Common Philippine Laws

1. RA 8749 or Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

a) provides the policy framework for the country’s air quality management program. It seeks to uphold
the right of every Filipino to breathe clean air by addressing air pollution from mobile and stationary
sources

b) RA 8749 focuses primarily on pollution prevention rather than control by encouraging cooperation and
self-regulation among citizens and industries. It also enforces a system of accountability for adverse
environmental impacts to heighten compliance to government environmental regulations

c) June 23, 1999 - Eleventh Congress - Pres. Joseph E. Estrada

2. RA 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

a) makes provision for the efficient solid waste management, for the volume reduction of the waste, its
environment friendly disposal, composting, recycling, re-use, recovery, green charcoal process; for the
collection, treatment and disposal in environmentally sound solid waste management facilities whereas
it shall be possible to correctly dispose the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage,
treatment and disposal of solid waste

b) January 26, 2001 - Eleventh Congress - Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

3. RA 165 or An Act Creating A Patent Office, Prescribing Its Powers And Duties, Regulating The Issuance Of
Patents, And Appropriating Funds Therefor

a) Any invention of a new and useful machine, manufactured product or substance, process, or an
improvement of any of the foregoing, shall be patentable

b) An invention shall not be patentable if it is contrary to public order or morals, or to public health or
welfare, or if it constitutes a mere idea, scientific principle or abstract theorem not embodied in an
invention as specified in section seven hereof, or any process not directed to the making or improving
of a commercial product

c) An invention shall not be considered new or capable of being patented if it was known or used by
others in the Philippines before the invention thereof by the inventor named in an application for patent
for the invention; or if it was patented or described in any printed publication in the Philippines or any
foreign country more than one year before the application for a patent therefor; or if it had been in
public use or on sale in the Philippines for more than one year before the application for a patent
therefor; or if it is the subject matter of a validly issued patent in the Philippines granted on an
application filed before the filing of the application for patent therefor

d) June 20, 1947 - Pres. Manuel A. Roxas

4. RA 166 or An Act To Provide For The Registration And Protection Of Trade-Marks, Trade-Names And
Service-Marks, Defining Unfair Competition And False Marking And Providing Remedies Against The Same,
And For Other Purposes

a) Any person filing an application for the registration of a mark or trade-name, who is not a resident of
the Philippines, must appoint an agent or representative in the Philippines upon whom notice or
process relating to the application or registration of the mark or trade-name may be served. In the
event of death, absence or inability of the agent or representative, a new agent or representative must
be appointed, and notice thereof must be filed in the Patent Office. Upon failure to maintain an agent or
representative of record in the Patent Office, service on the Director shall be deemed sufficient

b) June 20, 1947 - Pres. Manuel A. Roxas

5. RA 2067 or Science Act of 1958

a) An act to integrate, coordinate, and intensify scientific and technological research and development
and to foster invention; to provide funds therefor; and for other purposes

b) June 13, 1958 - Pres. Carlos P. Garcia

6. RA 318 or Chemical Engineering Law

a) An act to regulate the practice of chemical engineering in the Philippines, and for other purposes

b) June 19, 1948 - Pres. Elpidio Quirino

7. RA 754 or Chemistry Law

a) an act to regulate the practice of chemistry in the Philippines, and for other purposes

b) June 18, 1952 - Pres. Elpidio Quirino

8. RA 1655 or An Act Creating The Barrio Of San Roque In The Municipality Of Marabut, Province Of Samar

a) The sitio of Cabugao in the Municipality of Marabut, Province of Samar, is hereby constituted into a
barrio of the said municipality to be known as the barrio of San Roque

b) June 20, 1957 - Pres. Carlos P. Garcia

9. RA 5186 or Investment Incentives Act

a) An Act Prescribing Incentives and Guarantees to Investments in the Philippines, Creating a Board of
Investments, Appropriating the Necessary Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes. Basic Rules and
Regulations to Implement the Intent and Provisions of the Investment Incentives Act
 b) September 16, 1967 - Pres. Ferdinand Marcos

10. RA 5455 or Foreign Investment Act

a) An Act To Require That The Making Of Investments And The Doing Of Business Within The Philippines
By Foreigners Or Business Organizations Owned In Whole Or In Part By Foreigners Should Contribute To
The Sound And Balanced Development Of The National Economy On A Self-Sustaining Basis, And For
Other Purposes

b) January 6, 1973 - Pres. Ferdinand Marcos

11. RA 6969 or Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990

a) It is the policy of the State to regulate, restrict or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing,
sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures that present unreasonable
risk and/or injury to health or the environment; to prohibit the entry, even in transit, of hazardous and
nuclear wastes and their disposal into the Philippine territorial limits for whatever purpose; and to
provide advancement and facilitate research and studies on toxic chemicals

b) October 26, 1990 - Pres. Corazon Aquino

12. RA 8981 or PRC Modernization Act of 2000

a) The State recognizes the important role of professionals in nation-building and, towards this end,
promotes the sustained development of a reservoir of professionals whose competence has been
determined by honest and credible licensure examinations and whose standards of professional service
and practice are internationally recognized and considered world-class brought about the regulatory
measures, programs and activities that foster professional growth and advancement.

b) December 5, 2000 - Pres. Joseph Estrada

13. RA 9236 or The National Metrology Act of 2003

a) It is hereby declared the policy of the State to facilitate the development of scientific and technical
knowledge and progress in the national economy by encouraging the standardization and
modernization of units and standards of measurements to adapt to the needs of the times, thereby
complying with international standards and protecting the health, interest and safety of every
consumer and his environment from the harmful effects of inaccurate or false measurements.

b) February 3, 2004 - Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

14. PD 1151 or Philippine Environmental Policy

a) It is hereby declared a continuing policy of the State (a) to create, develop, maintain, and improve
conditions under which man and nature can thrive in productive and enjoyable harmony with each
other, (b) to fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations of
Filipinos, and (c) to insure the attainment of an environmental quality that is conducive to a life of
dignity and well-being.

b) June 6, 1977 - Pres. Ferdinand Marcos (same with PD 1152)

15. PD 1152 or Philippine Environment Code

a) Provide a comprehensive program of environmental protection and management. The Code

established specific environment management policies and prescribes environmental quality standards.
To achieve and maintain such levels of air quality as to protect public health and to prevent to the
greatest extent practicable, injury and/or damage to plant and animal life and property, and promote
the social and economic development of the country. Prescribe management guidelines to protect and
improve water quality through: classification of Philippine waters, establishment of water quality
standards, protection and improvement of the quality of the Philippine water resources, and
responsibilities for surveillance and mitigation of pollution incidents Set guidelines for waste
management with a view to ensuring its effectiveness, encourage, promote and stimulate technological,
educational, economic and social efforts to prevent environmental damage and unnecessary loss of
valuable resources of the nation through recovery, recycling and re-use of wastes and wastes products,
and provide measures to guide and encourage appropriate government agencies in establishing sound,
efficient, comprehensive and effective wastes management covering both solid and liquid wastes.