NINETEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez;
paki sie

House Bill No.

EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill was approved by the House of Representatives during the 17" Congress.

The dawn of technological advancement and economic development has taken
undue advantage on the environment and natural resources which have been its main
source of raw materials since the advent of time. Man's focus has been more on fiscal and
industrial success rather than on substantial balance of both progress and environmental
sustainability. To disregard the latter would allow man limitless access to the environment
and natural resources tending to its abuse without being mindful of what may be left for
those in the future.

The practice of Environmental Engineering is not a new venture in the field of
engineering. Instead, it has been in existence for more than four decades and the
Philippines is among the few countries which have not yet embraced the promise of
professionalizing its practice. Environmental Engineering is defined by the United States
Office of Personnel Management as a professional engineering work to protect or improve
air, land and water resources in order to provide a clean and healthful environment.

Thus, this bill seeks to professionalize the practice of environmental engineering in
the Philippines to advance the cause of a balanced and healthful environment in the midst of
industrial and economic growth. Its practice allows for capitalists and investors to explore
avenues of economic growth without posing serious detrimental effects to the environment
and thus harmonizing progress with environmental sustainability.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ



NINETEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

_Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriquez _

cn 2808

House Bill No.

AN ACT
REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING IN THE
PHILIPPINES, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

ARTICLE!
TITLE, DECLARATION OF STATE POLICY, COVERAGE,
DEFINITION OF TERMS, AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE

SECTION 4. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Environmental Engineering Law of
the Philippines’.

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. The State recognizes the importance of environmental
engineers, environmental engineering technologists, and environmental engineering
technicians in nation building and development. As such, it is hereby declared the policy of
the State to recognize, promote, strengthen, and regulate the practice of environmental
engineering profession in the Philippines by instituting measures that will result in relevant
environmental engineering education and enhanced roles and better career prospects for
environmental engineering practitioners. The State shall develop and nurture competent,
productive, and well-rounded environmental engineering practitioners whose standard of
professional practice and service shall be excellent, world-class, and globally competitive
through regulatory measures, programs and activities.

SEC 3. Coverage. This Act shall cover the following aspects of the practice of environmental
engineering profession’

(a) Examination, registration, and licensure of environmental engineering practitioners;

(b) Regulation, supervision, and control of the practice of environmental engineering;

(c) Development, upgrading, and updating of the curriculum of environmental
engineering, environmental engineering technology, and environmental engineering
technician professions, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) and higher educational institutions (HEIs) and other stakeholders;

(d) Development and improvement of the professional competence and practice of
environmental engineering practitioners through, among others, continuing
professional development (CPD); and

(e) Creation of relevant positions for environmental engineers, environmental
engineering technologists and environmental engineering technicians and such other
positions which require the knowledge and services of environmental engineering
practitioners in all levels of local government units, relevant National Government
Agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and  -controlled
corporations (GOCCs) as well as in industries, private establishments, firms,
corporations, and institutions.

SEC 4. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:


(a) Air Pollution Control Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering in
which scientific and engineering concepts and principles are applied to control of air
pollutant emissions, their generation and release from a source, their transport and
transformation in and removal from the atmosphere, and their effects on human
beings, materials, and ecosystems. It covers monitoring and correction of air pollution
problems originating from relatively small areas, such as an industrial park impacted
by one or more emission sources, to those from large areas, such as urban area
impacted by a number of sources and a variety of contaminants. The overall goal is
to improve ambient air quality, to promote healthy environmental quality, and to
protect property and public health;

(©) Air pollution engineering refers to a branch of environmental engineering concerned
with the control of pollutants in; their generation and release from a source, their
transport and transformation in and removal from the atmosphere, and their effects
on human beings, materials, and ecosystems;

(c) Climate Change Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in
response to actual or expected climactic stimuli or their effects, which moderates
harm or exploits beneficial opportunities;

(d) Disaster refers to a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society
involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and
impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using
its own resources;

(e) Disaster Mitigation refers to the lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts of
hazards and related disasters. Mitigation measures encompass engineering
techniques and hazard-resistant construction as well as improved environmental
policies and public awareness, land use planning, and climate change.

