1 Republic of the Philippines

2 House of Representatives
3 Quezon City
4
5 SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
6 Second Regular Session
7
8 House Bill No. ____
9
10
11 INTRODUCED BY: __________________________
12
13
14
15 AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING IN THE
16 PHILIPPINES, AMENDING R.A. 1364 ALSO KNOWN AS THE SANITARY ENGINEERING
17 LAW, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
18
19 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
20
21 ARTICLE I
22 TITLE, DECLARATION OF STATE POLICY, COVERAGE,
23 DEFINITION OF TERMS AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE
24
25 Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Environmental Engineering Law of the Philippines”.
26
27 Section 2. Declaration of State Policy. The State recognizes the importance of environmental engineers,
28 environmental engineering technologists, and environmental engineering technicians (collectively referred
29 to as “environmental engineering practitioners”) in nation building and development. As such, it is hereby
30 declared the policy of the State to recognize, promote, strengthen and regulate the practice of environmental
31 engineering profession in the Philippines by instituting measures that will result in relevant environmental
32 engineering education and enhanced roles and better career prospects for environmental engineering
33 practitioners. The State shall develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive and well-rounded
34 environmental engineering practitioners whose standard of professional practice and service shall be
35 excellent, qualitative, world-class and globally competitive through regulatory measures, programs and
36 activities.
37
38 Section 3. Coverage. This Act shall cover the following aspects of the practice of environmental
39 engineering profession:
40
41 (a) Examination, registration, and licensure of environmental engineering practitioners,
42 (b) Regulation, supervision and control of the practice of environmental engineering;
43 (c) Development, upgrading and updating of the curriculum of environmental engineering,
44 environmental engineering technology and environmental engineering technician professions, in
45 coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and higher educational
46 institutions (HEIs) and other stakeholders;
47 (d) Development and improvement of the professional competence and practice of environmental
48 engineering practitioners through, among others, continuing professional development (CPD); and
49 (e) Creation of relevant positions for environmental engineers, environmental engineering
50 technologists and environmental engineering technicians and such other positions which require
 51 the knowledge and services of environmental engineering practitioners in all levels of local
52 government units, relevant National Government Agencies and instrumentalities, including
53 government-owned and -controlled corporations as well as in industries, private establishments,
54 firms, corporations and institutions.
55
56 Section 4. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
57
58 (a) AIPO – Accredited Integrated Professional Organization for environmental engineering
59 practitioners;
60 (b) Air pollution engineering - a branch of environmental engineering concerned with the control
61 of pollutants in; their generation and release from a source, their transport and transformation
62 in and removal from the atmosphere, and their effects on human beings, materials, and
63 ecosystems;
64 (c) Air Pollution Control Engineering – a branch of Environmental Engineering in which
65 scientific and engineering concepts and principles are applied to control of air pollutant
66 emissions, their generation and release from a source, their transport and transformation in
67 and removal from the atmosphere, and their effects on human beings, materials, and
68 ecosystems. It covers monitoring and correction of air pollution problems originating from
69 relatively small areas, such as an industrial park impacted by one or more emission sources,
70 to those from large areas, such as urban area impacted by a number of sources and a variety
71 of contaminants. The overall goal is to improve ambient air quality to promote healthy
72 environmental quality and to protect property and public health
73 (d) Board – Professional Regulatory Board of Environmental Engineering;
74 (e) BSEnE – Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering;
75 (f) BSEnSE – Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering;
76 (g) BSSE – Bachelor of Science in Sanitary Engineering;
77 (h) CHED – Commission on Higher Education;
78 (i) Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation - involves actions to tolerate and limit the
79 magnitude or rate of long-term climate change. Adaptation involves adjustment made to
80 reduce vulnerability or enhance resilience while mitigation generally involves reduction in
81 human emissions of greenhouse gases;
82 (j) Commission – Professional Regulation Commission;
83 (k) CPD – Continuing Professional Development;
84 (l) DepEd – Department of Education;
85 (m) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management - refers to anticipating, mitigating, reducing, and
86 managing natural or anthropogenic hazards and risk. Climate change adaptation and
87 mitigation involves actions to tolerate and limit the magnitude or rate of long-term climate
88 change. Adaptation involves adjustment made to reduce vulnerability or enhance resilience
89 while mitigation generally involves reduction in human emissions of greenhouse gases.
