REPUBLIC ACT No.
3931 conducting sewage, and industrial waste or
AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL WATER AND
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION.
Section 1. Statement of Policy. It is hereby declared
a national policy to maintain reasonable standards of
purity for the waters and air of this country with their
utilization for domestic, agricultural, industrial and
other legitimate purposes.
Section 2. Definitions. As used in this Act:
(a) "Pollution" means such alteration of the
physical, chemical and/or biological properties
of any water and/or atmospheric air of the
Philippines, or any such discharge of any
liquid, gaseous or solid substance into any of
the waters and/or atmospheric air of the
country as will or is likely to create or render
such waters and/or atmospheric air harmful or
detrimental or injurious to public health, safety
or welfare, or to domestic, commercial,
industrial, agricultural, recreational or other
legitimate uses, or to livestock, wild animals,
birds, fish or other aquatic life.
(b) "Sewage" means the water-carried human
or animal wastes from residences, buildings,
industrial establishments, or other places,
together with such water infiltration and
surface water as may be present. The
admixture of sewage as above defined and
industrial wastes or other wastes as hereafter
defined, shall be considered "sewage".
(c) "Industrial waste" means any liquid,
gaseous or solid matter, or other waste
substance or a combination thereof resulting
from any process of industry, manufacturing
trade or business or from the development,
processing or recovery of any natural
resources.
(d) "Other waste" means garbage, refuse,
wood residues, sand, lime, cinders, ashes,
offal, night-oil, tar, dye stuffs, acids,
chemicals, and other substances not sewage
or industrial waste which may cause or tend to
cause pollution, or contribute to the pollution
of the waters and/or atmospheric air of the
Philippines.
(e) "Sewage system or sewerage system"
means pipe lines or conduits, pumping
stations, force mains, constructed drainage
ditches, and all other construction, devices,
and appurtenances used for collecting or
other wastes to a point of ultimate disposal or
discharge.
(f) "Treatment works" means any methods,
construction, device or appliances
appurtenant thereto, installed for the purpose
of treating neutralizing, stabilizing,
disinfecting, or disposing of sewage, industrial
waste or other wastes, or for the recovery of
by-product from such sewage, industrial waste
or other wastes.
(g) "Sewage works" means individually or
collectively those constructions or devices
used for collecting pumping, treating, and
disposing of sewage, industrial waste or other
wastes, or for the recovery of by-products
from such sewage, industrial waste or other
wastes.
(h) "Outlet" means the terminus of a sewage
works or point of emergence into the waters
and/or atmospheric air of the Philippines of
any sewage, industrial waste or other wastes.
(i) "Waters of the Philippines" means all
accumulations of water, surface and
underground water, natural or artificial, public
or private or parts thereof, which are within the
Philippines or within its jurisdiction.
(j) "Atmospheric air of the Philippines" means
the air within the Philippines or within its
jurisdiction.
(k) "Person" or "Persons" means any
individual public or private corporation,
political subdivision, government agency,
municipality, public or private institution,
industry, co-partnership, association, firms,
trust, or any other entity whatsoever.
(l) "Stream standard" or stream standards"
means such measure of purity or quality for
any waters in the Philippines in relation to
their reasonable and necessary use.
(m) "Commission" means the National Water
and Air Pollution Control Commission.
Section 3. Creation of the National Water and Air
Pollution Control Commission; members;
compensation; advisory council. There is hereby
created and established in the Office of the President
of the Philippines, the National Water and Air
Pollution Control Commission, with permanent office
in the City of Manila. The Commission shall be
composed of the Chairman of the National Science
Development Board, as chairman, and, as members,
four part-time commissioners, one of whom shall be
an officer of the Department of Health who shall be
designated by the Secretary of Health; another shall
be an officer of the Department of Agriculture and
National Resources, who shall be designated by the
Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources; and
the remaining two shall be representatives of the
private sector who shall be appointed by the
President of the Philippines with the consent of the
Commission on Appointments, one upon
recommendation of the Philippine Council of Science
and Technology, and the other upon the
recommendation of the Chamber of Industries of the
Philippines; and two full-time commissioners who
shall likewise be appointed by the President of the
Philippines, with the consent of the Commission on
Appointments. One of the full-time commissioners
shall be a sanitary engineer; and the other a lawyer.
