The EMB REGIONAL OFFICE (Mandates and Functions – Overview)

The EMB is mandated to implement the following national environmental laws:

PD 1586 (Environmental Impact Statement System)
RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of
1990)
RA 8749 (Clean Air Act of 1999)
RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000)
RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004)
RA 9512 (Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008)
Under E.O. 192, EMB is mandated to provide research and laboratory services; and serve as
secretariat in the adjudication of pollution cases.
Under EO 320, EMB is designated as the secretariat of the Designated National Authority for
CDM of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Functions:
a. Advise the Secretary on matters relating to Environmental Management
b. Formulate plans and policies and set appropriate environmental quality standards (Water,
Air And Noise) for the prevention, control of pollution and protection of the environment
c. Exercise direct supervision over its regional offices in the implementation of plans and
programs. The central and regional offices of the bureau discharge both staff and regulatory
functions
-Issue permits, clearances Under RA 8749, RA 9003, RA 9275, RA 6969 and PD 1586 and
monitor compliance to said laws
d. Provide secretariat support to the pollution adjudication board per EO 192
e. Provide secretariat support to the National Solid Waste Management Commission as
provided for in Section 4 of Ra 9003
f. Develop and implement a research and development program in support of the following:
- Environmental And Compliance Monitoring; And
- Study of existing and potential environmental problems and issues
g. Implement a system for the recognition of environmental laboratories
h. Promote public information and education to encourage participation of an informed
citizenry in environmental quality planning and monitoring.
i. Serve as focal point agency for international agreements/commitments

***Yung mga technical persons/staff (persons with technical courses) usually sa 5 division lang
ng Region pinapasok yan.
1. Office of the Regional Director
Function/DUties: to assist the Regional Director in overall activities, assess and evaluate
papers/documents and other stuffs and also act as recommendatory body to the Regional
Director
2. Planning Division
Function/Duties: to prepare working financial plan/budget for every year, prepare
accomplishment reports every quarter/every year, attend budget hearings, etc.
 3. Clearance and Permitting Division
Function/Duties: to issue Environmental Compliance Certificate or Certificate of Non-
Coverage (CNC) pursuant to PD 1586, Discharge Permits (DP) for water effluents
pursuant to the RA 9275 and DAO 2016-08, Permit to Operate (PTO) for equipments or
other sources of air emissions pursuant to RA 8749, hazwaste permit, manifest and other
pertinent permits pursuant to RA 6969 and chemical permits like registration of new
chemicals, importation and etc. also pursuant to RA 6969
4. Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Division
Function/Duties: To monitor existing projects with Environmental Compliance
Certificates (ECCs), existing permits, conduct investigation on different industries.
5. Laboratory and Research Division
Functions/Duties: to conduct sampling in diff. areas, do research and audit, also accredits
laboratory registrations
**Other divisions of the Regional Office are Legal, Admin, Management Information Systems,
etc.
***Take note that all the Divisions from the Regional Offices are the same, yung sa Central lang
naiba kasi mas madaming hawak na permitting yung Regional Offices. More on Policy
formulation and Authority yung mandate ng Central Office.

THE CLEARANCE AND PERMITTING DIVISION (CPD)

Environmental Impact Assessment Section (see PD 1586, DAO 2003-30 and EMB MC
2014-005)
**All projects/undertaking are required to secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate
**Certificate of Non-coverage (optional kunin, kinukuha ito pag hindi ka covered ng ECC and
based sa EMB MC 2015-005, you are not covered by PD 1586… see threshold of EMB MC
2014-005)
**Based din sa EMB MC 2014-005 yung requirements and determination kung ECC or CNC
papasok ang isang project.
**EMB MC 2014-005, pag ang isang project ay pumasok sa threshold ng Environmentally
Critical Projects (ECPs) --- Central Office ang magpprocess ng application and Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) study ang req., pa gang project ay non-ECP, sa Regional Office ang
processing, pero nasa MC 2014-005 pa din kung ano requirements
Water Section (See RA 9275 and DAO 2016-08—General Effluent Standards)
**DAO 2016-08 or the General Effluent Standards, eto ung latest ng Water ngayon, different
parameters are required for different projects/industries
**Discharge Permit – Regional Office LANG ang nagbibigay, hindi Central Office. Pero may
mandate ang Laguna Lake Development Authority magbigay ng Discharge Permit pag nasa
Laguna Lake area yung isang project
Air Section (see 8749)
**Di ako updated sa mga new policies ng air, pero ang PTO or Permit to Operate, Regional
OFFICE lang ang humahawak, hindi nagiisue ang Central Office
** All sources of air emission are required to secure a PTO. Even a small business with a Genset,
kinukuhanan ng PTO
** Certificate of Conformity (COC) – Regional Office yung may hawak, see 8749
Hazwaste/Solid waste (See RA 6969 and RA 9003)
** Sa solid waste, LGU naman ang may hawak ng implementation, secretariat lang ang EMB
usually at taga conduct ng Information and Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign ---
taga educate ng tao for public awareness.
** Sa Hazwaste, yung Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSD) – central office yung may
hawak ng registration. Also the Hazwaste transporter and generator permit, sa CENTRAL
OFFICE pnprocess. Yung REGION, monitoring and small permits lang pag sa hazwaste
** Sa chemicals, Priority Chemicals List (PCL) and Chemical Control Order (CCO) updating
and application, sa CENTRAL OFFICE din pnprocess including Pre-Manufacturing And Pre-
Importation Notification (PMPIN)

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT DIVISION (EMED)

** Sila yung madalas na nagcconduct ng site validation, investigation and handling of
complaints.
** They can issue Notice of Violation, and Cease and Decease Order on industries (pwede din
ang CPD)

OTHER stuffs:
**Pollution Control Officer of an Industry – EMB Regional Office can conduct trainings on
PCOs and accredit and register a PCO on a specific industry. Usually 2yrs validity and renew
lang ang kailangan.
**EMB Regional Office is the MONITORING ARM OF the EMB Central Office. Usually, si
EMB Regional Office ang inuutusan ni Central magconduct ng site validation pag meron
compaints kahit ielevate pa sa Central Office yung reklamo. Pwede magissue si REGIONAL
Office ng violation kahit na si Central Office yung nagbigay ng ECC or ng ibang permit.