() Disaster Risk Management refers to the systematic process of using administrative
directives, organizations, and operational skills and capacities to implement
strategies, policies and improved coping capacities in order to lessen the adverse
impacts of hazards and possibility of disaster;

(g) Disaster Risk Reduction refers to the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks
through systematic efforts to analyze and manage the casual factors of disasters,
including through reduced exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and
property, wise management of land and the environment, and improved
preparedness for adverse events;

(h) Environmental Engineer refers to the environmental engineering practitioner duly
registered with the Board and the PRC to practice environmental engineering as
defined in this Act,

(i) Environmental Engineering refers to the application of scientific environmental
engineering principles to protect and improve the environment, including the air,
water, and land resources, to provide safe water, air, and land for human habitation
and for other organisms and to rehabilitate polluted sites, solid waste management,
environmental impact assessment, environmental risk assessment and management,
atmospheric pollution abatement; noise pollution abatement; conservation and
protection of water resources; classification of water; protection of watersheds; and
management of toxic and hazardous substances and radiological pollution

( The ultimate goal of environmental engineering and other allied and related
professions is the protection of human populations from the effects of adverse
environmental factors and the protection of environments, both local and global, from
potentially deleterious effects of natural and human activities.

(«) Environmental Engineering Technologist refers to an environmental engineering
practitioner duly registered with the Board and the PRC whose competence lies in
the application of environmental engineering technologies. Environmental
engineering technologist shall be a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Environmental
Engineering Technoloay or its equivalent conferred by a school, academy, college or
university in the Philippines or abroad which is recognized by the CHED. An


environmental technologist shall also refer to a sanitary inspector with civil service
eligibility;

()) Environmental Engineering Management refers to the environmental engineers who
can practice Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) as this relate to the application of
environmental engineering principles in an environmental assessment project such
as EIA for chemically related and waste water technologies, ambient air quality
management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk reduction and
management, and other programs and strategies to maintain safe and healthy
environment and protect public health;

(m) Environmental Engineering Technician refers to an environmental engineering
practitioner duly registered with the Board and the PRC whose role is to apply
established methods or techniques of environmental engineering. An environmental
engineering technician shall be a graduate of associate or certificate programs for
environmental engineering technicians offered by a school, academy, college, or
university in the Philippines or abroad which is recognized by the CHED. An
environmental engineering technician shall also refer to a sanitary inspector,

(n) Environmental Health and Safety Engineering refers to the branch of Environmental
Engineering in which scientific and engineering concepts and principles are applied
to the examination of indoor and outdoor environmental quality and condition to
identify, monitor, evaluate and eliminate or control of hazards that expose people,
environment or property to danger;

(0) Environmental Impact Assessment refers to the process that involves predicting and
evaluating the likely impacts of a project including cumulative impacts on the
environment during construction, commissioning, operation, and abandonment. It
also includes designing appropriate preventive, mitigating, and enhancement
measures addressing these consequences to protect the environment and the
community's welfare;

(p) Hazardous Wastes refers to those wastes defined and designated as hazardous
wastes by Republic Act No. 6969, otherwise known as the “Toxic Substances and
Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990;”

(q) Site Remediation refers to the application of scientific and engineering concepts and
principles for environmental quality investigation to characterize the concentrations
and locations of contaminants in the soil and groundwater, conduct of risk
assessment to estimate the health hazards of the contamination to humans and the
ecosystem, and strategies to clean-up the site and return it to safe utilization;

(1) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering and Management refers to the application
of scientific and engineering concepts and principles for the management of
municipal solid and hazardous wastes to protect human health and the environment
and the conservation of limited resources through resource recovery and recycling of
waste materials. It covers research, siting, design, operation, maintenance,
monitoring, evaluation, and upgrading of facilities and related support structures
including the functional elements for the control of the generation, characterization,
onsite storage, collection, segregation, transfer, transport, processing, and recovery,
recycling, and ultimate disposal of waste materials in a manner that is in accord with
the best principles of public health, economics, engineering, conservation, aesthetics,
and other environmental considerations,

(s) Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste Management refers to the process which
involves reducing the amount of hazardous substances produced, treating hazardous
wastes to reduce their toxicity, and applying sound engineering controls to reduce or
eliminate exposures to these wastes;

() Water Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering concerned with
the scientific principles and analysis of water interacts with and moves in all aspects
of the built and natural environment; includes groundwater and surface water quality
mathematical modeling, water quality control design and management. Water supply
engineering within a watershed context involves evaluation the water balance within


a watershed management of watershed environment, determination the available

water supply, the water needed for various needs in that watershed, the seasonal

cycles of water movement through the watershed and design of the systems to treat

water for various uses.

