Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 984)
The main policy is to prevent, abate, and control pollution of water, air, and land for the more effective utilization of the country's resources.
Pollution is any alteration of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of any water, air, and/or land resources in the Philippines, or any discharge of wastes that causes or is likely to cause harm to public health, safety, welfare, or adversely affects their use for domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, or other legit purposes.
It is headed by one full-time commissioner and assisted by two full-time deputy commissioners—one responsible for standard-setting and monitoring, and the other for enforcement.
The Commissioner must be a man of proven executive ability; the Deputy Commissioner for Standard-Setting and Monitoring preferably a sanitary engineer; the Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement preferably a lawyer. All must have technical expertise in pollution control.
The Commission can determine pollution scope and causes, develop plans to abate pollution, issue standards and permits, enforce rules, conduct research, and cooperate with government and private entities to prevent and control pollution.
Constructing, installing, modifying, or operating sewage works or industrial waste disposal systems, increasing discharge volume or strength, and operating industrial establishments that cause pollution require permits from the Commission.
Violators may face fines up to five thousand pesos per day, imprisonment from two to six years, or both. Refusing entry to authorized representatives can lead to a fine of up to two hundred pesos or one month imprisonment. Responsible managing heads of juridical persons are also liable.
Appeals must be perfected within fifteen days; decisions involving facts are reviewed by the Court of Appeals, while those involving only questions of law are appealed to the Supreme Court.
No, the Commission has no jurisdiction over waterworks or sewage systems operated by the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System.