Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11995)
Republic Act No. 11995 is known as the "Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act."
The policy is to recognize natural ecosystems as integral patrimony and heritage, protect ecological balance, adhere to international environmental-economic accounting standards, develop a comprehensive natural capital accounting system, and integrate these accounts into policy-making and economic indicators.
Natural capital refers to stocks of renewable and non-renewable resources including plants, animals, air, water, soils, ores, and minerals, that provide benefits such as air and water filtration, flood protection, carbon sequestration, pollination, and wildlife habitats.
PENCAS is an institutionalized government framework based on internationally accepted environmental-economic accounting standards to compile statistics on natural capital depletion, restoration, environmental expenditures, pollution, and adjusted net savings.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has overall responsibility including compiling natural capital accounts, coordinating with other agencies, and creating the Environment, Natural Resources and Ecosystem Account Service (ENREAS).
The TWG supports priority activities for natural capital accounting, resolves technical issues, reviews methodologies, recommends improvements, prioritizes urgent statistical outputs, and updates the PSA Board and other committees.
The DENR provides natural capital accounting data, ensures participation of its offices, leads site-specific ecosystem accounts, incorporates NCA data in Environmental Impact Assessments, and is tasked with strengthening through new plantilla positions.
The Act mandates consultative mechanisms to popularize PENCAS, grants citizens the right to information and standing to compel government to perform mandates, and requires major natural capital accounts to be publicly released with other economic data.
The Act recognizes nature’s inherent and intrinsic value separate from its economic value, sustaining natural ecosystem functions, emphasizing sustainable development that allows renewal and restoration of ecosystems.
Penalties provided under Republic Act No. 9485 (Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007), as amended by Republic Act No. 11032 (Ease of Doing Business Act), and Republic Act No. 10625 (Philippine Statistical Act of 2013) shall apply in the implementation of this Act.