Water Quality Management refers to the protection and improvement of the physical,

chemical, biological, microbiological, and radiological quality of water to maintain its

most beneficial use; and

(v) Wastewater Engineering refers to a branch of Environmental Engineering in which
the basic principles of science and engineering are applied to the water pollution
control. It covers wastewater characterization, analysis and determination of waste
water flow rates and constituent loadings, as well as physical, chemical, and
biological treatment processes, and design, wastewater treatment plant residuals
management, and other issues related to wastewater treatment process performance
and wastewater disposal.

u

SECS. Scope of Practice. The scope of environmental engineering practice shall include
the following

(a) Water and Wastewater Engineering;

(b) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering;

(c) Air Quality and Noise Pollution Control Engineering;

(d) Site Remediation applying scientific environmental engineering principles and
tools;

{e) Environmental Health and Safety Engineering; and

(f) Environmental Engineering Management which covers Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA), Water Quality Management, Ambient Air Quality
Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management, and other programs and strategies to maintain safe
and healthy environment and protect public health involving engineering
applications.

1. Environmental Engineer shall perform the following:

(a) Provide consultation services on environmental engineering;

(b) Plan, design, investigate, evaluate, supervise, and monitor environmental
engineering processes, facilities including sanitary utilities in buildings, and other
related projects; as pertinent to the purposes of this Act, including sanitary
science as applied to buildings

(c) Develop, implement, and manage environmental engineering programs for waste
minimization and recycling, resource recovery, cleaner production, pollution
abatement and mitigation, polluted sites remediation, and other relevant
environmental strategies;

(d) Conduct research in areas relating to or affecting environmental engineering
concerns, including current and emerging contaminants, pollutants, and public
health issues, and create and design innovative solutions;

(e) Teach courses in the environmental engineering and allied programs and serve
as resource person; and

(f) Prepare and certify technical reports in relation to environmental engineering
concerns for compliance to environmental laws and regulations.

2. Environmental Engineering Technologist shall perform the following services under the
supervision of an environmental engineer:

(a) Conduct laboratory and field works pertaining to environmental engineering
projects and undertakings;

(b) Recommend the issuance of environmental and other related permits,
clearances, or licenses, including discharge permits, permit to operate air
pollution source and control installations, and sanitary permits; and

(c) Assist environmental engineers in the practice of the profession.


3. Environmental Engineering Technician shall perform the following services under the
supervision of an environmental engineer and environmental engineering technologist, or
both:

(a) Conduct inspection, investigation, and sampling in pollution control facilities,
sanitary utilities in buildings, public places and establishments, and ambient
environment, which includes air, water bodies, and land;

(b) Perform well-defined functions related to the practice of environmental
engineering as directed by an environmental engineer or environmental
engineering technologist, or both; and

(0) Prepare reports and correspondence pertaining to their activities.

ARTICLE I
BOARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

SEC 6. Creation and Composition of the Board. There is hereby created a Professional

Reguiatory Board of Environmental Engineering, hereinafter referred to as the Board, under

the administrative supervision and control of the Professional Regulation Commission

(PRC), herein referred to as the Commission. The Board shall consist of a Chairperson and

four (4) Members:

(@) The Chairperson and two (2) Members shall be responsible for the environmental
engineering licensure examinations, whereas, the Chairperson and the remaining
fourth (4") and fifth (5") Members shall be responsible for the environmental
engineering technologists and environmental engineering technicians examinations.

(b) The Chairperson and Members of the Board shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines upon the recommendation of the PRC, from a list of at least three (3)
nominees for each position who shall be endorsed by the duly accredited integrated
professional organization (AIPO) of the environmental engineering practitioners in the
Philippines.

SEC 7. Terms of Office. The Chairperson and Members of the Board shall hold office for a
term of three (3) years from the date of appointment, or until their successors shall have
been appointed or qualified. They may, however, be reappointed for only a second term as
may be recommended by the PRC and the AIPO of the environmental engineering
practitioners, Each member shall qualify by taking an oath of office before entering the
performance of the duties. Vacancies in the Board shall be filled by the President of the
Philippines, from the list of candidates endorsed by the PRC, who were chosen and
recommended from the list of nominees submitted by the AIPO of the environmental
engineering practitioners, but for the unexpired term only. At the expiration of the term or
removal of the Board Chairperson, the most senior of the Board member shall temporarily
assume and perform the duties and functions of the Chairperson, until a permanent one is
appointed by the President.