Both shall beat least thirty five-years of age and shall
each have had at least ten years experience in the
practice of his profession.
The two part-time commissioners representing the
private sector and the two full-time commissioners
shall serve for four years and until their successors
shall have been appointed and qualified. They may
not be removed except for cause. Upon the death,
resignation or removal of any of them, the President
shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy for
his unexpired term.
The chairman and members of the Commission,
except the full-time commissioners, shall receive no
compensation for their services, but they shall receive
per diems of fifty pesos each per meeting plus the
necessary traveling expenses incurred in the
discharged of their duties as members of the
Commission. The two full-time members shall each
receive a yearly compensation of eighteen thousand
pesos. They shall also receive traveling expenses
incurred in the discharge of their duties as
commissioners.
Section 4. Organization of the Commission; its
offices; cooperation with other agencies; acceptance
of donations. The President of the Philippines shall
organize the Commission within thirty days after the
approval of this Act.
The Technical Secretary of the Commission shall be
appointed by the Commission. He shall be a sanitary
engineer with at least five years experience in the
technical and administrative fields of engineering. He
shall be the active administrator of all water and air
pollution control activities of the Commission. The
Technical Secretary shall, during the interim between
meetings of the Commission, handle such
correspondence, make or arrange for such
inspections and investigations, and obtain, assemble
or prepare such reports and data as the Commission
may direct or authorize. His compensation shall be
determined by the Commission.
The Commission shall provide such technical
scientific or other services, including the necessary
laboratory and other facilities as may be required for
the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act.
The basic personnel necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act shall be engineers, chemists,
bio-chemists, physicists, and other
technicians: Provided, That the Commission may, by
agreement, secure such services as it may deem
necessary from other agencies of the National
Government, and may make arrangements for the
compensation of such services. The Commission may
also employ and compensate, within appropriations
available therefor, such consultants, experts,
advisors, or assistants on a full or part-time basis as
may be necessary, coming from government or
private business entities, associations, or from local or
foreign organizations, to carry out the provision of this
Act and may prescribe their powers, duties, and
responsibilities.
The Commission may conduct scientific experiments,
investigations and research to discover economical
and practical methods of preventing water and air
pollutions. To this end, the Commission may
corporate with any public or private agency in the
conduct of such experiments, investigations and
research and may accept, and receipt for such money
for and in behalf of the National Government, given by
any international, national or other public or private
agency for water and air pollution control activities,
surveys or programmes: Provided, That sums of
money shall be used only for the purpose for which
they are contributed and any balance remaining after
the conclusion of experiments, investigations and
research shall be returned to the contributors. The
Commission is authorized to promulgate such rules
and regulations or enter into contracts as it may deem
necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act.
Section 5. Meeting of the Commission, quorum. The
Commission shall meet as often as necessary to carry
into effect the provisions of this Act and at times and
places to be designated by the Chairman of the
Commission, and shall keep a complete record of the
meetings which shall be kept on file in the office of the
Technical Secretary, and shall determine the rules of
its own proceedings. Meetings may be called by the
chairman upon his own initiative or upon the written
request of two or more members of the Commission.
Written notice of the time and place of such meetings
shall be delivered to the office of each member of the
Commission and the Technical Secretary. Four
members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum to transact the business of the
Commission: Provided, however, That the
concurrence of the majority of all the members of the
Commission shall be necessary to exercise the
powers and duties enumerated in Section six of this
Act and to render any order, judgment or decision in
the proceedings referred to in section seven and eight
hereof.
Section 6. Powers and duties. (a) The commission is
hereby authorized to:
1. Determine if pollution exists in any of the
waters and/or atmospheric air of the
Philippines. Findings of the Commission
regarding the existence of pollution shall be
filed on record in the office of the Commission.
2. Adopt, prescribe, and promulgate rules and
regulations governing the procedures of the
Commission with respect to hearings; the
methods and manner under which plans,
specifications, designs, or other data relative
thereto shall be submitted for sewage works
and industrial wastes disposal systems or for
addition or change to or extensions of such
work; the filing of reports; the issuance of
permits; and such other reasonable rules and
regulations as may be necessary from time to
time in the proper implementation and
enforcement of this Act.
