The Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System (PEISS) outlines the legal framework for conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) on projects that may significantly affect the environment. It mandates the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for environmentally critical projects and areas, requiring public participation and compliance with environmental standards. The PEISS aims to safeguard natural resources amidst industrialization and urbanization, having been established through policies starting from 1978.

1. PHILIPPINE
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT SYSTEM
by:
Mary KasselT. Blanco

2. TERMS
• PEISS - Philippine Environmental Impact
Statement System
• EIS - Environmental Impact Statement
• EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment
• ECP - Environmentally Critical Project
• ECA - Environmentally Critical Area
• IEE - Initial Environmental Examination

3. • ECC – Environmental Compliance Certificate
• ERA – Environmental Risk Assessment
• EIARC – EIA Review Committee
• EMP – Environmental Management Plan
• EMF –Environmental Monitoring Fund
• DENR – Department of Environment and
Natural Resources
• EMB – Environmental Management Bureau
• RED – Regional Executive Director

4. EIS
• An Environmental Impact Statement is a
document prepared to describe the
effects for proposed activities on the
environment.
• An EIS describes impacts, as well as
ways to "mitigate" impacts. To
"mitigate" means to lessen or remove
negative impacts.

5. The PEISS
• Provides legal and procedural framework for
conducting an EIA for projects likely to have
significant environmental impact.
• Designed to safeguard the environment and
natural resources in the fast growing
industrialization and urbanization.

6. The PEISS
• Established in 1978 through PD 1586 that
designates DENR, EMB and DENR Regional
office as the implementing agency.

7. Backgrounds(EIA Laws)
• PD 1151 (1977) – Philippine Environmental Policy
• PD 1586 (1978) – Establishment of the Philippine
Environmental Impact Statement System (PEISS)
w/ the then National Environmental Protection
Council (NEPC) as the lead agency

8. Backgrounds(EIA Laws)
• Administrative Order 42 (2002)
– Rationalizing the Implementation of
the Philippine EIS System giving
authority, in addition to the DENR
Secretary, to the EMB Central and
Regional Office Directors to grant or
deny issuance of ECCs

9. Backgrounds(EIA Laws)
• DENR Administrative Order (DAO)
96-37 - highlights the importance of
public participation and social
acceptability in the environmental
review process.

10. Backgrounds(EIA Laws)
• PP 2146 (1981)
– Proclaims certain areas and types
of projects as environmentally
critical & w/in the scope of the
Philippine Environmental Impact
Statement System (PEISS)

11. The System: Coverage and
Procedures
• The EIS system requires completion of an EIA
and preparation of an EIS report for any
environmentally critical project (ECP) or any
project located in an environmentally critical
area (ECA).

12. Environmentally Critical
Projects (ECP)
• Heavy Industries
• Resource Extractive Industries
• Infrastructure Projects
• Golf Course Pr0jects
• Others

13. Environmentally Critical
Areas (ECA)
• National parks, watershed, wildlife
preserves, and sanctuaries declared
by law.
• Tourist Spots
• Habitats of endangered or threatened
species
• Areas traditionally occupied by IP’s
and cultural communities
• Areas classified as prime
agricultural lands
• Areas frequently hit by natural
calamities

14. Projects not covered under
the EIS system include:
• Projects that are not ECPs or not located in
ECA
• Projects or structures that have been
operating or existing since 1982, even if they
are ECPs or in an ECA.

15. • DENR determines whether a proposal
is an ECP or will be implemented
in an ECA; if either or both of
these conditions apply, then the
proposal is required to secure an
(ECC)

16. Overview of the national EIS
system

17. Local Government Unit (LGU)
• The LGU should facilitate community
participation through public
outreach.
• It is the best interest of the
stakeholders to design or choose the
best development and mitigation
options or to encourage DENR to deny
an ECC if the project does not meet
environmental standards.

18. Review process for
environmentally critical
projects
• Proponents of projects classified
as ECPs are required to conduct an
EIA study and to submit an EIS
report to DENR’s EMB. The
following are basic steps in the
EIA process for these types of
projects.

20. EIA scoping: Ensuring
stakeholder participation.
• Scoping helps all parties understand
the level of analysis required,
specify the alternatives to be
evaluated, identify potential
impacts, and suggest possible
mitigation and monitoring measures
that should be addressed

21. Assessing environmental and
socioeconomic impacts.
• The EIA should include evaluation
of the proposed project’s
environmental and socioeconomic
impacts and should identify
alternatives (including the no-
action alternative) and mitigation
measures to reduce project impact.

22. Reporting and planning
• The proponent or consultants
certified by DENR accomplish the
required studies and prepare the
Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS)

23. Review
• The EIS is submitted to DENR’s
EMB, which then forwards it to the
EIA Review Committee (EIARC) for
evaluation. The EMB will not
accept an EIS document for review
if it is incomplete or not
adequately organized.

24. Outline of the EIS Document
• EIS Summary
• Project Description
• Summary of Scoping Agreements
• Baseline Environmental Conditions
• Impact Assessment and Analysis
• Environmental Management
Program/Plan
• Supporting Documents
• Proposals for Environmental
Monitoring and Guarantee fund
• Accountability Statement

25. ECC
• certifies that the project proponent
has complied with the procedures of
the EIS System. For ECPs, the EIS
together with the Committee’s report
is sent to the Director of the EMB,
who in turn forwards documents and
recommendations to the Secretary of
DENR within 15 days.

26. Monitoring
• Monitoring is usually initiated
before construction starts and
continues through project
construction and project
operation.

27. Review Process for projects
in ECA
• The review of the proposal
development is conducted through
DENR offices and consist of the
following steps.

28. Steps and timetable for
review of projects in ECAs

29. Initial environmental
examination. (IEE)
• The IEE contains a brief
project description, expected
impacts, and measures to be
undertaken to control, manage,
or minimize impacts on the
environment.

30. • The EIS for a project in ECA’s is
subjected to similar review as an
EIS prepared for ECP, but at the
regional level.
• The RED determines whether an ECC
will be granted or denied.

31. Social acceptability and
public participation
The EIS System has provisions for
public involvement and consultation.
• Public consultation
• Public hearings
• Alternative dispute or conflict
resolution
• Public information

32. LGU involvement
• At the local level, the following steps
should be followed by the LGU to assess
impacts of proposed projects:
• Screening
• Scoping
• Analysis and EIA report
• EIS and project decisions
• ECC and environmental management plan
• Environmental monitoring and compliance

33. Considerations in the Analysis
of ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
• DIRECT IMPACTS
• INDIRECT (including Induced) IMPACTS
• CUMULATIVE IMPACTS

34. INDIRECT AND INDUCED IMPACTS AS A
RESULT OF CASCADE OF EFFECTS
Land Clearing
Soil Erosion
loss of farm
products
sediment
delivery
turbidity
siltation of
reservoir
damage to fisheries
nutrient depletion
nutrients in run-off
aquatic weeds grow and
die
Lowered dissolved
oxygen

35. • References:
– http://www.emb.gov.ph/portal/Portals/13/LAW
S%20PDF/PD1586.pdf
– http://www.emb.gov.ph/portal/Portals/13/LAW
S%20PDF/PD1586.pdf
– http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/eis/whatiseis/i
ndex.cfm
– http://oneocean.org/overseas/200203/the_phili
ppine_environment_impact_statement_system
_and_what_it_entails.html

36. THANK YOU!!