SEC 8. Qualifications and Disqualifications of the Members of the Board. A member of
the Board at the time of the appointment, must possess the following qualifications:

(a) Must be a Filipino citizen and a resident of the Philippines for at least five (5) years;

(0) Must be at least thirty-five (35) years of age, of good moral character, and of proven
integrity in the personal and professional conduct;

(c) Must hold a degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from a
university, school, college, academy or institute in the Philippines that is recognized
by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED): Provided, That the Chairperson
must preferably be a holder of a master’s or a doctorate degree in Environmental
Engineering:

(d) Must be a registered Environmental Engineer with a minimum of seven (7) years of
relevant experience;


(e) Must neither be an official nor a faculty member, nor shall have pecuniary interest in
any university, college, school or institution conferring bachelor’s degree in
environmental engineering for at least three (3) years prior to the appointment. A
person must not be connected with a review center, or with any group or association
which offers or conducts review classes or lectures in preparation for the licensure
examinations, at the time of the appointment and during the incumbency as
Chairperson or Member of the Board.

() Must not be an incumbent officer of the AIPO of the environmental engineering
practitioners within a period of three (3) years prior to nomination; and

(g) Must not have been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude.

SEC9. Compensation and Allowances. The Chairperson and Members of the Board shall
receive compensation and allowances comparable to those being received by the
Chairpersons and Members of existing Boards under the PRC as provided for in the General
Appropriations Act

‘SEC10. Powers, Functions, and Responsibilities of the Board. The Board shall exercise
the following powers, functions and responsibilities:

(a) To promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary in carrying out the
provisions of this Act;

(b) To regulate the registration, licensure and the practice of environmental
engineering, in accordance with the provisions of this Act;

(c) To issue the certificate of registration and professional identification cards to
successful registrants;

(d) To administer oaths in accordance with the provisions of this Act;

(e) To issue special temporary permit to qualified foreign environmental engineering
practitioners, who may be authorized by existing laws to practice environmental
engineering in the Philippines for a specific project and duration of time only;

() To monitor the conditions affecting the practice of the environmental engineering
profession and, whenever necessary, adopt such measures deemed proper for the
enhancement of the profession and the maintenance of high professional technical
and ethical standards;

(g) To hear and investigate cases arising from violations of this Act, its Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR), Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards, administrative
policies, orders and issuances promulgated by the Board. For this purpose, the
Board shall issue subpoena ad testificandum or subpoena duces tecum, or both, to
secure the attendance of the respondents or witnesses and the production of
documents relative to the investigation conducted by the Board;

(h) To hear and investigate cases filed before the Board where the issue or question
strictly concerns the practice of the professions, in which case, the hearing shall be
presided over by at least one (1) member of the Board assisted by a Legal or
Hearing Officer of the PRC;

(i) To conduct, through the Legal Officers of the PRC, summary proceeding on minor
violations of this Act, its IRR, including the general instructions to examinees, and
render summary judgment thereon, which, unless appealed to the PRC, shall
become final and executory after fifteen (15) days from the receipt of the decision;

() To suspend, revoke, reissue, or reinstate the certificate of registration and
professional identification card or special temporary permit for causes provided by
this law;

(kK) To prepare, adopt, and issue the syllabi or Tables of Specifications (TOS) of the
subjects for examination, in consultation with the academe; determine and prepare
the questions for the licensure examinations which shall strictly be within the scope
of the syllabus or table of specifications of the subjects for examination; score and
rate the examination papers and submit the results in all subjects duly signed by the
Members of the Board to the PRC within thirty (30) days from the last day of


examination, unless extended for justifiable cause, and subject to the approval of
the PRC;

()) To prescribe and adopt a Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards for Environmental
Engineers, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Environmental
Engineering Technicians in consultation with the AIPO;

(m) To prescribe guidelines in the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program
and to create the CPD Council with the objective of providing and ensuring the
continuous development of all environmental engineering practitioners;

(n) To adopt an official seal of the Board; and

(0) To perform other functions and duties as may be necessary to implement this Act

The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the Board shall
be subject to review and approval of the PRC. However, the Board’s decisions, resolutions
and orders rendered in administrative cases shall be subject to review only if on appeal.

SEC 11. Annual Report. The Board shall, at the end of each calendar year, submit to the
PRC a detailed report of its activities and proceedings during the year embodying also such
recommendations as it may deem proper to promote the policies and objectives of this Act.

