During its third and final reading, the House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 11093, or the Philippine Environmental Assessment System Act on Tuesday.
The measure aims to institutionalize environmental assessments in all policies, plans, programs, and projects. Its proposal would greatly benefit the nation’s move for sustainable development and environmental protection.
“This bill is a clear testament to our collective responsibility to protect our environment and ensure that development is done responsibly. It is a vital tool for balancing progress with sustainability,” Romualdez said.
Under the proposed measure, a Philippine Environmental Assessment System (EAS) will be established, alongside the Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA), which are made for policies, plans, programs, and the application of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).
The proposed measure seeks to integrate environmental considerations into development strategies ahead of time, ensuring the thorough evaluation of environmental, health, and socio-economic impacts.
For projects related to heavy industrial activities and infrastructures, a Certificate of Proponent’s Environmental Commitment (CPEC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“With the EAS in place, we are institutionalizing a process that ensures environmental risks are mitigated before projects are implemented. We cannot afford to sacrifice the environment for the sake of progress,” Romualdez stated.
Additionally, the SEA would ensure that national and local development plans, sectoral programs, and policies, consider the environmental impacts for each project. It would also safeguard biodiversity and mitigate risks to indigenous communities.
The DENR will establish a knowledge management system to consolidate all related reports.
Violators will have severe penalties, like fines ranging from PHP 5 million to PHP 20 million, and may be subject to closure or suspension of operations. Additionally, those who violate environmental management plans could be fined up to PHP 10 million per violation.
According to the Office of the Speaker, the bill’s passage highlights the government’s efforts to “hold project proponents accountable while streamlining sustainable practices in development planning.”