3. Hold public hearings, receive pertinent and
relevant proofs from any party in interest who
appear before the Commission, make findings
of facts and determinations, all with respect to
the violations of this Act or orders issued by
the Commission.
4. Make, alter or modify orders requiring the
discontinuance of pollution of the waters
and/or atmospheric air of the Philippines due
to the discharge of sewage, industrial wastes
or other wastes and specifying the conditions
and the time within which such discontinuance
must be accomplished.
5. Institute or cause to be instituted in a court
of competent jurisdiction legal proceedings to
compel compliance with the provisions of this
Act.
6. Issue, renew, or deny permits, under such
conditions as it may determine to be
reasonable, for the prevention and abatement
of pollution, for the discharge of sewage,
industrial wastes or other wastes, or for the
installation or operation of sewage works and
industrial disposal systems, or parts thereof,
except that no permits shall be required of any
new sewage, works or changes to or
extensions of existing works that discharge
only domestic or sanitary wastes from a single
residential building housing or occupied by
twenty pesos or less: Provided, however, That
applications for the issuance or renewal of
permits required under this Act shall be filed
with and decided by the city engineer or
district engineer of the city or province from
which the discharge of industrial or other
wastes shall originate, in accordance with
rules, regulations and standards to be issued
by the Commission. In case of doubt, the city
or district engineer shall consult with the
Commission before issuing, renewing, or
denying the permit applied for; and any
decision of the city or district engineer may be
appealed by the applicant or by any resident
of the place who may be affected by the
discharge of waste to the Commission, under
such rules and regulations as the Commission
shall issue for such appeals.
7. After due notice and hearing, revoke
suspend or modify any permit issued under
this Act, whenever modifications are
necessary to prevent or abate pollution of any
water and/or atmospheric air of the
Philippines.
8. Cause such investigation to be made as it
may deem advisable and necessary for the
discharge of its duties under this Act.
9. Settle or compromise any dispute arising
out of the implementation and enforcement of
the second paragraph of Section ten of this
Act as it may seem advantageous to the
public interest.
10. Perform such other duties as may be
necessary to carry out effectively the duties
and responsibilities prescribed in this Act.
(b) The Commission shall have the
following duties and responsibilities:
1. To encourage voluntary cooperation by the
people, municipalities, industries,
associations, agriculture and representatives
of other pursuits in the proper utilization and
conservation of the waters and/or atmospheric
air of the Philippines.
2. To encourage the formation and
organization of cooperative groups or
associations in municipalities, industries,
enterprises and other users of the waters who
severally and jointly are or may be the source
of pollution of the same waters, the purpose of
which shall be to provide a medium to discuss
and formulate plans for the prevention and
abatement of pollution.
3. To serve as arbitrator for the determination
of reparations involved in the damages and
losses resulting from the pollution of the
waters and/or air in the Philippines.
4. To devise, consult, participate, cooperate
and enter into agreements with other agencies
of the government, and with affected political
groups, political subdivisions, and enterprises
in the furtherance of the purpose of this Act.
This particularly refers to such cooperative
agreements with the various provincial and
municipal governments in securing their
assistance in carrying out the provisions of
this Act.
5. To prepare and develop a comprehensive
plan for the abatement of existing pollution
and prevention of new and/or imminent
pollution of the waters and/or atmospheric air
of the Philippines.
6. To issue standards, rules and regulations to
govern city and district engineers in the
approval of plans and specifications for
sewage works and industrial wastes disposal
systems and in the issuance of permits in
accordance with the provisions of this Act, and
to inspect the construction and maintenance
of sewage works and industrial wastes
disposal system for compliance of the
approved plans.
7. To collect and disseminate information
relating to water and atmosphere pollution and
the prevention, abatement and control thereof.
8. To authorize its representatives to enter at
all reasonable times in or upon any property of
the public dominion and private property
devoted to industrial, manufacturing,
processing or commercial use without doing
damages, for the purpose of inspecting and
investigating conditions relating to pollution or
the possible or imminent pollution of any
waters or atmospheric air of the Philippines.
Section 7. Public Hearings. Public hearings shall be
conducted by the Commission in connection with and
prior to action by the said Commission on the
following cases:
(a) Any order or findings of the Commission
requiring the discontinuance of discharge of
sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes into
the waters or atmospheric air of the
Philippines as provided for in this Act.