SEC 12. Removal of Board Members. The President, upon recommendation of the PRC,
may remove any Member of the Board on the following grounds: neglect of duty,
incompetence, malpractice, tolerance of irregularities in the examinations, or for
unprofessional, unethical, or dishonorable conduct, after having been given the opportunity
to defend one's self in a proper administrative investigation

ARTICLE III
LICENSURE, REGISTRATION AND PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

SEC 13. Examination Requirement. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act,
all applicants for registration for the practice of environmental engineering shall be required
to pass a written technical examination which shall be given at such times and piaces as
may be determined by the PRC.

SEC 14, Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineers Licensure
Examinations. An applicant for the licensure examination for environmental engineer shall
establish to the satisfaction of the Board that the following qualifications are met.
(a) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity
for the practice of environmental engineering with the Philippines;
(b) Has a good reputation and good moral values;
(c) Has not been convicted by the court of any offense involving moral turpitude; and
(d) Holds a bachelor’s degree in Science of Environmental Engineering from a
university, college, academy or institute, duly constituted and recognized by the
CHED.

Subject to the evaluation of the Board, the following holder of a degree prior to the
passing of this law may be allowed to take the Environmental Engineering Board
Examinations within seven (7) years upon the effectivity of this Act:

(a) A holder of a degree in ecological and environmental engineering, from a recognized

and legally constituted school, college, or university in the Philippines;

(b) A holder of a degree in any field of engineering plus a Master's Degree in
Environmental Engineering from a recognized and legally constituted school, college
or university in the Philippines; and

(c) A holder of a degree in any field of engineering from a recognized and legally
constituted school, college or university in the Philippines, with at least two (2) years
of environmental engineering experience.


SEC 15. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineering Technologists
Licensure Examination. An applicant for the licensure examination for environmental
engineering technologists shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that the following
qualifications are met:

(2) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity

for the practice of environmental engineering with the Philippines:

(b) Has a good reputation and good moral values;

(©) A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering Technology: and

(d) Has not been convicted by the court of any offense involving moral turpitude;

SEC 16. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineering Technicians
Licensure Examination. An applicant for the licensure examination for environmental
engineering technicians shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that the following
qualifications are met:

{a) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity
for the practice of environmental engineering with the Philippines;

(b) Has a good reputation and good moral values;

(c) Is an Associate of or holds a Certificate in Environmental Engineering, or finished
two years of the prescribed curriculum for BS Environmental Engineering
Technology; and

(d) Has not been convicted by the court of an offense involving moral turpitude

SEC 17. Subjects of the Environmental Engineering Licensure Examination. Unless
modified by the Board and the PRC, the Environmental Engineering, Environmental
Engineering Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians Licensure
Examination shall cover the following subjects:
(a) Water and Wastewater Engineering;
(b) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering;
(c) Air Quality and Noise Pollution Control Engineering;
(d) Site Remediation;
(e) Environmental Health and Safety Engineering; and
(f) Environmental Engineering Management which covers Environmental Impact
Assessment, Water Quality Management, Ambient Air Quality Management, Climate
Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and
other programs and strategies to maintain safe and healthy environment, and to
protect public health.

The Board, subject to the approval of the PRC, may amend or revise the subjects, the
syllabi, and the system and procedure in the Environmental Engineering, Environmental
Engineering Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians Licensure
Examination.

SEC 18. Rating in the Licensure Examination. To be qualified as having passed the
Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Environmental
Engineering Technicians Licensure Examination, a candidate must obtain a weighted
general average of at least seventy percent (70%), with no grade lower than fifty percent
(50%) in any given subject.

SEC 19. Oath of Environmental Engineering Practitioner. All successful registrants, shall
take the prescribed professional oath before any member of the Board or any other
authorized official of the PRC prior to entering the practice of the profession

SEC 20. Issuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional Identification Card.
The Board and the PRC shall issue a certificate of registration to a registrant who has met all
the requirements for registration under this Act. The certificate of registration shall bear the


full name of the registrant, the signatures of the Chairperson of the PRC and all Members of
the Board, and the official seals of the Board and the PRC. The certificate of registration
shall be the evidence that the person named therein is entitled to practice the environmental
‘engineering, environmental engineering technology or environmental engineering technician
profession, as the case may be, with all the privileges appurtenant thereto.

A professional identification card indicating the registration number, and dates of its
issuance and expiry, duly signed by the PRC Chairperson, shall likewise be issued to a
successful registrant. The professional identification card shall be renewed every three (3)
years, subject to compliance with the requirements as may be prescribed by the Board and
the PRC.

