Law Summary
Declaration of State Policy
- Sustainable use, development, management, renewal, conservation of natural resources.
- Protection and enhancement of environmental quality.
- Equitable access to natural resources for present and future generations.
- Recognition and application of true value system considering social and environmental costs.
Mandate of the Department
- Primary government agency for conservation, management, and development of environment and natural resources.
- Includes forest and grazing lands, mineral resources, public domain lands.
- Licensing and regulation of natural resource use.
- Objectives include sustainability, increased productivity, national development, equitable access, and conservation of terrestrial and marine heritage.
Powers and Functions
- Advising the President on laws relating to natural resources and pollution control.
- Formulating policies, plans, programs on resource management and conservation.
- Promulgating rules regulating exploration, development, and utilization.
- Supervising forest lands, minerals, public lands; collection of fees and revenues.
- Conducting exploration, surveys, inventory using modern technologies.
- Promoting private sector coordination and public participation.
- Establishing policies for inventory, resource distribution, industry promotion, cultural and natural heritage preservation.
- Regulating pollution and environment quality standards.
- Overseeing environmental impacts, solid waste, toxic substances management.
- Formulating national conservation strategy.
Structural Organization
- Composed of Department Proper, staff offices, sectoral bureaus, regional and local offices.
- Department Proper includes Secretary, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Public Affairs Office, Special Concerns Office, Pollution Adjudication Board.
- Sectoral bureaus: Forest Management, Lands Management, Mines and Geo-Sciences, Environmental Management, Ecosystems Research and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife.
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
- Vesting of executive authority and responsibility.
- Supervises Department operations.
- Advises President, promulgates regulations, delegates authority.
- Performs additional functions as assigned.
Supporting Offices and Officials
- Office of Secretary: immediate staff support.
- Five Undersecretaries: assist Secretary, oversee divisions, promulgate rules, supervise units.
- Seven Assistant Secretaries: focus areas include policy, foreign projects, field operations (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao), legal affairs, and management services.
- Public Affairs Office: central information dissemination.
- Special Concerns Office: handles priority tasks requiring immediate attention.
Sectoral Bureaus Functions
- Forest Management Bureau: integrates forest development, conservation, reforestation, watershed management.
- Lands Management Bureau: manages alienable and disposable lands, land classification, disposition.
- Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau: mineral exploration, development, geological surveys.
- Environment Management Bureau: environmental protection, pollution control, standards setting.
- Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau: integrated research on ecosystems and natural resources.
- Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau: management of protected areas, wildlife conservation.
Pollution Adjudication Board
- Established under Office of Secretary.
- Adjudicates pollution cases under specific laws.
- Consists of Secretary, designated Undersecretaries, Environmental Management Director, members.
- Environmental Management Bureau serves as secretariat.
Field Offices
- National presence through regional, provincial, and community offices.
- Integrated regional offices led by Regional Executive Director and five Regional Technical Directors.
- Responsible for implementation, coordination, service delivery, enforcement, research.
Attached Agencies
- National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA): central mapping, remote sensing, data integration.
- Natural Resources Development Corporation (NRDC): involved in natural resource development ventures and financing.
- National Electrification Administration (NEA): energy-related development tasks aligned with national policies.
Detachment and Transfers
- Certain units such as Manila Seedling Bank Foundation, Bureau of Energy Utilization, and Bureau of Energy Development detached or transferred.
Transitory Provisions
- Transfers include assets, personnel (hold-over capacity).
- Personnel not fitting new structure considered separated with benefits.
- Proper distribution of funds, assets, and liabilities upon unit abolition or merger.
New Structure and Staffing
- Approved by Secretary within 60 days.
- Hold-over for incumbents until formal appointments.
- Separation benefits provided for non-reappointment.
Periodic Performance Evaluation
- Requirement to measure and evaluate Department performance periodically.
- Annual submission of evaluation to the President.
Legal and Procedural Provisions
- Notice or consent required if reorganization prejudices third parties.
- Structural changes require Presidential approval.
- Funding from Department's available funds.
- Secretary empowered to issue implementing rules.
- Separability clause ensures validity of law portions if parts declared unconstitutional.
- Repealing clause rescinds inconsistent laws or regulations.
- Immediate effectivity upon approval.