90 Disaster risk reduction and management is the policy objective of anticipating, reducing, and
91 managing risk. Systematic process of using administrative, decisions, organizations,
92 operational skills and capacities to implement policies, strategies and coping capacities of the
93 society and communities;
94 (n) Environmental Engineering encompasses the application of science and engineering
95 principles to protect and improve the environment, including but not limited to air, water,
96 and/or land resources, to provide safe water, air and land for human habitation and for other
97 organisms and to remediate polluted sites, solid waste management, environmental impact
98 assessment, environmental risk assessment and management, atmospheric pollution
99 abatement; noise pollution abatement; conservation and protection of water resources;
100 classification of water; protection of watersheds; toxic and hazardous substances and
101 radiological pollution management. The ultimate goal of environmental engineering is the
102 protection of human populations from the effects of adverse environmental factors and the
103 protection of environments, both local and global, from potentially deleterious effects of
104 natural and human activities and improvement quality;
105 (o) Environmental Engineer – an environmental engineering practitioner duly registered with the
106 Board and the Commission to practice environmental engineering as defined in this Act;
107 (p) Environmental Engineering Technologist – an environmental engineering practitioner duly
108 registered with the Board and the Commission whose competence lies in the application of
109 environmental engineering technologies. Environmental engineering technologists shall be
110 graduates of BS in Environmental Engineering Technology or its equivalent conferred by a
111 school, academy, college or university in the Philippines or abroad which is recognized by the
112 CHED. Environmental technologists shall also refer to the sanitary inspectors with civil
113 service eligibility;
114 (q) Environmental Engineering Technician – an environmental engineering practitioner duly
115 registered with the Board and the Commission whose role is to apply established methods or
116 techniques of environmental engineering. Environmental technicians shall be graduates of
117 associate or certificate programs for environmental engineering technicians conferred by a
118 school, academy, college or university in the Philippines or abroad which is recognized by the
119 CHED. Environmental technicians shall also refer to the sanitary inspectors without civil
120 service eligibility.
121 (r) Environmental Engineering Management shall cover but not limited to the following;
122 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Water Quality Management, Ambient Air Quality
123 Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Disaster Risk Reduction and
124 Management, and other programs and strategies to maintain safe and healthy environment and
125 protect public health;
126 (s) Environmental Health and Safety Engineering - the branch of Environmental Engineering in
127 which scientific and engineering concepts and principles are applied to the examination of
128 indoor and outdoor environmental quality and condition to identify, monitor, evaluate and
129 elimination or control of hazards that expose people, environment or property to danger or
130 harm;
131 (t) Environmental Impact Assessment - a process that involves predicting and evaluating the
132 likely impacts of a project (including cumulative impacts) on the environment during
133 construction, commissioning, operation, and abandonment. It also includes designing
134 appropriate preventive, mitigating, and enhancement measures addressing these consequences
135 to protect the environment and the community’s welfare.
136 (u) Fire protection – the part of water supply that covers hydraulic analysis and engineering design
137 of water supply and fire hydrants for fire suppression and extinguishing systems in buildings;
138 (v) Hazardous Wastes – refers to those wastes defined and designated as hazardous wastes by
139 Republic Act No. 6969;
140 (w) Noise pollution engineering - a branch of environmental engineering that is concerned with
141 the generation, propagation, and control of environmental noise/sound that cause discomfort
142 to all living things.
143 (x) Noise Pollution Control Engineering – a branch of environmental engineering that is
144 concerned with the control of generation and propagation of environmental noise/sound that
145 cause discomfort to all living things;
146 (y) RA No. 1364 – “An Act Regulating the Practice of Sanitary Engineering in the Philippines”,
147 also known as the “Sanitary Engineering Law”;
148 (z) Radioactive and Nuclear Waste Management – refers to that branch of Environmental
149 Engineering in which the basic principles of science and engineering are applied to responsible
150 mining, milling, processing, refining of radioactive materials and disposal of any material that
151 contains or is contaminated with radionuclides at concentrations or activities greater than the
152 clearance levels as established by PNRI, and for which no use is foreseen
153 (aa) Fire Protection System – pertains to the engineered fire protection system for buildings, such
154 as; the automatic wet-pipe sprinkler system, wet and dry standpipe systems and other
155 engineered fire protection suppression systems that are applicable for other structures.
156 (bb) Sanitary Utilities for Buildings – refers to the water supply distribution system, sanitary
157 drainage system, wastewater recycling and reuse, storm drainage system, and waste water
158 treatment facility in buildings.
159 (cc) Sanitary Engineer – a person duly registered with the Board of Sanitary Engineering and the
160 Commission as provided in R.A. 1364;
161 (dd) Sanitary Engineering – a branch of Environmental Engineering which covers the control
162 of all factors in man’s physical environmental that adversely affect human life, health and
163 safety. It focuses on the identification and prevention of transmission of diseases through the
164 control of physical aspects of the environment including food, water, air, refuse, soil, insects
165 and vermin and also the control of domestic and personal hygiene practices. Specific activities
166 include sanitation of establishments, institutions and public places; insect and vermin control;
167 industrial hygiene; nuisance abatement; healthful lighting and ventilation; emergency water
168 supply and sanitation; environmental health impact assessment; disposal of dead persons;
169 water supply system design and management (both potable and used water and inclusive of
170 those in buildings/structures; food sanitation; and other engineering services related to the
171 protection of public health and welfare;
172 (ee) Sanitary Inspector – a person employed in the government service having a regular plantilla
173 position and performing the duties ascribed to an environmental engineering
174 technologist/technician in this Act.