SEC 21. Registration without Examination. Within the periods specified below, the Board
shall issue certificates of registration and professional identification cards to the following
qualified persons without examination: Provided, That the persons possess the following
qualifications prior to the passing of this Act as validated by the Board: —

1. Environmental Engineers must satisfy the following requirements:

(a) Hold a degree in environmental engineering, or public health engineering with at
least three (3) years of environmental engineering experience; or a degree in
engineering and a doctorate degree in environmental engineering from a
recognized and legally constituted school, college or university in the Philippines.

This provision may be exercised within seven (7) years after the effectivity of this Act,

2. Environmental Engineering Technologists must satisfy the following requirements:
{a) Employed as pollution control officers or environmental management specialists;
(b) With ten years experience; and
(c) Baccalaureate degree

3. Environmental Engineering Technicians must be:
(a) Employed as environmental engineering technician as defined by this Act; and
(b) With five (5) years relevant experience.
Provided further, That qualified Environmental Engineering Practitioners shall register
within two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act.

SEC 22. Foreign Reciprocity. No foreigner shall be admitted to the licensure examination,
or be given a certificate of registration and professional identification card, or be entitled to
any of the rights and privileges under this Act, unless the requirements for the registration or
licensing in said foreign country or State are substantially the same as those required and
contemplated by the laws of the Philippines, and that the laws of such foreign country or
State specifically permits Filipino environmental engineering practitioners to practice within
its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such foreign country or
State

SEC 23 Special Temporary Permits - The following are required to secure a special
temporary permit from the Board, subject to the approval of the PRC:

{a) Environmental engineering practitioners from other countries called in by the
government for consultation and for a specific project; or both: Provided, That such
foreign environmental engineering practitioners are legally qualified to practice
environmental engineering in their country or State

(b) Foreign consultants specializing in the field of environmental engineering, who, in
the judgment of the Board, may benefit the local practitioners through the transfer of
technology: Provided, That such registrants shall satisfy the following conditions:

(1) That, at the time of engagement, no Filipino environmental engineering
practitioner in the country is competent, available and willing to perform the
services for which the foreigner has been hired; and


(2) Any particular or specific engagement shall not be in excess of one (1) year,
renewable at the discretion of the Board and the PRC.

SEC 24. Refusal to Register. The Board shall not register any applicant for registration with
or without licensure examination, who suffers from any of the following disqualifications:
(a) Conviction by final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction of any offense
involving moral turpitude;
(b) Conviction by final judgment in any administrative case involving immorality or
notoriously undesirable conduct;
(c) Adjudged guilty for violation of the General Instructions to Examines by the Board;
(d) Declared to be of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
(€) Proven to be afflicted with addiction to substance/s impairing the ability to practice
the profession through a finding to this effect by a medical or drug testing facility
accredited by the government.
In case of refusal to register, the Board shall issue to the applicant a written statement
setting forth the reasons for such refusal and shall file a copy thereof in its records.

SEC 25. Suspension and Revocation of the Certificate of Registration and
Professional Identification Card or Special Temporary Permit. The Board shall have the
power, after due notice and hearing, to suspend a member for a period of six (6) to twelve
(12) months, depending on the gravity of the offense or revoke the certificate of registration
and professional identification card or special temporary permit on any of the following
grounds:

For Suspension

(2) Unjustified refusal to join or to remain a member in good standing of the AIPO;

(b) Unjustified or unexplained neglect or failure to pay the annual registration fees

for five (5) consecutive years; and

()_ Unjustified or unexplained non-renewal of the professional identification card for

more than five (5) consecutive years.
For Revocation

(a) Violation of any provision of this Act, its IRR, Code of Ethics and Ethical
Standards, and other policies and regulatory measures of the Board and the
PRC, or both;

(b) Perpetration or use of fraud in obtaining the certificate of registration, professional
identification card or special temporary permit;

(c) Gross incompetence, negligence or ignorance in the practice or exercise of the
profession resulting to death, injury of persons and damage to property;

(d) Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a person who is not an environmental
engineering practitioner by allowing oneself to use the certificate of registration,
professional identification card or special temporary permit, among others;

(e) Practice of the profession during the suspension; and

() Addiction to a drug or alcohol abuse impairing oneself ability to practice the
profession or being declared of unsound mind by a court of competent
jurisdiction,

The Board shall periodically evaluate the aforementioned grounds and revise or add
new ones as the need arises, subject to approval by the PRC.

