ECC Issuance Authority Reinforced

Executive Order No. 192 reorganized the Department of Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources, renaming it as the DENR and vesting the Secretary of DENR with the authority and responsibility to exercise the Department’s mandate.
The Secretary is tasked with accomplishing DENR’s objectives and discharging its powers and functions, including environmental regulatory roles such as ECC issuance.

Under the Administrative Code of 1987 (Executive Order No. 292), DENR Regional Offices are charged with implementing DENR’s laws, policies, plans, programs, projects, rules, and regulations within their respective regions.
Their duties include promoting sustainability and productivity of natural resources, ensuring social equity in resource utilization, and protecting the environment.
The Regional Executive Director is the highest DENR official in a region and is directly responsible for carrying out such duties, including the authority to grant or deny ECCs at the regional level.

This Administrative Order confirms and strengthens the authority of both the DENR Secretary and the DENR Regional Executive Directors in the grant or denial of ECCs.
It clarifies the decentralized issuance process and the legal basis for DENR officials to exercise environmental regulatory control.
The order becomes effective immediately upon issuance, solidifying the established authority structure under existing environmental laws and executive orders.