175 (ff) Sanitary Utilities in Buildings – include water supply system, sanitary and storm systems as
176 well as fire protection systems in building;
177 (gg) Site Remediation – a branch of Environmental Engineering in which scientific and
178 engineering concepts and principles are applied to environmental quality investigation to
179 characterize the concentrations and locations of contaminants in the soil and groundwater,
180 conduct of risk assessment to estimate the health hazards of the contamination to humans and
181 the ecosystem, and strategies to clean-up the site and return it to safe utilization;
182 (hh) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering and Management- a branch of Environmental
183 Engineering in which scientific and engineering concepts and principles are applied to the
184 management of municipal solid and hazardous wastes to protect human health and the
185 environment and the conservation of limited resources through resource recovery and
186 recycling of waste materials. It covers research, siting, design, operation and maintenance,
187 monitoring, evaluation, and upgrading of facilities and related support structures to the
188 functional elements control of generation, characterization, onsite storage, collection,
189 segregation, transfer and transport, processing and recovery, recycling, and ultimate disposal
190 in a manner that is in accord with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering,
191 conservation, aesthetics and other environmental considerations;
192 (ii) Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste Management - refers to the process which involves
193 reducing the amount of hazardous substances produced, treating hazardous wastes to
194 reduce their toxicity, and applying sound engineering controls to reduce or eliminate
195 exposures to these wastes;
196 (jj) Water Quality Management - refers to the protection and improvement of the physical,
197 chemical, biological, microbiological, and radiological quality of water to maintain its most
198 beneficial use.
199 (kk) Water Supply Engineering – is a branch of environmental engineering concerned with the
200 scientific principles and analysis of water supply systems; development of sources of water
201 supply; quality assessment, collection and treatment of water from sources to drinking water
202 this includes municipal waters, storm waters, groundwater, surface water, rain water,
203 seawaters desalination, filtration systems and water re-use applications; Water quality criteria
204 and standards and their relation to public health, environment and urban water cycle; Water
205 quality concepts and their effect on treatment process selection; operation and maintenance of
206 water supply systems; evaluation of project alternatives on basis of chosen selection criteria
207 for drinking water; Water supply engineering within a watershed context to evaluate the water
208 balance within a watershed, management of watershed environment, determine the available
209 water supply, the water needed for various needs in that watershed, the seasonal cycles of
210 water movement through the watershed and development of the systems to store, treat, and
211 convey water for various uses; Design and rehabilitate raw water abstraction, transport,
212 treatment and distribution processes and systems; Water supply and treatment to secure water
213 supplies for potable and domestic use; Provisions of potable water supply where water is
214 treated to minimize risk of infectious disease transmittal, risk of non-infectious illness, and
215 create a palatable water flavor that meet various end-user needs such as domestic use.
216 (ll) Wastewater Engineering - is that branch of Environmental Engineering in which the basic
217 principles of science and engineering are applied to the problems of water pollution control.
218 It covers wastewater characterization, analysis and determination of wastewater flowrates and
219 constituent loadings, as well as physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes and
220 design, wastewater treatment plant residuals management, and other issues related to
221 wastewater treatment plant performance and wastewater disposal.
222
223 Section 5. Scope of Practice. The practice of environmental engineering practitioners, within the meaning
224 and intent of this Act, shall embrace, inter alia, services in:
225
226 (a) Water Supply and Wastewater Engineering
227 (b) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering
228 (c) Air Quality and Noise Pollution Control Engineering
229 (d) Sanitary Engineering (including Sanitary Utilities for Buildings)
230 (e) Site Remediation
231 (f) Environmental Health and Safety Engineering
232 (g) Environmental Engineering Management – covers; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA),
233 Water Quality Management, Ambient Air Quality Management, Climate Change Adaptation and
234 Mitigation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and other programs and strategies to
235 maintain safe and healthy environment and protect public health.
236
237 Environmental Engineer:
238
239 (a) Provide consultation services on environmental engineering;
240 (b) Plan, design, approve, investigate, evaluate, supervise, and monitor environmental engineering
241 processes, facilities including fire protection and sanitary utilities in buildings, and other related
242 projects;
243 (c) Develop, implement, and manage programs for waste minimization and recycling, resource
244 recovery, cleaner production, pollution abatement and mitigation, polluted sites remediation, and
245 other relevant environmental strategies;
246 (d) Conduct research on environmental problems, including current and emerging contaminants,
247 pollutants and public health issues, and create and design innovative solutions;
248 (e) Teach courses in the environmental engineering and allied programs and serve as resource person;
249 and
250 (f) Prepare and certify technical and environmental reports for compliance to environmental laws
251 and regulations;
252
253 Environmental Engineering Technologist. Environmental engineering technologist shall perform the
254 following services under the supervision of an environmental engineer:
255
256 (a) Conduct laboratory and field works pertaining to environmental engineering projects and
257 undertakings;
258 (b) Recommend the issuance of environmental and other related permits, clearances, or licenses,
259 including discharge permits, permit to operate air pollution source and control installations, and
260 sanitary permits; and
261 (c) Assist environmental engineers in the practice of the profession.
262
263 Environmental Engineering Technician. Environmental engineering technician shall perform the
264 following services under the supervision of an environmental engineer and/or environmental
265 engineering technologist:
266
267 (a) Conduct inspection, investigation, and sampling in pollution control facilities, sanitary utilities in
268 buildings, public places and establishments, and ambient environment (ambient air, water bodies,
269 land);
270 (b) Perform well-defined functions related to the practice of environmental engineering as directed
271 by an environmental engineer and/or environmental engineering technologist; and
272 (c) Prepare reports and correspondence pertaining to their activities.
273
274 ARTICLE II
275 BOARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
276
277 Section 6. Creation and Composition of the Board. There is hereby created a Professional Regulatory
278 Board of Environmental Engineering, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall consist of a Chairman
279 and four (4) Members:
280
281 (a) The Chairperson and two (2) Members shall be responsible for the environmental engineering
282 licensure examinations, whereas, the chairperson and the remaining fourth (4th) and fifth (5th)
283 members shall be responsible for the environmental engineering technologists and
284 environmental engineering technicians.
