Question & AnswerQ&A (DENR MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2010-14)
The main policy objective is to ensure optimum economic development without delay through sustainable development by adopting efficient, transparent, systematic, and participatory implementation of the EIS system under PD 1586.
Project proponents can determine coverage by referring to the official lists of environmentally critical projects (ECPs) and maps of environmentally critical areas (ECAs) available at the EMB website and offices, as provided in the Revised Procedural Manual for DAO 2003-30.
Required documents include the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report with essential information, proof of compatibility with the land use plan (if necessary), proof of ownership or authority over the project site, accountability statements of proponent and EIS preparers, photographs or plates of the site and affected areas, duly accomplished PEMAPS questionnaire, copy of previous ECC (if any), and latest Self Monitoring Report or Compliance Monitoring Report.
No, for projects below the coverage threshold under DAO 2003-30, CNC applications no longer require submission of Project Description Reports. A prescribed 1-page application form processed through the Automated Processing System (APS) is sufficient.
The EIA report should focus on environmental aspects of the project that have scientific basis and are verifiable, while also considering environmental concerns from the local community gathered through public participation methods such as scoping and consultations.
Proponents must conduct a scoping meeting to consult the community on the extent of the EIA study, including identifying significant issues, limiting the scope of baseline information, and assessing the need for Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA). Subsequently, EIA findings must be presented in a public consultation involving all legitimate stakeholders, with concerns documented and addressed.
Legitimate stakeholders include potentially affected communities in both direct and indirect impact areas as identified by guidelines specified in Annexes, who need to be informed and consulted at the earliest EIA stages for participation.
The Planning and Development Officer or Environment and Natural Resources Officer of affected LGUs are invited as resource persons to the EIA Review Committee. For projects covering multiple LGUs, the provincial PDO or ENRO is involved. LGUs also receive the EIA study review results and draft ECC for inputs before issuance.
The maximum processing times are: 40 working days for ECPs including co-located programmatic ECCs, mining, and forestry projects; 20 working days for non-ECPs with EIS or PERRMP-based applications; and 20 working days for Initial Environmental Examination or EPRRMP-based applications.
Only one request for additional information or clarification on the substance of the EIA report may be required, and the proponent must respond within five (5) days, after which the EMB/DENR decides based on submitted information.
No other documents besides those listed (EIA report, proof of land use compatibility, authority proofs, accountability statements, photographs, PEMAPS questionnaire, previous ECC, and monitoring reports) shall be required as pre-requisites for ECC applications.
The Circular takes effect immediately upon issuance. The EMB Regional Offices are directed to conduct intensive Information Education Campaigns (IEC) to disseminate the provisions of the Circular.