SEC 26. Filing of Charges - The rules on administrative investigation of the PRC shall
govern the filing of charges and the conduct of hearing and investigation, or both subject to
applicable provisions of this Act, RA No. 8981 and the Rules of Court

SEC 27. Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration, Replacement of Lost or
Damaged Certificate of Registration, Professional Identification Card or Special
Temporary Permit. Suspensions imposed against a member shall be automatically lifted


upon expiration of the period indicated in the suspension order. The Board may, upon
petition, reinstate or reissue a revoked certificate of registration after two (2) years from the
effectivity of the revocation, which is reckoned from the date of surrender of the said
certificate of registration and professional identification card, or both to the Board and the
PRC, The Board may not require the holder thereof to take another licensure examination.
The petitioner shall prove to the Board that one has valid reasons to resume the practice of
the profession. For the grant of one's petition, the Board shall issue a Board Resolution,
subject to the approval by the PRC.

A duplicate copy of a lost certificate of registration, professional identification card or
special temporary permit may be reissued in accordance with rules thereon and upon
payment of the prescribed fee therefor

SEC 28, Use of Seal, All environmental engineers shall obtain a seal of such design as the
Board shall authorize and direct: Provided, However, That the certificate of registration
number issued by the Board shall be included in the design of the seal. Plans and
specifications prepared by, and under the direct supervision of an environmental engineer
shall be stamped with such seal during the validity of the latter's certificate of registration. It
shall be unlawful to affix the seal on any document after the environmental engineer's
certificate of registration has expired or has been revoked, unless such certificate of
registration shall have been renewed or re-issued.

SEC 29. Display of Certificate of Registration in the Place of Practice. The proprietor or
manager of a firm, partnership or association which employs an environmental engineer
shall post or cause to be posted in a conspicuous place within the place of business of the
firm, partnership or association, the certificate of registration of the environmental engineer.

SEC 30. Roster of Environmental Engineering Practitioners. The PRC shall keep a
roster of all duly licensed and registered environmental engineers, environmental
engineering technologists and environmental engineering technicians, with their names;
registration numbers and places of business. The PRC shall regularly update such roster
and make it available to all interested parties, upon request.

SEC 31. Comprehensive Environmental Engineering Specialty Program. Within ninety
(80) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Board, in coordination with the AIPO for
environmental engineering practitioners and recognized specialty organizations, is hereby
mandated to formulate and develop a comprehensive environmental engineering specially
program that would upgrade the level of skills and competence of environmental
engineering specialists in the country, such as the areas of Water and Wastewater
Engineering, Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering, Air Quality and Noise Pollution
Control Engineering, Site Remediation, Environmental Health & Safety Engineering,
Environmental Engineering Management and such other areas as may be determined by
the Board

SEC 32. Environmental Engineering Code for Environmental Engineering
Practitioners. The Board shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and Ethical
Standards of Practice for environmental engineers, environmental technologists, and
environmental technicians prescribed and issued by the AIPO of environmental engineers.

ARTICLE IV
PENAL AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC 33. Act not Affecting other Professions- Nothing in this act shall be construed as to
affect or prevent existing rights of other professions as currently provided by law.


SEC 34. Practice of Firms. The practice of environmental engineering is a professional
service based on individual and personal qualifications. A firm, association or partnership
may practice this profession: Provided, That the principals of the firm, association or
partnership are environmental engineers.

SEC 35. Integration of the Environmental Engineering Professions. - The environmental
engineering profession shall be integrated into one (1) national organization which shall be
recognized by the Board as the one and only Accredited Integrated Professional
Organization (AIPO) of the environmental engineering practitioners. Every environmental
engineering practitioner shall, upon registration with the Board, ipso facto become a member
of the AIPO and shall receive ail the benefits and privileges appurtenant to their membership
in the AIPO, upon payment of the required membership fees and dues.

SEC 36. Appointment of Environmental Engineers to Relevant Positions in the
Provincial, City and Municipal Governments and Establishments with Environmental
Engineering Functions. Within two (2) years after the approval of this Act, all provinces,
cities and municipalities may appoint an environmental engineer in their respective
Provincial, City and Municipal Engineering Offices.

The environmental engineer or those vested with environmental engineering
functions must be:

(a) A citizen of the Philippines, preferably a resident of the local government unit

concerned;

(b) Of good moral character; and

(c) With valid professional identification card and certificate of registration.