285 (b) The chairperson and members of the Board shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines
286 upon the recommendation of the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to
287 as the Commission, from a list of at least three (3) nominees for each position who shall be
288 endorsed by the duly accredited integrated professional organization (AIPO) of the
289 environmental engineering practitioners in the Philippines.
290
291 Section 7. Terms of Office. A member of the Board shall hold office for a term of three (3) years from the
292 date of appointment, or until their successor shall have been appointed or qualified. They may, however,
293 be reappointed for only a second (2nd) term as may be recommended by the Commission and the AIPO of
294 the environmental engineering practitioners. Each member shall qualify by taking an oath of office before
295 entering the performance of his/her duties. Vacancies in the Board shall be filled by the President of the
296 Philippines, from the list of candidates endorsed by the Commission, who were chosen and recommended
297 from the list of nominees submitted by the AIPO of the environmental engineering practitioners, but for the
298 unexpired term only. At the expiration of the term or removal of the Board chairperson, the most senior of
299 the Board Member shall temporarily assume and perform the duties and functions of the Chairperson, until
300 a permanent Chairperson is appointed by the President of the Philippines.
301
302 Section 8. Qualifications and Disqualifications of the Members of the Board. A member of the Board
303 shall, at the time of his/her appointment, possess the following qualifications:
304
305 (a) Must be a Filipino citizen and a resident of the Philippines for at least five (5) years;
306 (b) At least thirty-five (35) years of age, of good moral character, and of proven integrity in his/her
307 personal and professional conduct;
308 (c) Holder of a degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering or Bachelor of Science
309 in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering (BSEnSe) or Bachelor of Science in Sanitary
310 Engineering (BSSE) from a university, school, college, academy or institute in the Philippines that
311 is recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
312 (d) A registered Environmental Engineer and with a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant
313 experience;
314 (e) Must neither be an official nor a faculty member of, nor shall have pecuniary interest in any
315 university, college, school or institution conferring bachelor’s degree in environmental
316 engineering for at least three (3) years prior to his/her appointment. He/she must not be connected
317 with a review center, or with any group or association which offers or conducts review classes or
318 lectures in preparation for the licensure examinations, at the time of his/her appointment and
319 during his/her incumbency as chairperson or member of the Board.
320 (f) Must not be an incumbent officer of the AIPO of the environmental engineering practitioners
321 within a period of three (3) years prior to nomination; and
322 (g) Must not have been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude.
323
324 Section 9. Compensation and Allowances. The chairperson and members of the Board shall receive
325 compensation and allowances comparable to those being received by the chairpersons and members of
326 existing Boards under the Commission as provided for in the General Appropriations Act.
327
328 Section 10. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Board. The Board shall exercise the following
329 powers, functions and responsibilities:
330
331 (a) To promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary in carrying out the provisions of
332 this Act;
333 (b) To regulate the registration, licensure and the practice of environmental engineering, in
334 accordance with the provisions of this Act;
335 (c) To issue the Certificate of Registration (COR) and Professional Identification Cards (PIC) to
336 successful registrants, with or without examination;
337 (d) To administer oaths in accordance with the provisions of this Act;
338 (e) To issue Special Temporary Permit (STP) to qualified foreign environmental engineering
339 practitioners, who may be authorized by existing laws to practice environmental engineering in
340 the Philippines for a specific project and duration of time only;
341 (f) To monitor the conditions affecting the practice of the environmental engineering profession, and,
342 whenever necessary, adopt such measures deemed proper for the enhancement of the profession
343 and the maintenance of high professional technical and ethical standards;
344 (g) To hear and investigate cases arising from violations of this Act, its Implementing Rules and
345 Regulations (IRR), Code of Ethics, administrative policies, orders and issuances promulgated by
346 the Board. For this purpose, the Board shall issue subpoena ad testificandum and/or subpoena
347 duces tecum to secure the attendance of the respondents or witnesses and the production of
348 documents relative to the investigation conducted by the Board;
349 (h) To hear and investigate cases filed before the Board where the issue or question involves strictly
350 concerns the practice of the profession. In which case, the hearing shall be presided over by at
351 least one (1) member of the Board assisted by a Legal or Hearing Officer of the Commission;
352 (i) To conduct, through the Legal Officers of the Commission, summary proceeding on minor
353 violations of this Act, its IRR, including the general instructions to examinees, and render
354 summary judgment thereon, which, unless appealed to the Commission, shall become final and
355 executory after fifteen (15) days from the receipt of the judgment or decision;
356 (j) To suspend, revoke or reissue, reinstate COR and PIC or STP for causes provided by this law;
357 (k) To prepare, adopt and issue the syllabi or Tables of Specifications (TOS) of the subjects for
358 examination, in consultation with the academe; determine and prepare the questions for the
359 licensure examinations which shall strictly be within the scope of the syllabus or table of
360 specifications of the subjects for examination; score and rate the examination papers and submit
361 the results in all subjects duly signed by the members of the Board to the Commission within
362 thirty (30) days from the last day of examination, unless extended for justifiable cause/s; and
363 subject to the approval of the Commission;
364 (l) To prescribe and/or adopt a Code of Ethics for Environmental Engineers, Environmental
365 Engineering Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians in consultation with the
366 AIPO;
367 (m) To prescribe guidelines in the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program and to create
368 the CPD Council with the objective of providing and ensuring the continuous development of all
369 environmental engineering practitioners;
370 (n) To adopt an official seal of the Board; and
371 (o) To perform other functions and duties as may be necessary to implement this Act.
