DENR - Environmental Management Bureau 12

EMB was a product of the merger of two offices – the National Pollution Control Commission (NPCC) and the National Environmental Protection Council (NEPC). EMB absorbed the different functions of the two offices. It was created as a staff bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 1987 by virtue of Executive Order (E.O.) 192. The Environmental Quality Division (now known as Pollution Control Division) implements the National Pollution Control Law (Presidential Decree 984) while the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System law (Presidential Decree 1586) is being enforced by EMB, particularly on the environmentally critical projects (ECP) classified under environmentally critical areas (ECAs).

Another major activity of EMB is the implementation of Republic Act 6969, otherwise known as Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act. The passage of the Philippine Clean Air Act (R.A. 8749) on June 23, 1999 and the 2000 Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (R.A. 9003), R.A. 9275 or the 2004 Philippine Clean Water Act strengthened the implementation of environmental laws and regulations. In 2008, the passage of R.A. 9512, or the Environmental Education and Awareness Act, which provided a solid foundation for environmental education in the country, also solidified the EE activities of EMB.

EMB was converted from a staff bureau to a line bureau by virtue of R.A. 8749 thereby paving the way for the creation of EMB Regional Offices. The EMB established office for Region XII in January 2000 in the then Municipality of Koronadal in South Cotabato, the new seat of the region. Koronadal became a city in October 8, 2000.

Presently, EMB R-XII has the following works and activities, to wit:

A. Environmental Impact Assessment

Processing of Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC)/ Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) applications
Monitoring of projects issued ECCs
Survey of projects without ECCs
Organization of Multipartite Monitoring Teams

B. Air Quality Management (Strictly implement the provisions of R.A. 8749 (Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999)

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
Maintenance and monitoring of sampling stations
Assessment of air quality
Identification and establishment of airshed/governing boards
Emission source inventory by area, stationary and mobile

C. Water Quality Management

Monitoring of water bodies
Assessment of water quality
Classification/Reclassification of water bodies
Identification and establishment of water quality management areas/governing boards
Implementation of the “Adopt-Estero” Program
Monitoring of bathing beaches (Beach watch program)
Monitoring of barangay sites with potable water under the Tap watch Program

D. Regulatory and Law Enforcement Services

Processing of Permits

Permit to Operate Air Pollution Source Facility (APSF)/Air Pollution Control Facility (APCF)
Wastewater Discharge Permit (WDP)

Survey of firms for air/water
Inspection of firms for air/water quality management
Evaluation of firms for Eco-watch System

E. Toxic Chemical and Waste Management

1. Solid Waste Management

Implementation of ESWM Law (R.A. 9003)
Technical Assistance to LGUs in assessment of identified potential sanitary landfill sites
Technical Assistance on the conversion of open dumpsites into controlled dumpsites as per RA 9003
Assistance to National Solid Waste Management Status Report

Inventory of waste management facilities
Inventory of available market for recyclables
Waste Characterization Data

Survey of SWM projects implemented by NGOs/Private/ Public Sector
Conduct of SWM training/seminar/workshop

2. Toxic Chemical Waste Management

Survey of importers, manufacturers
Processing & issuance of Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances (PICCS) certification, Small Quantity Importation, Importation Clearance under Chemical Control Orders (CCOs)

Review and Registration of industries under CCO
Monitoring of Industries with CCO registration

3. Hazardous Waste Management

Survey of potential hazardous waste generators (HWG)
Evaluation of application for HWG registration
Conduct of inspection and monitoring of HWG, transporters & Treatment, Storage and Disposal (TSD) facilities

F. Support to Planning, Statistical Services, IEC and MIS

1. Planning & Programming

Conduct of regional planning workshops/conferences
Review, evaluation and preparation of work and financial plans
Assistance to preparation of budget hearing materials
Preparation of Annual Performance Reports
Preparation of Monthly and Quarterly Reports including Narrative Reports

2. Statistical Services

Preparation of statistical reports
Preparation and participation to statistical activities

3. Management Information System

Updating of database (ECC database & Document Tracking System)

4. Information, Education and Communication

Implementation of the region’s Brown Environment Communication Plan (conduct of symposia/seminars, development of materials on environment, TV/radio plugs, conduct of environmental lectures
Conduct of special events for national environmental celebration
Annual update of the Regional State of the Brown Environment Report, Air Quality Status
Report, Airshed Status Report, Water Quality Status Report
Preparation of weekly regional fact sheets
Preparation of regional environmental press releases

5. Generation/collection of Revenues

G. Pollution Research and Laboratory Services

Analysis of samples
Inter-laboratory calibrations
Laboratory upgrading

H. Legal Services and Adjudication of Pollution Cases including Technical Support to Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB)

Pollution complaints
Conduct of technical conferences
Elevation of pollution cases to PAB