Relevant Laws Environmental Planners Should Know

Republic Act No. 10587 Environmental Planning Act of 2013

EO 71 Devolution of Land use planning

EO 72  CLUP Preparation

EO 184 HLURB functions

EO 226 Omnibus Investments Code of 1987

PD 953 Tree Planting and Urban Forestry

PD 1308 Regulating the Profession of EnP

RA 6541 National Building Code of 1972

RA 6938 Cooperative Code of the Phils 1990

RA 6957 BOT Joint Venture Guidelines

RA 7611 Strategic Environment Plan of Palawan

RA 7835-CISFA

RA 7916 Philippine Economic Zone Authority Act 1994

RA 8371 Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997

RA 8981 PRC Modernization Act of 2000

RA 9184 Government Procurement Act

RA 9295 IRR - Domestic Shipping Shipbuilding

RA 9418 Volunteerism for Rural Development Act of 2008

RA 9501 Amendments to Magna Carta for Small Enterprises

RA 9507 Loan Restructuring Condonation of Socialized Housing

RA 9510 Credit Information System Act of 2008

RA 9512 Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008

RA 9514 Revised Fire Code of 2008

RA 9520 Revised Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008

RA 9710 Magna Carta of Women of 2009

RA 9904 Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners Association

RA 10066 National Culture Heritage Act of 2010

 

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Land Laws Environmental Planners Should Know

 

Commonwealth Act 141 of 1936 The Public Land Act.

PD 27 Land Reform - Emancipation from bondage

PD 1517 Urban Land Reform IRR

PD 1529 Land Registration

RA 1199 Agricultural Tenancy Act

RA 3488 Agrarian Reform of 1963

RA 6657 Agrarian Reform Law

RA 9700 Extension of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program

RA 10023 Free Patents to Residential Lands

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Housing Laws Environmental Planners Should Know

Republic Act No 11201- Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act

Batas Pambansa 220 Socialized and Low Cost Housing

House Bill 3769 Local housing boards

PD 933 Creating HSRC now HLURB

PD 957 Subdivision & Condominium Buyers Protection Act

PD 1096 National Bldg Code of 1977

RA 4726 Condominium Act of 1995

RA 7279 Urban and Housing Development Act of 1992

RA 7835 Comprehensive Integrated Shelter Finance Act

RA 9397 Amendment of UDHA

RA 9904 Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowner Associations

Republic Act No. 9653:  Rent Control Act (2009)

Republic Act No. 9397:  Disposition of Lands for Socialized Housing (2006)

Republic Act No. 9341:  The Rent Control Act (2005)

Republic Act No. 8501:  Penalty Condonation (1998)

Republic Act No. 8368:  Repeal of Presidential Decree No. 772 (1997)

Republic Act No. 8437:  Rent Control Law (1997)

Republic Act No. 7835:  CISFA (1994)

 

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Environmental Laws Environmental Planners Should Know

 

• RA 9593 Tourism Act 2009 

• RA 9729 Climate Change Act 

• RA 10121 DRRM act of 2010

• PD 1151 Philippine Environmental Policy 

• PD 1152 Philippine Environmental Code 

• CA 120 Creating the National Power Corporation

• PD 334 Creating the Phil National Oil Company

• PD 1442 Exploration & Development of Geothermal Resources 

• BP 33 Energy Conservation

• RA 5207 Atomic Energy

• RA 387 Petroleum Act of 1949

• RA 7638 Creating the Department of Energy 

• RA 9367 Biofuels Act of 2007 

• RA 9513 Renewable Energy Act of 2008 

• PD 1198 Exploration, Development and Exploitation of Natural Resources or in the Construction of Infrastructure Projects to Restore or Rehabilitate Areas

• PD 1899 Small-scale Mining 

• RA 7076 People's Small Scale Mining Act of 1991 

• RA 7942 Philippine Mining Act of 1995 

• DAO 2010-21 Mining Act IRR 

• DAO 96-40 IRR on CLRF 

• PD 705 Revised Forestry Code 

• BP 701 Amendments of the Forestry Code 

• PD 1775 Amendments to the Forestry Code 

• PD 1559 Further Amending the Revised Forestry Code 

• RA 3571 Prohibition against Cutting of Trees in Public Roads & Plazas 

• RA 9175 Chainsaw act of 2002

• EO 277 Amending Section 68 of the Revised Forestry Code

• Proclamation 926 Subic Watershed Forest Reserve Law

• RA 7586 NIPAS Law of 1992

• RA 7586 NIPAS Law of 1992 IRR

• RA 7586 NIPAS Law of 1992 DAO

• RA 9147 Wildlife Resources Protection and Conservation

• RA 9072 Caves and Cave Resources Conservation of 2002

• RA 9168 Philippine Plant Variety Protection Act of 2002

• PD 704 Fisheries Code

• PD 1015 Amendment to Fisheries Code

• RA 8550 New Fisheries Code of 1998

·         Republic Act No. 10654 amending Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