(b) Any order denying, revoking or modifying a
permit as provided by this Act.
The hearing herein provided may be conducted by the
Commission itself at a meeting of the Commission, or
the Commission may delegate to any member, or to
the Technical Secretary the power and authority to
conduct such hearings in the name of the
Commission at any time and place. In such hearings,
any member of the Commission, or the Technical
Secretary may issue in the name of the Commission,
notices of hearings requesting the attendance and
testimony of witnesses and the production of
evidence relevant to any matter involved in any such
hearing, and may examine such witnesses. All
stenographic transcript of the proceedings of said
hearings shall be taken and filed with the
Commission.
Section 8. Proceedings before the Commission. The
Commission may, on its own motion, or upon the
request of any person, investigate or may inquire, in a
manner to be determined by it, as to any alleged act
of pollution or the omission or failure to comply with
any provisions of this Act or any order of this
Commission.
Whenever it appears to the Commission, after
investigation, that there has been a violation of any of
the provisions of this Act or any order of the
Commission, it may order whoever causes such
violation to show cause before said Commission why
such discharge of industrial wastes or any waste
should not be discounted. A notice shall be served on
the offending party directing him or it to show cause
before the Commission, on a date specified in such
notice, why an order should not be made directing the
discontinuance of such violation. Such notice shall
specify the time and the place where a public hearing
will be held by the Commission or its authorized
representatives, and notice of such hearing shall be
served personally or by registered mail, at least ten
days before said hearing; and in the case of a
municipality or corporation such notice shall be
served upon the mayor or president thereof. The
Commission shall take evidence with reference to
said matter and may issue an order to the party
responsible for such violation, directing that within a
specified period of time thereafter, such violation be
discontinued unless adequate sewage works or
industrial wastes disposal system be properly
operated to prevent further damage or pollution.
No investigation being conducted or ruling made by
the Commission shall prejudice any action which may
be filed in court by any person in accordance with the
provisions of the New Civil Code on nuisance. On
matters, however, not related to nuisance, no court
action shall be initiated until the Commission shall
have finally ruled thereon and no order of the
Commission discontinuing the discharge of waste
shall be stayed by the filing of said court action,
unless the court issues an injunction as provided for
in this Rules of Court.
Section 9. Prohibitions. No person shall throw, run,
drain, or otherwise dispose into any of the water
and/or atmospheric air of the Philippines, or cause,
permit, suffer to be thrown, run, drain, allow to see or
otherwise dispose into such waters or atmospheric
air, any organic or inorganic matter or any substance
in gaseous or liquid form that shall cause pollution of
such waters or atmospheric air.
No person shall perform any of the following activities
without first securing a permit from the city or district
engineer for the discharge of all industrial wastes and
other wastes which are or may be discharged into the
waters or atmospheric air of the Philippines, which
could cause pollution thereof:
(1) the construction, installation, modification
or operation of any sewage works or any
extension or addition thereto;
(2) the increase in volume or strength of any
wastes in excess of the permissive discharge
specified under any existing permit;
(3) the construction, installation, or operation
of any industrial or commercial establishments
or any extension or modification thereof or
addition thereto, the operation of which would
cause an increase in the discharge of wastes
directly into the waters or atmospheric air of
the Philippines or would otherwise alter the
physical, chemical or biological properties of
any waters or atmospheric air of the
Philippines in any manner not already lawfully
authorized;
(4) the construction or use of any new outlet
for the discharge of any waste, gaseous or
liquid, directly into the waters or atmospheric
air of the Philippines.
Section 10. Penalties. Any person who shall violate
any of the provisions of Section nine of this Act or
who violates any order of the Commission, shall be
liable to a penalty of not to exceed fifty pesos for each
day during which the violation continues, or by
imprisonment of from two years to six years, or by
both fine and imprisonment and in addition such
person may be required or enjoined from continuing
such violation as hereinafter provided.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of, or
fails to perform any duty imposed by this Act, or who
violates and order or other determination of the
Commission promulgated pursuant to this Act,
thereby causing the death of fish or other aquatic life,
or damages or destroys the natural habitat necessary
for the propagation of fish or other aquatic life, shall in
addition to the penalty above prescribed, be liable to
pay the government for damages for fish or other
aquatic life destroyed. The Commission after
consultation with fishery officials of the Department of
Agriculture and Natural Resources shall, through a
court of competent jurisdiction, bring an action against
such person and recover the reasonable value of the
fish or other aquatic life and/or habitat destroyed by
such pollution. Any amount so recovered shall be
placed in the funds made available to the Fisheries
Commission.
