Policy objective and scope
- The objective is to provide assurance to stakeholders, regulators, and the public of the reliability of source emission test results.
- The objective is to ensure that accredited firms are fully capable of conducting source emission tests in accordance with DAO 2000-81 and implementing requirements.
- All firms providing source emission testing services to demonstrate compliance with CAA/IRR standards must be accredited by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) prior to conducting such activities.
- Industries located in a particular area or industrial zone may form a cluster and create a pool to engage a third party source emission testing firm that shall randomly conduct unannounced emission testing.
- Accreditation is on a parameter air pollutant basis, and the EMB-recognized laboratory analyzes samples collected by an accredited testing firm.
Key definitions
- Accreditation means formal recognition by the EMB of a sampling firm as competent to carry out sampling activities.
- Applicant means a person/firm seeking formal recognition under this Order.
- Assessment means the process that determines whether an applicant meets the requirements of the guidelines.
- Certificate of Accreditation means formal recognition by DENR of an applicant as competent to carry out sampling activities.
- EMB refers to the Central Office.
- Firm means an entity registered under Philippine laws engaged in source emission stack testing and related activities.
- SAT means the Sampling Assessment Team.
Accreditation eligibility and required systems
- Any applicant not disqualified by existing law or regulation to engage in source emission testing is qualified to apply for a Certificate of Accreditation if all requirements in this Order are met.
- The application must be a duly accomplished and notarized application form.
- The applicant must submit certified corporate/registration documents:
- For sole proprietorship: Certificate of Business Name Registration.
- For corporation/partnership: SEC Certificate of Registration, Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, and a Board Resolution under oath naming the authorized representative.
- The applicant must submit a location map of the firm’s office and premises.
- The applicant must submit a list of personnel involved in sampling, with their job descriptions, qualifications, trainings/seminar attended, responsibilities, and supporting documents.
- The applicant must submit a list of prescribed equipment pursuant to Annex A.
- The applicant must adopt an EMB-approved system for calibration and maintenance of sampling equipment and must comply with and keep available for inspection:
- certificates of equipment calibration, and
- logbooks of maintenance,
anytime upon DENR request.
- The applicant must adopt an EMB-approved quality assurance program as its Quality Assurance and Quality Control procedure.
- The applicant must submit copies of all field sampling data sheets previously conducted whenever applicable.
- The applicant must submit procedures for performance of source emission testing.
- The applicant must have adequate chemical waste management provisions for collection, storage, treatment, and disposal of chemical wastes in sampling activities.
- The applicant must have a health and safety program including use of personal protective equipment.
Minimum staffing and work standards
- The source emission stack testing team must have at least:
- One (1) Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manager,
- One (1) Team Leader, and
- One (1) Technical Aide.
- The Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manager must be:
- a licensed engineer, preferably a chemical engineer;
- with at least one (1) year experience in source emission testing (SET); and
- trained in quality assurance for SET.
- The Team Leader must be:
- a licensed engineer, preferably a chemical engineer;
- with at least one (1) year experience in SET; and
- trained in quality assurance for SET.
- The QA/QC Manager must undertake QA/QC testing on actual source emission testing and sampling results, and must prepare the report of the QA/QC test.
- The Team Leader must prepare equipment and accessories and glassware for sampling, must undertake oral and written examinations for source emission testing, must conduct the source emission test, and must prepare the report of the test.
- The Technical Aide must assist the Team Leader as requested.
- The firm must maintain adequate working and storage areas, including space for preparation of reagents, storage space for chemicals, glassware, equipment, and areas for cleaning activities.
- Sampling methods must conform to DENR-EMB approved methods and parameters attached as Annex A.
Accreditation process, monitoring, and duties
- Applications for accreditation and payment of applicable fees must be filed with the EMB Central Office.
- Documentary completeness review is conducted by the Secretariat (EMB-Air Quality Management Section technical staff), which performs a preliminary assessment of completeness and accepts only applications with complete supporting documents.
- In case of deficiencies, the applicant must rectify the deficiencies.
- An on-site assessment is conducted by the Sampling Assessment Team (SAT) to validate submitted information, and it must be conducted within thirty (30) working days from receipt of complete documents.