• RA 8435 Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act

• RA 8550 Fisheries Code of 1998 Implementing Rules

• PD 979 Marine Pollution Decree

• PD 977 Philippine Fish Marketing Authority

• PD 1219 Conservation of Coral Resources

• PD 1198 Permit to Gather Coral for Scientific Purposes

• PD 1067 Water Code of 1976

• RA 9522 Baselines of Philippine Territorial Sea

• RA 8041 National Water Crisis Act of 1995

• PD 198 Creation of Provincial Water Utilities

• PD 1586 Establishment of the Environmental Impact Statement System

• DENR DAO 1996-37 Environmental Impact System

• PD 424 Creating the NWRC

• RA 7160 Local Government Code of 1991 Book 1

• RA 9275 Clean Water Act of 2004

• DAO 05-10 Clean water act implementing rules and regulations

• PD 856 Sewage and Drainage IRR 1995

• CA 383 Anti-Dumping in Waterways

• PD 984 Pollution Control Law

• RA 9003 Ecological Solid Waste Management of 2001

• RA 6969 Control of Toxic Hazardous Nuclear Wastes

• RA 4850 Laguna Lake Development Authority

• RA 6234 Creating MWSS and Dissolving NAWASA

• PD 281 Creating the Pasig River Development Council

• DAO 90-34 Revised Water Usage & Classification Criteria

• DAO 90-35 Revised Effluents Regulations

• DAO94-26A Standards for Drinking Water

• PD 856 Sanitation Code of 1975

• DAO 97-39 Control Order for Cyanide

• DAO 98-58 Priority Chemical List

• RA 8749 Clean Air Act of 1999

• RA 3931 Water and Air Pollution Control Commission

• DAO 2000-82 Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework

• DAO 93-14A Amendment to Administrative Order No. 14

Series of 1993 and Clarifying its Coverage and Scope

• MC 97-10 Standard Cost and Fees for Various Services of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Relative to Mining Rights.

• EO 97-446 Phase out of Leaded Gasoline

• DAO 98-47 Phase out of Leaded Gasoline IRR

• DENR DAO 2003-51 Vehicle Emission Standards

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SCHOOLS OFFERING ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING, URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING COURSES IN THE PHILIPPINES

 

Under section 18 (b) of the RA 10587 or the Environmental Planning Act of 2013, an applicant for environmental planning board exam must be a holder of any of the following degrees from schools, colleges or universities duly recognized and accredited by the CHED:

1. A graduate in environmental planning, urban/city and regional planning, or town and country planning or its equivalent;

2. A Post-Graduate Diploma in Environmental Planning, city and regional planning or its equivalent, and with at least one (1) year of on-the-job training as required herein;

3. A Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Planning, city planning or urban and regional planning, or town and country planning, or its equivalent, and with two (2) years of on-the-job training as required herein

Note: Graduates of related courses and incumbent planners as previously allowed since 2014 are no longer allowed to take.

The following are some universities offering environmental planning and urban and regional planning courses in the Philippines (this is not a complete list):

 

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES – SCHOOL OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING

Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning

Master of Arts (MA) In Urban and Regional Planning

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Urban and Regional Planning

Master of Science (MSC) in Regional Development Planning

https://www.surp.upd.edu.ph/offerings.html

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES OPEN UNIVERSITY

Diploma in Land Use Planning

https://fmds.upou.edu.ph/academics/post-bac/dlup/

 

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES VISAYAS

Diploma in Urban and Regional Management

https://www.upv.edu.ph/files/UPV-Catalogue-Academic-Programs.pdf

 

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MINDANAO

Diploma/Masters in Urban and Regional Planning

https://www2.upmin.edu.ph/index.php/admission-sp-13858/degree-programs/durp-maurp

 

MIRRIAM COLLEGE

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Planning and Management

Masters/PhD in Environmental Planning and Management

https://www.mc.edu.ph/epm

 

BENGUET STATE UNIVERSITY (also offered at BSU Open University)

Master in Urban Management

http://www.bsu.edu.ph/content/master-urban-management

http://www.bsu.edu.ph/open-university

 

UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Planning

http://www.usc.edu.ph/academic/department/23

 

 

 

 

SOME IDEAS TO ADDRESS COVID-19

Fast Track the Implementation of RA11055 or the Philippine Identification Systems Act and RA11315 or the Community-Based Monitoring System Act

The IATF should fast track the implementation of National ID System (RA11055) as well as the implementation of Community-Based Monitoring System Act (RA11315). These will be both helpful in conducting massive testing, contact tracing and in the distribution of relief goods, services and other relief assistance.

