Ze REPRE: SEN

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bilt No.4.103

Introduced by Pangasinan Fifth District Representative
HON. RAMON N. GUICO JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2025 alone, the Philippines has suffered alarming environmental damage that highlights
the urgent need for stronger ecological safeguards. The dry season brought one of the most severe
El Nifio episodes in recent years, crippling water supply and devastating farmlands in Central
Luzon, Western Visayas, and parts of Mindanao. In July, Typhoon Emong triggered flash floods
and landslides in northern Luzon, with reports linking much of the damage to deforested and mine-
scarred landscapes. These disasters, worsened by years of environmental neglect and weak
‘enforcement, underscore the need to hold destructive industries—particularly large-scale mining—
fully accountable for the long-term harm they inflict.

In response, this measure seeks to increase the fines imposed per violation of Presidential
Decree No. 1586 from 50,000 Pesos to not less than 500,000 Pesos, including the imposition of the

ibility of rehabilitating, restoring, and paying reparations for critically endangered
areas destroyed by these violations to the companies responsible for such unlawful acts.

P.D. 1586, which established the Environmental Impact Statement System has, since 1978,
ensured that the “exigencies of socio-economic undertakings can be reconciled with the
requirements of environmental quality.” However, after more than two decades, the penalties
stipulated on the same need to be escalated, lest we risk the continued flouting of our environmental
laws by mega-corporations whose greed knows not of sustainable development.

Presently, the fine of 0,000 pesos could be written off by large companies as negligible
losses compared to the millions, even billions of Pesos they rake in profiting from the wanton
exploitation of our country’s natural resources. The penalties stipulated in law, therefore, must
become more severe in order to protect the integrity of our natural environment and ultimately, the
interest of our people and their posterity.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

& uh G

7 RECEIVED


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4103

Introduced by Pangasinan Fifth District Representative
HON. RAMON N. GUICO JR.

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 9 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1586 BY INCREASING THE
PENALTIES THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled,

SECTION 1, Section 9 of Presidential Decree 1586 (Environmental Impact Statement
‘System Law) is hereby amended as follows:

Section 9. Penalty for Violation. Any person, corporation, or partnership found
violating Section 4 of this Decree, or the terms and conditions in the issuance of the
Environmental Compliance Certificate, or of the standards, rules and regulations
issued by the National Environmental Protection Council pursuant to this Decree
shall be punished by the suspension or cancellation of his/its certificate and/or a fine
in an amount not [to exceed Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00)] LESS THAN
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000) BUT NOT MORE THAN
TWO MILLION PESOS (P2,000,000) for every violation thereof],] AND
DEPENDING ON THE EFFECT AND DAMAGE IT CAUSED, at the discretion
of the National Environmental Protection Security Council.

IN ADDITION TO THE PENALTIES IMPOSED ON THE PRECEDING
PARAGRAPH AND SUCH OTHER LIABILITIES AS MAY BE ENACTED
UNDER OTHER SPECIAL LAWS, ANY PERSON, PARTNERSHIP OR
CORPORATION FOUND VIOLATING SECTION 4 OF THIS DECREE OR
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE SHALL BE OBLIGED TO SHOULDER THE
FULL COST OF THE REHABILITATION, REPARATION, OR
RESTORATION OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY ITS VIOLATION.

SEC. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations.—The Secretary of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 3. . Repealing Clause— All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or other
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause-—Should any provision herein be declared unconstitutional,
the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.


1 SEC. 5. Effectivity.—This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
2 Official Gazette in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,