372
373 The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the Board shall be subject to
374 review and approval of the Commission. However, the Board’s decisions, resolutions and orders rendered
375 in administrative cases shall be subject to review only if on appeal.
376
377 Section 11. Annual Report. The Board shall, at the end of each calendar year, submit to the Commission a
378 detailed report of its activities and proceedings during the year embodying also such recommendations as
379 it may deem proper to promote the policies and objectives of this Act.
380
381 Section 12. Removal of Board Members. The President, upon recommendation of the Commission, may
382 remove any member of the Board on the following grounds: neglect of duty, incompetence, malpractice,
383 tolerance of irregularities in the examinations, or for unprofessional, unethical, or dishonorable conduct,
384 after having been given the opportunity to defend himself/herself in a proper administrative investigation.
385
386
387 ARTICLE III
388 LICENSURE, REGISTRATION AND PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
389
390 Section13. Examination Requirement. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act, all applicants
391 for registration for the practice of environmental engineering shall be required to pass a written technical
392 examination which shall be given at such times and places as may be determined by the Commission.
393
394 Section 14. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineers Licensure Examinations. Any
395 person applying for admission to the Environmental Engineering Licensure Examination shall establish to
396 the satisfaction of the Board that, on or before the date of the filing of application for the examination,
397 he/she:
398
399 (a) Is a citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity for the
400 practice of environmental engineering with the Philippines;
401 (b) Is of good reputation and with good moral values;
402 (c) Has not been convicted by the court of any offense involving moral turpitude; and
403 (d) Is a holder of a degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from a university,
404 college, academy or institute, duly constituted and recognized by the CHED.
405
406 Subject to the evaluation of the Board, all licensed engineers, with Bachelor’s degree in Environmental
407 Engineering and Master’s or Doctorate degree in Environmental Engineering, may be allowed to take the
408 Environmental Engineers Licensure Examinations within a period of five (5) years from the effectivity of
409 this Act.
410
411 Section 15. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineering Technologists Licensure
412 Examination. Any person applying for admission to the Environmental Engineering Technologists
413 Licensure Examination as herein provided, shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that, on or before
414 the date of date of the filing of application for examination, he/she:
415
416 (a) Is a citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity for the
417 practice of environmental engineering with the Philippines;
418 (b) Is of good reputation and with good moral values;
419 (c) Is A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering Technology;
420 (d) Has not been convicted by the court of any offense involving moral turpitude; and
421 (e) Is in good health.
422
423 Section 16. Qualifications of Applicants for the Environmental Engineering Technicians Licensure
424 Examination. Any person applying for admission to the Environmental Engineering Technicians Licensure
425 Examinations as herein provided, shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that, on or before the date
426 of the filing of application for examination, he/she:
427
428 (a) Is a citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a policy on reciprocity for the
429 practice of environmental engineering with the Philippines;
430 (b) Is of good reputation and with good moral values;
431 (c) Is a graduate of Associate or Certification in Environmental Engineering or has finished two years
432 of the prescribed curriculum for BSEnE;
433 (d) Has not been convicted by the court of an offense involving moral turpitude; and
434 (e) Is in good health.
435
436 Section 17. Subjects of the Environmental Engineering Licensure Examination. Unless modified by the
437 Board and the Commission, the Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technologists and
438 Environmental Engineering Technicians Licensure Examination shall cover, but not limited to, the
439 following subjects:
440
441 (a) Water Supply and Wastewater Engineering
442 (b) Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering
443 (c) Air Quality and Noise Pollution Control Engineering
444 (d) Sanitary Engineering (including Sanitary Utilities for Buildings)
445 (e) Site Remediation
446 (f) Environmental Health and Safety Engineering
447 (g) Environmental Engineering Management - covers Environmental Impact Assessment, Water
448 Quality Management, Ambient Air Quality Management, Climate Change Adaptation and
449 Mitigation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and other programs and strategies to
450 maintain safe and healthy environment, and to protect public health.
451
452 The Board, subject to the approval of the Commission, may amend or revise the subjects, the syllabi, and
453 the system and procedure in the Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technologists
454 and Environmental Engineering Technicians Licensure Examination
455
456 Section 18. Rating in the Licensure Examination. To be qualified as having passed the Environmental
457 Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians
458 Licensure Examination, a candidate must obtain a weighted general average of seventy percent (70%), with
459 no grade lower than fifty percent (50%) in any given subject. However, an examinee who obtains a weighted
460 general average rating of seventy percent (70%) or higher but obtains a rating below fifty percent (50%) in
461 any given subject, he/she must retake the examination in the subject or subjects where s/he obtained a grade
462 below fifty percent (50%).
463
464 An examinee who fails to pass the examination for the third (3rd) time shall be allowed to take another
465 examination only after the lapse of one (1) year from the last examination taken and after having completed
466 a refresher course in a government-recognized institution
467
468 Section 19. Oath. All successful registrants, with or without examination, shall take the prescribed
469 professional oath before any member of the Board or any other authorized official of the Commission prior
470 to entering the practice of the profession.