Mandatory Establishment of Laboratory Testing Facility and Mass Testing at the Provincial Level

Make it mandatory for the Provincial Government to establish testing facility using portion of their 20% Economic Development Fund from their Internal Revenue Allotment. Further, provincial governments in partnership municipal/city local government units should conduct rapid mass testing to isolate at once those who are found positive at an early stage so that one will be able to receive hospital care immediately and to avoid infecting others.

Mandatory construction of respective isolation or quarantine facilities in every municipality and barangay

Make it mandatory for LGUs to construct their respective isolation or quarantine facilities. I observed that most LGUs, here in my province are converting classrooms for such use which may expose schoolchildren and teachers to possible infection.

Question is, where will be these persons under monitoring and suspected Covid 19 patients be quarantined once the classes start.

LGUs therefore should do their best to have their own isolation facilities. They can utilize their Bayanihan Fund given to them pursuant to DBM Local Budget Circular No. 125 dated April 7, 2020 which is equivalent to their one-month IRA. In addition to that, they can realign a portion of their 20% EDF for this purpose subject to the regulations under DBM-DILG JMC No. 01 dated March 27, 2020.

How COVID-19 will Affect the Future of Governance and Development?

Governance and development will be definitely reshaped by the new normal in social interaction which is basically a lifestyle of physical distancing or isolation. The Fourth Industrialization which is mark by technology-driven interactions will disrupt the traditional ways of face-to-face interactions.

The concepts of transparency, accountability and participation may now be measured thru the use of data analytics.

Definitely, there will be higher demand for efficiency, transparency and accountability at all levels as this pandemic made all realize the need for swifter and credible delivery of services while at the same time facing challenges to the economy.

Based on observation, the following are some policy reforms which may happen in the “new normal” :

International and Regional Level

•     Strengthening of international cooperation among member-countries of the United Nation, World Health Organization, ASEAN, to name a few in terms of information and resources sharing and setting of standards to prevent or combat pandemics.

•     Imposition of stiffer sanctions for countries who have irresponsibly handled outbreaks resulting to pandemic.

National and Local Level

•     Capacity-building for frontline workers, inter-agency task forces and skeleton workforce from the national to the local level.

•     Upgrading of qualifications for those who would like to enter public service.

•     Institutionalization of alternative work arrangements policy which include four-day work week and telecommuting or work from home, among others.

•     Policy reform to ensure that supply-chain is seamlessly operating amidst lockdowns/quarantines. (The current difficulty in the delivery of goods has led to price increases (based on my observation) and scarcity of food supply in some areas.)

•     Strict enforcement of law against hoarding and overpricing.

•     Setting-up of an effective communication system in every government level and offices for the public to have an access to legitimate information only. This is also a countermeasure against the proliferation of fake news especially in the social media.

•     Re-examine the Local Government Code to harness local autonomy and maximize local resources.

•     Strengthening of the Inter-Local Health Zones (ILHZ) and other areas of interlocal cooperation. In my observation, some LGUs have inactive ILHZs. This is important in improving referral system and in extending medical assistance especially to indigent patients.

•     Strengthening of partnership with civil society organizations and the business sector.

•     Mainstreaming of pandemic scenario in development plans

Politics

•     Public health will definitely be a hot election issue come 2022. Hopefully, voters will take note of their current experiences and will vote for good leaders who have the capacity to address such huge health crisis.

How will development be measured in the future? 

Development will not only be measured on economic terms. Higher level of emphasis will be given to human development index which measures development in terms of a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and have a decent standard of living (http://hdr.undp.org. All of which will depend on how countries manage and deliver basic services like health and education.

Country’ resiliency against pandemics in addition to natural disasters will now become of the standard of governance. Covid pandemic will definitely redefine the standards of service delivery. For example, our hospitals, classrooms, and public mode of transport will be re-planned to make it possible for everybody to observe physical distancing.

How will the new normal impact on development?