- The SAT prepares and submits the Assessment Report in a prescribed form to the Technical Committee for Accreditation of Sampling Firm (TCASF) for consolidation and review and includes the SAT recommendation.
- After TCASF reviews the endorsement and finds it satisfactory, TCASF directs the SAT to conduct the proficiency test.
- The SAT requires the sampling firm to participate in proficiency testing by conducting on-site emission testing.
- For each parameter applied for accreditation, the proficiency test must include a minimum of three (3) performance tests, completed under SAT observation and audit.
- Written and oral examinations must be conducted for personnel involved in sampling activities.
- TCASF reviews the SAT report and endorses to the DENR Secretary the issuance or non-issuance of the Certificate of Accreditation.
- The Certificate of Accreditation is issued, signed, and approved by the Secretary of DENR based on TCASF evaluation and recommendation.
- The Certificate contains, among others: the sampling organization’s name and address; code number; scope of accreditation; parameters; list of personnel (Owner/proprietor or President/General Manager, QA Manager, and Team Leader); effectivity and expiry date; signature of the Secretary; and the dry seal of DENR.
- Accreditation is valid for three (3) years unless revoked pursuant to Section 10.
- Monitoring is conducted by the EMB-Central Office, in coordination with EMB-Regional Offices:
- within six (6) months after the Certificate is granted, and
- at least once a year thereafter.
- Monitoring includes sampling firm inspection, on-site observation of sampling activities, quality control activities, health and safety requirements, emission test report review, and personnel checks.
Responsibilities of accredited firms
- Accredited firms must conduct sampling for private companies and individuals, DENR, other government agencies/instrumentalities, NGOs, and local government units pursuant to DENR Approved Methods.
- Accredited firms must submit sampling results to DENR one (1) month after sampling, or in special cases, within a maximum of two (2) months.
- Accredited firms must submit annual reports in accordance with the EMB prescribed format.
- Accredited firms must notify DENR of changes in aspects of operations and personnel.
Suspension, revocation, and disqualification
- The Certificate of Accreditation may be suspended for grounds including:
- verified improper sampling techniques/procedures, including calibrations and maintenance;
- non-submission of annual reports;
- refusal to allow the monitoring team to perform its functions; and
- violation of DENR requirements on health and safety procedures, waste management, and hazard and risk assessment.
- The Certificate of Accreditation may be revoked for grounds including:
- falsification of documents and test results;
- refusal to conduct on-site demonstration and/or proficiency test; and
- firms with repeated suspensions incurred within the same calendar year.
- When a Certificate is revoked, the firm is automatically disqualified and no longer qualifies for reinstatement.
- Reinstatement of a suspended Certificate requires application of corrective actions required by the EMB and payment of fines.
Fees, renewal, and transitory effects
- When applying for accreditation, the following fees must be paid to EMB:
- Application Fee: PHP 300.00
- Assessment Fee: PHP 500.00/man-hour
- Reassessment Fee: PHP 500.00/man-hour
- Accreditation Fee: PHP 30,000.00 (payable upon issuance of the Certificate)
- Fines for reinstatement: PHP 30,000.00
- All fees and fines collected are deposited to the Air Quality Management Fund pursuant to Section 14 of Republic Act No. 8749.
- Renewal: the Certificate of Accreditation is valid for three (3) years and must be renewed within two (2) months before expiration.
- Renewal requirements include:
- assessment of previous stack testing activities;
- a good standing record; and
- continuing education on air quality source emission testing.
- Transitory rule: existing stack emission testing firms may still conduct sampling until 31 July 2006; after that date, no firm may conduct source testing for compliance purposes unless accreditation is secured from EMB.
Effectivity, separability, and inconsistencies
- Inconsistencies: all Orders, Circulars, and Instructions inconsistent with the guidelines are repealed or amended accordingly (Separability Clause).
- Effectivity: the Order takes effect fifteen (15) days from the date of publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation.
- The Order is adopted on January 16, 2006 and is signed by MICHAEL T. DEFENSOR (Secretary).