471
472 Section 20. Issuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional Identification Card. The Board and
473 the Commission shall issue a Certificate of Registration (COR) to a registrant who has met all the
474 requirements for registration under this Act. The COR shall bear the full name of the registrant, the
475 signatures of the Chairperson of the Commission and all members of the Board, and the official seals of the
476 Board and the Commission. The COR shall be the evidence that the person named therein is entitled to
477 practice the environmental engineering, environmental engineering technology and environmental
478 engineering technician profession, as the case may be, with all the privileges appurtenant thereto.
479
480 A Professional Identification Card (PIC) indicating the registration number, and dates of its issuance and
481 expiry, duly signed by the Commission chairperson, shall likewise be issued to a successful registrant. The
482 PIC shall be renewed after every three (3) years, subject to compliance with the requirements as may be
483 prescribed by the Board and the Commission.
484
485 Section 21. Registration without Examination. Within the periods specified below, the Board shall issue
486 CORs and PICs to the following qualified persons, without need of examination: Provided, that they possess
487 the following qualifications as validated by the Board:
488
489 Environmental Engineers: He/she must satisfy the following requirements:
490
491 i. A holder of a degree in ecological and environmental engineering, environmental
492 engineering, sanitary engineering, environmental and sanitary engineering or sanitary or
493 public health engineering, with at least seven (7) years of environmental engineering
494 experience; or
495 ii. A holder or a degree in any field of engineering plus a masters and/or doctorate degree in
496 environmental engineering from a recognized and legally constituted school, college or
497 university in the Philippines, with at least five (5) or three (3) years of environmental
498 engineering experience, respectively.
499 iii. A holder of a degree in any field of engineering from a school, academy, college or
500 university in the Philippines or abroad which is recognized by the CHED, and with at least
501 seven (7) years of environmental engineering experience and a registered engineer prior to
502 the effectivity of this Act.
503
504 Environmental Engineering Technologists: He/she must satisfy the following requirements:
505
506 i. Employed as pollution control officers and/or environmental management specialist and/or
507 employed with a permanent status as a Sanitary Inspector or Sanitarian at the Department
508 of Health (DOH) and/or other local government agencies.
509 ii. With 10 years of experience; and
510 iii. Baccalaureate degree
511
512 Environmental Engineering Technicians): He/she must satisfy the following requirements:
513
514 i. Employed with a permanent status as a Sanitary Inspector or Sanitarian at the Department
515 of Health (DOH) and/or other local government agencies for at least ten (10) years; and
516 ii. With appropriate civil service eligibility
517
518
519 Section 22. Foreign Reciprocity. No foreigner shall be admitted to the licensure examination, or be given
520 a COR and PIC, or be entitled to any of the rights and privileges under this Act, unless the requirements for
521 the registration or licensing in said foreign country or state are substantially the same as those required and
522 contemplated by the laws of the Philippines, and that the laws of such foreign country or state specifically
523 permits Filipino environmental engineering practitioners to practice within its territorial limits on the same
524 basis as the subjects or citizens of such country or state.
525
526 Section 23. Special Temporary Permits – The following are required to secure a Special Temporary Permit
527 (STP) from the Board, subject to the approval of the Commission:
528
529 (a) Environmental engineering practitioners from other countries called in by the government for
530 consultation and/or for a specific project; Provided, that such foreign environmental engineering
531 practitioners are legally qualified to practice environmental engineering in their country or state.
532 (b) Foreign consultants specializing in the field of environmental engineering, who, in the judgment
533 of the Board, may benefit the local practitioners through the transfer of technology: Provided, That
534 such registrants shall satisfy the following conditions:
535
536 i. That, at the time of engagement, no Filipino environmental engineering practitioner in the
537 country is competent, available and willing to perform the services for which the foreigner
538 has been hired; and
539 ii. Any particular or specific engagement shall not be in excess of one (1) year, renewable at
540 the discretion of the Board and the Commission.
541
542 Section 24. Refusal to Register. The Board shall not register any applicant for registration with or without
543 licensure examination, who suffers from any of the following disqualifications:
544
545 (a) Conviction by final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction of any offense involving moral
546 turpitude;
547 (b) Conviction by final judgment in any administrative case involving immorality or notoriously
548 undesirable conduct;
549 (c) Adjudged guilty for violation of the General Instructions to Examinees by the Board;
550 (d) Declared to be of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
551 (e) Proven to be afflicted with addiction to substance/s impairing one’s ability to practice the
552 profession through a finding to this effect by a medical or drug testing facility accredited by the
553 government.
554
555 In case of refusal to register, the Board shall issue to the applicant a written statement setting forth the
556 reasons for such refusal and shall file a copy thereof in its records.
