air act

• RA 8749


  The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

  
• The law


  • Formulate a holistic national program of air pollution management
  • Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among citizens and industries through market-based instruments

  
• Salient Features of the Act

  1. Formulate a holistic national program of air pollution that shall be implemented by the government through proper delegation and effective coordination of function and activities

  2. Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among citizen and industries through the application of incentives market-based instruments

  3. Focus primarily on pollution prevention rather than on control and provide for a comprehensive management program on air pollution

  4. Promote public information and education to encourage the participation of an informed and active public in air quality planning and monitoring

  5. Formulate and enforce a system of accountability for short and long term adverse environmental impact of a project, program or activity. This shall include setting up of a funding or guarantee mechanism for clean up and environmental rehabilitation and compensation for personal damages

  
• Agencies mandated to support the Act


  • Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
  • Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC)
  • Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
  • Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
  • Department of Energy (DOE)
  • Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA)
  • Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)
  • Department of Education (DepEd)
  • Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
  • Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG)
  • Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
• DENR


  • Act as overall of the lead agency
  • Prepare a National Air Quality Status Report which shall be used as a basis in formulating the Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework
  • Issue, rules and regulations in the Implementation of the Act

  
• DOTC


  • In coordination with the DENR in case of industrial dischargers and the DOTC, in case of motor vehicles, shall, based on environmental techniques, design. Impose on and collect regular emission fees from all said dischargers as part of the emission permitting system or vehicle registration renewal system, as the case may be
  • Implement the emission standards for motor vehicles
• DOST


  • With the DENR, other agencies, private sector, the academe, non-government organizations and people's organization, shall establish a National Research Development Program for the prevention and control of air pollution

  
• DTI


  • Along with DOST, LGUs, and DENR shall develop an action plan for the control and management of air pollution from motor vehicles with the Integrated Air Quality Management Framework

  
• DOTC, DTI, and DENR

  • Shall establish the procedures fore the inspection of motor vehicles and the testing of their emissions for the purpose of determining the concentration and/or rate of emission of pollutants discharged by the said sources
• DOE


  • Co-chaired with the DENR, in consultation with the Bureau of Product Standards of DTI, DOST with the fuel and automotive industries, academe and consumers – shall set specifications for all types of fuel and fuel related products, to improve fuel composition for increased efficiency and reduced emissions
• PAGASA


  • Shall regularly monitor meteorological factors affecting environmental conditions including ozone depletion and greenhouse gases

  
• PNRI


  • With the DENR, shall regulate all projects which will involve the use of atomic and/or nuclear energy, and will entail release of radioactive substances into the environment, incident to the establishment or possession of nuclear energy facilities and radioactive materials, handling, transport, production, storage and use of radioactive materials
• DepEd, CHED, DILG, PIA

  • Shall encourage participation of government agencies and the private sector including NGOs, POs, academe, environmental groups and other private entities in a multi-sectoral campaign
• Air Pollution Clearances and Permits for Stationary Sources

  • The DENR shall have the authority to issue permits as it may determine necessary for the prevention and abatement of air pollution

  
• Pollution from Stationary Sources

  • The DENR shall, within two (2) years from the effectivity of this act , and every two (2) years thereafter, review, or as the need therefore arises, revise and publish emission standards, to further improve the emission standards for stationary sources of air pollution
• Ban on Incineration


  • The burning of municipal, bio-medical and hazardous wastes, which process emits poisonous and toxic fumes
• Pollution from Motor Vehicles


  • The DOTC shall implement the emission standards for motor vehicles set pursuant to and as provided in this Act
• Regulation of All Motor Vehicles and Engines


  • All imported new or locally assembled new motor vehicle shall not be registered unless it complies with the emission standards set pursuant to this Act
• Pollution from Smoking


  • Smoking inside a public building or an enclosed public place including public vehicles and other means of transport or in any enclosed area outside of one's private residence, private residence, private place of work or any duly designated smoking area is hereby prohibited under this Act