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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to Article 11, Section 16 ofthe 1987 Constitution: 
“The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a bdanced and 
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” 
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) deals with the content of interior air that could affect health 
and comfort of building occupants. The IAQ may be compromised by microbial contaminants 
(mold, bacteria), chemicals (such as carbon monoxide, radon), allergens, or any mass or energy 
stressor that can induce health effects. Indoor air pollutants are associated with many health risks 
including asthma. 
Recent findings have demonstrated that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air 
(albeit with different pollutants). In fact, indoor air is often a greater health hazard than the 
corresponding outdoor setting. Using ventilation to dilute contaminants, filtration, and source 
control are the primary methods for improving indoor air quality in most buildings. 
In accordance with the Constitutional provision above, the National Government must set 
policy directions with regard to indoor air quality. This bill addresses the issue head on. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROTECT INDOOR AIR QUALITY 
Be it enucted by the Senate and House OjRepvesentutives of the Philippines in Congress 
assern bled: 
SECTION 1. Definition. As used in this article: 
A. “Building” means an occupied structure of greater than twenty-five thousand square feet of 
floor space, using mechanical ventilation providing outdoor air, re-circulated air, or a mixture of 
outdoor and re-circulated air, excluding a residential structure containing six or fewer dwelling 
units. 
B. “Owner” means any individual, partnership, corporation, mortgagee, assignee of rents, 
receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, or any other person, firm or corporation in control of a 
building. 
SECTION 2. Responsibilities of the building owner. 
A. The owner of a building shall be responsible for developing and maintaining an indoor air 
quality plan for the building; the plan shall contain the following components: 
I. A detailed description of the building’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning 
system, its operation, and procedures and schedules for necessary maintenance; 
11. An inventory of toxic substances used in the building, including copies of applicable 
material safety data sheet; 
111. A plan detailing modifications and renovation on indoor air quality ventilation and 
other factors relevant to air quality; 
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IV. Prior to commencing construction or renovation projects, a plan to minimize 
exposure to contaminants and mitigate adverse effects on building occupants during and after 
construction or renovation; 
V. A procedure for maintaining and providing access (including inspection and 
copying) to written records or logs pursuant to paragraph B of this section; and 
VI. A system to respond to requests for information, investigate and respond to 
complaints of indoor air quality problems and adverse health effects by occupants consistent 
with paragraph D of this section. 
B. The owner shall be responsible for developing and maintaining the following records and logs 
as part of the indoor air quality plan: 
I. A written record of maintenance performed on the building’s heating, ventilation, and 
air-conditioning system; 
11. A log of pesticide use and application, including copies of applicable material safety 
data sheets. 
111. A written record of modifications and renovations to the building, including but not 
limited to modification of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, construction and 
modifications of walls and interior space which could affect air flow to building occupants; and 
IV. A log of complaints of indoor air quality problems and reports of adverse health 
effects and actions and responses to complaints and reports. 
C. The owner of a building shall designate a person or group of persons who shall be responsible 
for coordinating the indoor air quality plan including: 
I. Operating and maintaining the building’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning 
system; 
11. Maintaining the indoor air quality plan pursuant to paragraph A of this section; 
developing and maintaining the written records and logs pursuant to paragraph B of this 
subdivision; and 
111. Receiving and responding to complaints of indoor air quality problems and requests 
for infomiation pursuant to paragraph D of this section. 
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section. 
D. The owner of the building shall post in the lobby of the building, or conspicuously where 
building occupants have access to it, a notice stating the procedures for making requests and 
complaints under this paragraph and the name and telephone number of the person or persons 
designated pursuant to paragraph C of this section. 
E. A building owner may contract with a management company, lessee or other party responsible 
for the building’s operation and maintenance to carry out the responsibilities enumerated in this 
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F. A building owner shall provide building occupants with reasonable access to the indoor 
quality plan pursuant to paragraph A of this section; provided, however, that a building owner 
may exclude from that access any information the disclosure of which would pose a security risk. 
G. Where the owner operates more than one similar building on a contiguous site, the owner may 
prepare a plan which includes more than one building. 
SECTION 3. Indoor Air Quality Standards. Within one year after this Act shall take 
effect, the Department of Health, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Employment, 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Interior and Local 
Government, shall adopt regulations establishing standards of ventilation for new and existing 
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buildings. The standards shall take into consideration building arrangement, structure, size, use, 
age, and occupancy. The Department of Health may establish a procedure where any provision 
or requirement of the indoor air quality regulations may be varied or modified in cases where 
strict compliance would entail practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship or would otherwise 
be unwarranted. Request for variance shall be resolved within sixty days of the date of 
application unless a longer period is required for good cause shown. 
SECTION 4. Indoor Air Investigation. Upon receipt of a complaint or complaints 
excluding complaints in relation to temperature of indoor air quality relating to a building from 
three or more occupants of the building or, from a tenant of all or part of the building, the 
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building owner shall initiate an investigation of the complaint or complaints. The building owner 
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shall respond in writing within thirty days indicating the results of the initial investigation and 
any corrective actions taken or pending. 
SECTION 5. Training Course. The Department of Health, in consultation with the 
Department of Labor, and nationally recognized societies of industrial hygiene, fire prevention 
and heating, refrigeration and air-conditioning, shall model courses in the operation and 
maintenance of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. The Secretary of Health shall 
have authority to approve programs in heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning operation and 
maintenance and shall maintain a list of approved programs, which shall be made, available to 
interested parties upon request. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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Approved, 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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