557
558 Section 25. Suspension and Revocation of the Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification
559 Card or Special Temporary Permit. The Board shall have the power, after due notice and hearing, to
560 suspend or revoke the COR and PIC or STP on any of the following grounds:
561
562 (a) Violation of any provision of this Act, its IRR, Code of Ethics, and other policies and regulatory
563 measures of the Board and/or the Commission;
564 (b) Perpetration or use of fraud in obtaining his/her COR, PIC or STP;
565 (c) Gross incompetence, negligence or ignorance in the practice or exercise of the profession resulting
566 to death, injury of persons and/or damage to property;
567 (d) Unjustified refusal to join or to remain a member in good standing of the AIPO;
568 (e) Unjustified or unexplained neglect or failure to pay the annual registration fees for five (5)
569 consecutive years;
570 (f) Unjustified or unexplained non-renewal of the PIC for more than five (5) consecutive years;
571 (g) Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a person who is not an environmental engineering
572 practitioner by allowing him/her to use his/her COR, PIC or STP, among others;
573 (h) Practicing the profession during his/her suspension from the practice thereof; and
574 (i) Addiction to a drug or alcohol abuse impairing his/her ability to practice his/her profession or
575 being declared of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction.
576
577 The Board shall periodically evaluate the aforementioned grounds and revise or add new ones as the need
578 arises, subject to approval by the Commission.
579
580 Section 26. Filing of Charges - The rules on administrative investigation of the Commission shall govern
581 the filing of charges and the conduct of hearing and/or investigation, subject to applicable provisions of this
582 Act, RA No. 8981 and the Rules of Court.
583
584 Section 27. Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration, Replacement of Lost or Damaged
585 Certificate of Registration, Professional Identification Card or Special Temporary Permit. The Board
586 may, upon petition, reinstate or reissue a revoked COR after two (2) years from the effectivity of the
587 revocation, which is reckoned from the date of surrender of the said COR and/or PIC to the Board and/or
588 the Commission. The Board may not require the holder thereof to take another licensure examination. The
589 petitioner shall prove to the Board that he/she has valid reasons to resume the practice of his/her profession.
590 For the grant of his/her petition, the Board shall issue a Board Resolution, subject to approval by the
591 Commission.
592
593 A duplicate copy of a lost COR, PIC or STP may be reissued in accordance with rules thereon and upon
594 payment of the prescribed fee therefor.
595
596 Section 28. Use of Seal. All environmental engineering practitioners shall obtain a seal of such design as
597 the Board shall authorize and direct: Provided however, that the COR number issued by the Board shall be
598 included in the design of the seal. Plans and specifications prepared by, and under the direct supervision of
599 an environmental engineer shall be stamped with said seal during the life of the registrant’s COR. It shall
600 be unlawful to stamp or seal any document with said seal after the COR of the registrant named thereon has
601 expired or has been revoked, unless said COR shall have been renewed or re-issued.
602
603 Section 29. Display of Certificate of Registration in the Place of Practice. The proprietor or manager of a
604 firm, partnership or association which employs an environmental engineer shall post or cause to be posted
605 in a conspicuous place within the place of business of the firm, partnership or association, the COR of the
606 environmental engineer.
607
608 Section 30. Roster of Environmental Engineering Practitioners. The Commission shall keep a roster of
609 all duly licensed and registered environmental engineers, environmental engineering technologists and
610 environmental engineering technicians, with their names; registration numbers and places of business. The
611 Commission shall regularly update such roster and make it available to all interested parties, upon request.
612
613 Section 31. Continuing Professional Development. The Board shall prescribe the guidelines in the
614 implementation of the CPD programs for environmental engineering practitioners.
615
616 Section 32. Comprehensive Environmental Engineering Specialty Program. Within ninety (90) days from
617 the effectivity of this Act, the Board, in coordination with the AIPO for environmental engineering
618 practitioners and recognized specialty organizations, is hereby mandated to formulate and develop a
619 comprehensive environmental engineering specialty program that would upgrade the level of skills and
620 competence of environmental engineering specialists in the country, such as, but not limited to the areas
621 of Water Supply and Wastewater Engineering, Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering, Air Quality and
622 Noise Pollution Control Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Site Remediation, Environmental Health &
623 Safety Engineering, Environmental Engineering Management and such other areas as may be determined
624 by the Board.
625
626 Section 33. Environmental Engineering Code of the Philippines – Within ninety (90) days after the
627 effectivity of this Act, the President of the Philippines shall organize a committee to prepare the
628 Environmental Engineering Code of the Philippines to effectuate and carry out the objectives of this Act.
629 The Committee shall issue this Environmental Code of the Philippines within two years after the effectivity
630 of this Act.
631
632 ARTICLE IV
633 PENAL AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
634
635 Section 34. Vested Rights. All sanitary engineers registered under RA No 1364 shall automatically be
636 registered under the provisions of this Act.
637
638 Section 35. Practice of Firms. The practice of environmental engineering is a professional service based
639 on individual and personal qualifications. A firm, association or partnership may practice this profession:
640 Provided, that the principals of the firm, association or partnership are environmental engineers.
641
642 Section 36. Integration of the Environmental Engineering Professions. - The environmental engineering
643 profession shall be integrated into one (1) national organization which shall be recognized by the Board as
644 the one and only Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) of the environmental engineering
645 practitioners. Every environmental engineering practitioner shall, upon registration with the Board, ipso
646 facto become a member of the AIPO and shall receive all the benefits and privileges appurtenant to their
647 membership in the AIPO, upon payment of the required membership fees and dues.
648
649 Section 37. Appointment of Environmental Engineers to Relevant Positions in the Provincial, City and
650 Municipal Governments and Establishments with Environmental Engineering Functions. Within two
651 (2) years after the approval of this Act, all provinces, cities and municipalities shall appoint an
652 environmental engineer in their respective Provincial, City and Municipal Engineering Offices.
