As part of the DILG’s efforts to rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay, the Department of the Interior and Local Government – National Capital Region (DILG-NCR), through its Manila Bay Cleanup, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program Management Team (MBCRP-PMT), conducted a seminar and orientation on the roles and responsibilities of the Local Government Units (LGUs) in ensuring that infrastructure and other projects comply with the environmental standards, requirements, and statutes. The activity was held on August 31, 2022 at the Walter Hogan Conference Center, Institute of Social Order in Ateneo de Manila University.

The activity, titled “LGUs and Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System (PEISS)-Friendly Projects: An Orientation Towards the Provision of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to Environmentally Critical Projects and Areas”, aims to provide the LGUs an overview the PEISS and which parts of the process require LGU involvement.

Ms. Divina Camarao, Chief of the Environmental Impact Assessment Section of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environment Management Bureau National Capital Region (DENR-EMB NCR), explained the technical aspects of the system to the LGU representatives from local offices such as the City Environment Natural Resources Office (CENRO), City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), and local functionaries in charge of housing and Sanitation. Assisting Ms. Camarao in the activity was Project Development Officer III Ms. Riza Arjona, from the same unit.

One of the highlights of Ms. Camarao’s presentation was the introduction of the EMB’s online system, a more streamlined and convenient way to apply for a Certificate of Non-Coverage for projects that cover a land area of 25 hectares or less.

The second half of the activity revolved around the roles and responsibilities of LGUs in monitoring the compliance of projects, particularly those situated in the Manila Bay area, with the environmental standards required by law and thereby ensure that the balance between economic development and environmental health is maintained. This part of the seminar was led by Ms. Mary Mei Tio, Program Development Officer III of the MBCRP-PMT
recognizing and maintaining the compliance of projects, particularly projects in the Manila Bay area, with the environmental considerations required by the law to ensure that the balance between economic development and environmental health is maintained. The discussion was led by Mary Mei Tio, Program Development Officer III of the MBCRP Program Management Team.

To emphasize the importance of LGU actions against non-compliant development projects, Ms. Tio said, “we are no stranger to the decline in the country’s environmental health over the decades. As champions of the environment, we must live up to what is required of our positions and implement the policies in place to ensure that we prevent the environment from dying further.”

As a follow-up activity, the MBCRP-PMT, through the Center for the Advancement of Local Governance (CALG), will be conducting a forum for LGUs on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management on the third week of September 2022.