With isolation becoming a personal and a community lifestyle, economic and social development will suffer greatly. According to economists, recession is inevitable which will lead to higher prices and high unemployment rate.

Production areas like manufacturing factories which used to have a huge number of workers will be trimmed to ensure distancing. Advanced countries may opt to employ more robots as substitute to humans.

Lesser social interaction means the spirit of community cooperation will suffer. Social media will be a big help in terms of communication but it cannot replace face to face gathering in forging sense of community and belongingness. Social life is part of development especially if we are using Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness as a measure of development.

The new normal will definitely redefine the current model of development which is more concentrated on the development of urban areas or cities. There is now an effort for Balik Probinsya Program which intends to encourage people in the cities to go back to the provinces. Their families will be provided with livelihood opportunities to lure them to stay.

As I see it, the government both national and local will provide higher investment in health, water and sanitation as a way of strengthening resilience of the communities against Covid 19.

Using modern communication platform and other related technologies will now be more common. The use of the Internet in the delivery of services like health, education and other government transactions and in the delivery of good and services will now be the new normal. Open and distance education like UPOU will be offered by universities.

HOUSE RULES IN OUR QUARANTINE FACILITY (IN VERNACULAR)

HOUSE RULES

1.  Igindidiri an pagawas san Quarantine Facility sulod san 14 ka adlaw nga quarantine period.

2.  Igindidiri an pagpasulod sin maski sin-o nga bisita sa sulod san Quarantine Facility.

3.  Alayon niyo pag-obserbar san physical distancing ug pagsul-ot pirmi san facemask, ngan tama nga pag-ubo (coughing etiquette).

4.  Kun may-ada kam ipadarara nga gamit o igharatag sa iyo kapamilya, alayon niyo pagpabutang o pagbutang sa drop-off point ngan surati san ngaran san tag-iya ngan kun para kan kanay ighahatag.

5.  Alayon niyo pagkuha san iyo pagkaun sa drop-off point sa gintalaan nga oras.

6.  Kun may-ada kam sin sakit o kun nanu nga gin-aabat sugad san ubo, sip-on, o trangkaso, etc., pasabuta dayon an naka-assign nga health personnel sa iyo kwarto.

7.  Siguruhon niyo pirmi an kalimpyaduhan san sulod ug gawas san iyo kwarto. Limpyahan gud pirmi an CR kada pagamit.

8.  Ayaw pag-itatapok maski diin an iyo basura. Alayon niyo pagbutang sini sa “waste collection facility.”

9.  Igdidisinfect an iyo basura o mga labahan sugad san bado, taplak o ulunan antes niyo ini igawas san iyo kwarto.

10.   Bisan tapos na an iyo 14 ka adlaw nga pag quarantine ngan nakauli na kamo sa iyo balay, igpadayon gihapon niyo an an pag-monitor san iyo kalugaringon kun mayda kam sintomas sulod sin 14 ka adlaw man ta. May-ada mga panhitabo nga gunawas an sintomas kahuman san quarantine period. Kun mayda sugad nga panhitabo, alayon niyo pagsabot dayon sa iyo BHERT o sa RHU.

11.   Ighatag niyo an bug-os nga kooperasyon sa mga nakabantay nga personahe san PNP, barangay ngan san Rural Health Unit.

12.   Kun may-ada kam sin iba pa nga mga importante nga problema ug karuyag klaruhon, alayon pagpasabot sa iyo health personnel nga naka-assign. Pwede liwat niyo igtext an Facility Manager.

SOME IDEAS TO MAINTAIN A COVID 19-FREE OFFICE

•   Decongest crowded offices by allowing alternative work arrangement, specifically Four-Day (Compressed) Workweek, pursuant to CSC Memo Circular No. 10 dated May 7, 2020 as may be determined and recommended by the concerned department head subject to the approval by the HRMO and the undersigned. Priority should be given to senior citizen employees and those with underlying medical condition;
•   Strictly enforce “No Face Mask, No Entry” policy for employees and clients;
•          Frequent washing of hands with water and alcohol;
•         Physical distancing inside the office building/room;
•    Limit number of clients to be accommodated inside the office;
•          Set up waiting area outside the office;
•          Assign one reception area only for clients;
•     Rearrange office tables and fixtures to establish physical distancing;
•    Regular disinfection of the offices especially the doorknobs, table surfaces, computers and other office equipment and fixtures and comfort rooms;
•          Observe coughing etiquette;
•       Ensure1-meter physical distance between clients on queu by putting permanent circle marks, and;
•          Advise those who are sick to stay at home