653
654 No person shall be appointed for that position unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local
655 government unit concerned, of good moral character, and a licensed environmental engineer. He must have
656 acquired experience in the practice of his profession for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial
657 or city environmental engineer, and three (3) years in the case of municipal environmental engineer. The
658 appointment of an environmental engineer shall be mandatory for the provincial, city and municipal
659 governments. The environmental engineer shall:
660
661 (a) Initiate, review and recommend changes in policies and objectives, plans and programs,
662 techniques, procedures and practices in environmental engineering works in general of the local
663 government unit concerned;
664 (b) Advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on environmental engineering matters and/or
665 concerns;
666 (c) Administer, coordinate, supervise, and control the implementation of projects relevant to
667 environmental engineering;
668 (d) Provide engineering services to the local government unit concerned, including investigation and
669 survey, engineering designs, feasibility studies and project management;
670 (e) In the case of provincial environmental engineers, exercise technical supervision over all
671 environmental engineering offices of component cities and municipalities; and
672 (f) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by
673 law or ordinance.
674
675 Firms, companies, partnerships or associations which are engaged in the installation, construction,
676 manufacture, operation or sale of environmental equipment, facilities and other environmental engineering
677 processes, or environmental permit holders (Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC), Water Permit,
678 Discharge Permit, etc.) shall hire or engage the services of at least one (1) environmental engineer.
679 Furthermore, industries, establishments, institutions, waterworks, and facilities which generate, treat,
680 discharge and/or dispose waste shall also be required to hire or engage the services of at least one (1)
681 environmental engineer who shall, at the same time, perform functions of a Pollution
682 Control/Environmental Officer.
683
684 Section 38. Ratio of Environmental Engineers, Environmental Engineering Technologists and
685 Environmental Engineering Technicians per population of LGUs. The IRR of this Act shall set the
686 standard ratio of environmental engineers, environmental engineering technologists and environmental
687 engineering technicians per population served in every province, city or municipality.
688
689 Section 39. Penal Provision. In addition to the administrative sanctions imposed under this Act, a person
690 committing any of the following acts shall, upon conviction, be sentenced by imprisonment of not less than
691 one (1) year but not more than five (5) years, or a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP
692 100,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 500,000.00) or both, at the discretion
693 of the Court:
694
695 a. Engaging in the practice of environmental engineering in the Philippines without having been
696 registered or without having conformed to the provisions of this Act;
697 b. Presenting or attempting to use as his own the COR or PIC of an environmental engineer,
698 environmental engineering technologists or environmental engineering technician, or Special
699 Temporary Permit of a foreign environmental engineering practitioner;
700 c. Giving of any false or forged evidence to the Board for the purpose of securing a COR, PIC or
701 STP, or impersonating any environmental engineering practitioner;
702 d. Attempting to use a revoked or suspended COR, PIC or STP;
703 e. Using in connection with his/her name or otherwise assuming, using or advertising any title or
704 description tending to convey the impression that he/she is an environmental engineering
705 practitioner without holding a valid COR, PIC or STP; or
706 f. Violating any of the provisions of this Act.
707
708 In case the offender is a corporation, partnership or juridical person, the penalty of imprisonment shall be
709 imposed on the environmental engineer jointly and solidarily with the responsible professionals, as well the
710 officer or officers responsible for permitting or causing the violation.
711
712 Section 40. Enforcement of the Act by Officers of the Law. The Board and the Commission shall
713 implement and enforce the provisions of this Act, its IRR, and whenever warranted, conduct investigation
714 on complaints for violations of this Act, its IRR and the Code of Ethics for Environmental Engineers,
715 Environmental Engineering Technologists and Environmental Engineering Technicians.
716
717 The National Government, any of its provincial, city or municipal government or political subdivision, shall
718 assist in the enforcement of the provisions of this Act. The Department of Justice shall act as legal adviser
719 of the Board and render such legal assistance as may be necessary in carrying out the provisions of this Act.
720
721 Section 41. Transitory Provision. The incumbent chairman and members of the Board of Sanitary
722 Engineering shall continue to serve in such capacity for the purpose of administering the Sanitary Engineers
723 Licensure Examination to the graduates of Bachelor of Science in Sanitary Engineering and Bachelor of
724 Science in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, until five years from effectivity date of this Act.
725 The additional two members for the Board of Environmental Engineering shall be constituted not later than
726 six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. The Board shall administer the Environmental Engineers
727 Licensure Examination to those who will graduate from the BSEnE course prior to the full implementation
728 of the BS in Environmental Engineering as prescribed in this Act.
729
730 Section 42. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Board shall, within ninety (90) days upon effectivity
731 of this Act, formulate and issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to carry out the provision of
732 this Act.
733
734 Section 43. Appropriations. The Chairperson of the Commission shall immediately include in the
735 Commission’s programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the
736 annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation
737 of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the Commission. Thereafter, such
738 sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the succeeding
739 GAA.
740
741 Section 45. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof is declared
742 unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions.
743
744 Section 46. Repealing Clause. All laws, parts of laws, decrees, orders, letters of instructions and ordinances,
745 or regulations in conflict with the provisions hereof, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
746
747 Section 47. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the
748 Official Gazette or in a major daily newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, whichever comes
749 first.
750 Approved.
751