, JR 
t 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
"04 <u;,: 
-53 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
4 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
AN ACT TO REQUIRE INDUSTRIES, FACTORIES, COMPANIES, OR ANY 
INSTITUTION, FIR_M OR ESTABLISHMENT USING CHEMICALS AND THEIR BY- 
PRODUCTS 
FOR PRODUCTION, TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE A co 
ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION PROGRAM 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SEC. 
1. Title. 
- This Act shall be known and referred to as tile "Community 
Environmental Information Program Act of 2004." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to maintain 
the ecological balance of nature by providing measures that will protect ecological systems 
necessary for the survival of humankind, and instill among groups of people deriving raw 
materials fiom natural resources the responsibility of protecting the environmen . 
SEC. 3. Coverage. - This Act covers all industries, corporations, business firms and 
establishments that derive raw materials, whether solid, liquid or gas; from the communities or 
produce and discard their by-products n the community. 
SEC. 4. Purpose. - The Act intends to: 
(a) Require all corporations, government or private, to: 
(1) Take the responsibility of ensuring that all its activities or 
I xations for production 
do not pollute water and land bodies within, near or adjacent to its immediate location 
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and do not deplete existing natural resources bases for raw materials, and thus endanger 
the ecological balance of community ecosystems; 
(2) Orient the residents of communities of the possible risks of the chemicals being used 
for production as well as the type ad volume of the raw materials taken from the 
environment for use in it production; and 
(3) Educate the residents of communities on the safety measures being adopted by the 
industries or corporations in cases of accidents. 
(b) Enable community residents to protect the environment by being informed and taking 
part in monitoring the compliance of industries to this Act. 
SEC. 5. Implementation. - Implementation of this Act shall consider the following 
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processes: 
(a) Information dissemination. - Through reading materials distribution in the form of one- 
page leaflets, preferably written in Filipino or the local dialect. 
(b) Format of Publication. - An industry, corporation, ration, and the like, shall publish a 
document providing the following information: 
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(1) Name of the Industry or Corporation; 
(2) Address; 
(3) Owner or Operator; 
(4) Chemicals used - type, physical characteristics, form, characteristics, and the like; 
(5) Type and volume of raw materials or natural resources used -wale bodies, land, plant 
and wildlife; 
(6) By-products and wastes generated, their volume and their manner of disposal; 


(7) Safety measures adopted by the company especially in cases of emergency. 
SEC. 
6. 
Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Environment and Natyal 
Resources, in consultation with the local government units, shall promulgate the rules and 
regulations to implement this Act and monitor their violations or compliance thereof. 
SEC. 7. Penalty. - Failure to comply with the provisions of this Act or the rules and 
regulations issued pursuant thereto shall be punishable by a suspension of the license to operate 
and an additional fine amounting to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the monthly operating 
costs until remedial measures have been fulfilled. 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby 
suspended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fiReen (15) days following its 
publication - -  in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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