Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗
SEC. 52. Population-Environment Balance.-In the assessment of development projects, the National Environmental Protection Council, hereinafter referred to in this Title as the "Council" shall take into consideration their effect on population with a view to achieving a rational and orderly balance between man and his environment.
SEC. 53. Environmental Education.-The Department of Education and Culture shall integrate subjects on environmental education in its school curricula at all levels. It shall also endeavor to conduct special community education emphasizing the relationship of man and nature as well as environmental sanitation and practices. The Council and other government agencies implementing environmental protection laws in coordination with public information agencies of the government shall undertake public information activities for the purpose of stimulating awareness and encouraging involvement in environmental protection.
SEC. 54. Environmental Research.-The Council shall undertake and/or promote continuing studies and research programs on environmental management and shall, from time to time, determine priority areas of environmental research.
SEC. 55. Monitoring and Dissemination of Environmental Information of Foreign Origin.-The Council shall itself informed of current environmentalk developments by obtaining information and literature from foreign sources through the Department of Foreign Affairs, government agencies and other entities, both domestic and foreign. Such information and literature shall be given the widest dissemination possible.
SEC. 56. Incentives.-To operate the installation and the utilization of pollution control facilities, the following incentives are hereby granted: a) exemption to the extent of fifty (50) per cent of tariff duties and compensating tax for the importation of pollution control equipment, devices, spare parts and accessories for a period of five (5) years from the effectivity of this Decree subject to the conditions that will be imposed by the Council. b) a tax credit equivalent to fifty (50) per cent of the value of the compensating tax and tariff duties that would have been paid on the pollution control equipment, devices, spare parts and accessories had these times been imported shall, within a period of seven (7) years from the effectivity of this Decree be given to the person or firm who or which purchase them from a domestic manufacturer, and another tax credit equivalent to twenty-five (25) per cent thereof shall be given to the said manufacturer subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Council; and c) deductions equivalent to fifty (50) per cent of the expenses actually incurred on research projects undertaken to develop technologies for the manufacture of pollution control equipment which have been proven effective and commercially reproducible, from the taxable income of the person or firm actually undertaking such projects subject to the conditions that may be imposed by the Council. The pollution control equipment, devices, spare parts and accessories acquired under this Section shall not be sold, transferred or disposed of within five (5) years from the date of ax=cquisition without the prior approval of the Council otherwise the importer or purchaser shall pay twice the amount of the tax exemption or tax credit granted.
SEC. 57. Financial Assistance/Grant.-Financial assistance/grant for the study, design and construction of environmental protection facilities especially for waste disposal in favort of cities, municipalities, small-and medium-scale industries may be granted on a case to case basis subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Council.
SEC. 58. Participants of Local Government Units and Private Individuals.-It shall be the responsibility of local government units as well as private individuals to actively participate in the environment management and protection programs of the government.
SEC. 59. Preservation of Historic and Cultural Resources and Heritage.-It shall be the duty of every person to help preserve the historic and cultural resources of the country such as sites, structures, artifacts, documents, objects, memorials and priceless trees.
SEC. 60. Government Offices performing Environmental Protection Functions.-Government agencies vested by law to exercise environmental management powers, shall continue to function as such within their respective jurisdictions. The Council may, however, in the exercise of its powers and functions under Presidential Decree No. 1121, inquire into any action or issue of environmental significance.
SEC. 61. Public Hearings.-The Council may, when ever it deems necessary, conduct public hearings on issues of environmental significance.
SEC. 62. Definition of Terms.-As used in this Code: a) "Ambient Air Quality" means the average atmospheric purity as distinguished from discharge measurements taken at the source of pollution. It is the general amount of pollution present in a broad area. b) "Emission" means the act of passing into the atmosphere an air contaminant, pollutant, gas stream and unweanted sound from a known source. c) "Water Quality" means the characteristics of water which define its use in terms of physical, chemical and biological contents; hence the quality of water for domestic use is different from industrial use. d) "Water Quality Surveillance" means a close and continous supervision of the water quality to detect developments, movements on changes in the characteristics of the water. e) "Water Quality Standard" means a plan that is established by governmental authority as a program for water pollutionm prevention and abatement. Such a standard may include water use classification and the criteria to support the uses of the water. f) "Effluent Standards" means restriction established to limit levels of concentration of physical, chemical and biological constituents which are discharged from point sources. g) "Clean-up Operations" refers to activities conducted in removing the pollutants discharged or spilled in water to restore it to pre-spill condition. h) "Accidental Spills" refers to spills of oil or other hazardous substances in water that result from accidents involving the carriers of such substance such as collisions and grounding. i) "Areas of Critical Environmental Concern" are areas where uncontrolled development could result in irreparable damage to important historic, cultural, or aesthetic values or natural systems or processes of national significance. j) "Hazardous Substances" means elements or compounds which when discharged in any quantity present imminent or substantial danger to public health and welfare. k) "Areas Impacted by Public Facilities" refers to areas where the intoduction of public facilities may tend to induce development and urbanization of more than local significance or impact. l) "Environmental Impact" is the alteration, to any degree, of environmental conditions or the creation of a new set of environmental conditions, adverse or benificial, to be induced or caused by a proposed project. m) "Government Agencies" refers to national, local and regional agencies and instrumentalities including government-owned and controlled corporations.
Provisions on this page are reproduced verbatim from official open data. See the attribution line.
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).