FIFTEENTB CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENf94 0 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
J 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XIII, Section II, first sentence, of the Constitution provides: 
"The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other 
social services available to all the people at affordable cost." 
While the Constitution tasks the State to ensure that the populace will be able to afford 
essential health services, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported 
that 13,536 Filipino nurses went overseas in 2001, almost double the previous year's exodus of 
7,683 nurses. The 2001 figure is the highest ever recorded. The same year, only 4,430 students 
passed the Nursing Board Examination. This statistics would show that we are steadily losing 
skilled medical professionals, specifically the nurses. 
In a Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCU) report, among the reasons cited 
by health workers bound for abroad are political instability, corruption and the need for political 
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backing in order to get a job or a promotion. While they cite economic reasons as the biggest 
factor, they also deplore the long hours of work required of them. 
This bill, while answering only the hours of work factor, hopefully will be the seed that 
will address the continuing flight of our country's health care professionals to other lands.' 
1 This bIll was originally filed during the 14'h Congress 1" Regular Session 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1740 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
) 
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AN ACT 
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REQUIRING DISCLOSURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD OF APPLICANTS 
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FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:' 
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SECTION 1. Coverage - This Act covers all application for an Environmental 
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Compliance Certificate (ECC) under P.D. 1586. (Establishing an Environmental Impact 
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Statement System Including Other Environmental Management Related Measures and for Other 
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Purposes). 
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SECTION 2. Record of Compliance - Every application for an Environmental 
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Compliance Certificate under P.D. 1586 shall include an inquiry on the following information 
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regarding the applicant's record of compliance: 
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1. Does the applicant hold another Environmental Compliance Certificate? 
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2. Has the applicant been denied an ECC or has the applicant had an ECC revoked or 
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suspended? 
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3. Has the applicant been the subject or is the subject of any proceeding involving 
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environmental issues? 
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4. Has the applicant, and if the applicant is a corporation, has any officer, director, or 
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large stockholder (Owner of 25% or more stock) of the corporation, ever been found in 
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an administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding to have violated any provision of 
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Philippine or foreign environmental laws as well as treaty obligations? 
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5. Does the applicant currently owe any regulatory fees to the Deparlment of 
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Envin;Jnment and Natural Resources or any of its line agencies? 
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SECTION 3. Effect - The aforementioned information shall be considered as a basis for 
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exercising the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' discretion in denying, 
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suspending, modifying, or revoking an ECC in order to protect the environment. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
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thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
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declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not 
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
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following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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