QuestionsQuestions (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1121)
PD No. 1121 creates the National Environmental Protection Council (the “Council”).
It is under the supervision and control of the President of the Philippines.
The President of the Philippines serves as Chairman.
The Secretary of Natural Resources is the Executive Officer; the Executive Director of the Secretariat acts as the Secretary of the Council.
Examples include: the Presidential Assistant for Development; the Secretary of Public Highways; the Secretary of Local Governments and Community Development; the Secretary of Industry; the Secretary of National Defense; the Secretary of Public Works, Transportation and Communications; the Budget Commissioner; and various board/chairmen entities named in the decree (e.g., Chairman of National Pollution Control Commission).
It formulates policies and issues guidelines for environmental quality standards and environmental impact assessments, and it promulgates rules and regulations to carry out the decree.
It can review environmental impact assessments of projects submitted by government agencies.
It may monitor development projects initiated by government and private agencies and ensure they align with government priorities on environmental protection.
It must undertake a comprehensive and continuing research program for environment protection.
Yes. It may conduct, as it deems appropriate, public hearings or conferences on issues of environmental significance.
It may conduct continuing educational and training campaign programs to enhance quality of life through environmental improvement.
It can recommend new legislation or amendments to existing ones to cope with changes in the country’s environmental status.
It must prepare annual environment status reports.
The Council may call on any department, bureau, office, agency, or state university/college and other governmental instrumentalities for assistance in the form of personnel, facilities, and other resources.
The Secretariat supports the Executive Officer and is headed by an Executive Director, assisted by an Assistant Executive Director.
For administration, they are attached to the Department of Natural Resources.
Personnel of the Council are exempted from the rules and regulations of the Office of Compensation and Position Classification (OCPC) due to shortage of qualified manpower and the technical nature of its work, and OCPC rules do not apply to positions created under the decree.
It uses funds appropriated for Environmental Protection in the Department of Natural Resources during the current fiscal year; thereafter, the necessary amounts must be included annually in the General Appropriations Act.