The appointee must have acquired experience in the practice of the profession of
environmental engineering for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city
environmental engineer, and three (3) years in the case of municipal environmental
engineer. The appointment of an environmental engineer shall be mandatory for the
provincial, city and municipal governments. The environmental engineer shall perform the
following functions:

{a) Initiate, review and recommend changes in policies and objectives, plans and
programs, techniques, procedures and practices in environmental engineering
works in general of the local government unit concerned;

(o) Advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on environmental engineering
matters and concerns;

(c) Administer, coordinate, supervise, and control the implementation of projects
relevant to environmental engineering;

(d) Provide engineering services to the local government unit concerned, including
investigation and survey, engineering designs, feasibility studies and project
management;

{e) In the case of provincial environmental engineers, exercise technical supervision
over all environmental engineering offices of component cities and municipalities;
and

() Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may
be prescribed by law or ordinance.

Firms, companies, partnerships or associations which are engaged in the installation,
construction, manufacture, operation, or sale of environmental equipment, facilities and other
environmental engineering processes, or hold environmental permits such as Environment
Compliance Certificate (ECC), Water Permit, Discharge Permit, shall hire or engage the
services of at least one (1) environmental engineer. Industries, establishments, institutions,
waterworks, and facilities which generate, treat, discharge or dispose waste shall also be
required to hire or engage the services of at least one (1) environmental engineer who shall,
at the same time, perform functions of a Pollution Control/Environmental Officer.


SEC 37. Ratio of Environmental Engineers, Environmental Engineering Technologists
and Environmental Engineering Technicians per population of Local Government
Units. The IRR of this Act shall set the standard ratio of environmental engineers,
environmental engineering technologists and environmental engineering technicians per unit
of population served in every province, city or municipality

SEC 38. Penal Provision. In addition to the administrative sanctions imposed under this
‘Act, upon conviction, the penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more
than five (6) years, or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand Pesos (PhP 100,000.00)
but not more than Five hundred thousand Pesos (PhP 500,000.00) or both, at the discretion
of the Courts, shall upon conviction be imposed on a person who commits any of the
following acts:

(a) Engaging in the practice of environmental engineering in the Philippines without
having been registered or without having conformed with the provisions of this Act;

(b) Presenting or attempting to use as one’s own certificate of registration or professional
identification card of another environmental engineer, environmental engineering
technologists or environmental engineering technician, or special temporary permit of
a foreign environmental engineering practitioner,

{c) Submitting any false or forged evidence to the Board for the purpose of securing a
certificate of registration, professional identification card or special temporary permit,
or impersonating any environmental engineering practitioner;

(d) Attempting to use or using a revoked or suspended certificate of registration,
professional identification card or special temporary permit;

(e) Using or advertising any title or description tending to convey the impression that a
person is an environmental engineering practitioner even without a valid certificate of
fegistration, professional identification card or special temporary permit; or

(f) Violating any of the provisions of this Act
In case the offender is a corporation, partnership or juridical person, the penalty of

imprisonment shall be imposed on the environmental engineer jointly and solidarity with the
responsible professionals, as well the officer or officers responsible for permitting or causing
the violation.

SEC 39. Enforcement of the Act by Officers of the Law. The Board and the PRC shall
implement and enforce the provisions of this Act, its IRR, and whenever warranted,
investigate complaints for violations of this Act, its IRR and the Code of Ethics and Ethical
Standards for environmental engineers, environmental engineering technologists and
environmental engineering technicians.

The National Government, any of its provincial, city or municipal government or
political subdivisions, shall assist in the enforcement of the provisions of this Act.

SEC 40. Transitory Provision. The Board of Environmental Engineering created under
Section 6 of this Act shall be constituted not later than six (6) months from the effectivity of
this Act. The Board shall administer the Environmental Engineering Practitioners Licensure
Examination prior to the full implementation of the qualifications prescribed for in Sections
14, 15 and 16 of this Act.

SEC 41. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Board shall, within ninety (90) days
upon effectivity of this Act, formulate and issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR)
to carry out the provision of this Act.

SEC 42. Appropriations. The Chairperson of the PRC shall immediately include in the
agency's programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The amount necessary to carry out the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the


PRC. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this
Act shall be included in the succeeding GAA.

SEC 43. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof is
declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, the same shall not affect the validity of
the other provisions.

SEC 44. Repealing Clause. All laws, parts of laws, decrees, orders, letters of instructions
and ordinances, or regulations in conflict with the provisions hereof, are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly,

SEC 45. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,