Section 11. Jurisdiction. The Commission shall have
no jurisdiction over waterworks or sewage systems
operated by the NAWASA but rules and regulations
issued by the Commission for the protection and
prevention of pollution of the atmospheric air and
water of the Philippines under the authority herein
granted shall supersede and prevail over any rules or
regulations as may heretofore have been issued by
the NAWASA or by the Department of Health on the
same subject matter.
Section 12. Appropriation. The sum of one million five
hundred thousand pesos or so much thereof as may
be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated
yearly for the operating expenses of the Commission
as additional appropriation to the yearly budget of the
Office of the President of the Philippines.
Section 13. Repealing clause. Any Act or parts of
Acts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, without prejudice to the provisions of
Republic Act Numbered Thirteen hundred seventy-
eight.
Section 14. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon
its approval.
Approved: June 18, 1964
  Why the need for the Clean Water
Act?
As early as 1996, monitoring of the country’s
rivers showed that only 51% of the classified
rivers still met the standards for their most
beneficial use. The rest were already polluted
from domestic, industrial and agricultural
sources.
Most studies point to the fact that domestic
wastewater is the principal cause of organic
pollution (at 48%) of our water bodies. Yet,
only 3% of investments in water supply and
sanitation were going to sanitation and sewage
treatment.
A recent World Bank report pointed out that
Metro Manila was second to the lowest in
sewer connections among major cities in Asia
and less than 7% compared to 20% for
Katmandu, Nepal and 30% for Dhaka,
Bangladesh.
Thirty-one percent (31%) of all illnesses in the
country are attributed to polluted waters.
Clearly, to ensure access to clean water for all
Filipinos, it was imperative that government put
together a comprehensive strategy to protect
water quality.
 What is the Clean Water Act?
The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
(Republic Act No. 9275) aims to protect the
country’s water bodies from pollution from
land-based sources (industries and commercial
establishments, agriculture and
community/household activities). It provides for
a comprehensive and integrated strategy to
prevent and minimize pollution through a multi-
sectoral and participatory approach involving
all the stakeholders.
Highlights of the Clean Water Act
 How will water quality be managed?
Management of water quality will either be
based on watershed, river basin or water
resources region. Water quality management
areas with similar hydrological,
hydrogeological, meteorological or geographic
conditions which affect the reaction and
diffusion of pollutants in water bodies are to be
designated by the DENR in coordination with
the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).
 Who will manage these areas?
Management will be localized. Multi-sectoral
governing boards will be established to
manage water quality issues within their
jurisdiction.
 Who are the members of the
Governing Boards?
Governing Boards shall be composed of
representatives of mayors and governors as
well as local government units, representatives
of relevant national government agencies, duly
registered non-government organizations, the
concerned water utility sector and the business
sector.
 What are the functions of the
Governing Boards?
The Governing Boards will formulate strategies
to coordinate policies necessary for the
effective implementation of this Act. They will
create a multi-sectoral group to establish and
effect water quality surveillance and
monitoring.
 How will discharges of wastewater be
controlled?
All owners or operators of facilities that
discharge wastewater are required to get a
permit to discharge from the DENR or the
Laguna Lake Development Authority. Existing
industries without any permit are given 12
months from the effectivity of the implementing
rules and regulations (IRR) promulgated
pursuant to this Act to secure a permit to
discharge.
 How will domestic wastewater be
addressed?
The Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH), in coordination with local
government units will prepare a national
program on sewage and septage management
not later than 12 months from effectivity of this
Act. A priority list will likewise be prepared
which will be the basis for the allotment of
funds on an annual basis by the national
government for the construction and
rehabilitation of required facilities.
On the other hand, LGUs are to provide the
land including road right of the way for the
construction of sewage and/or septage
treatment facilities and raise funds for the
operations and maintenance of said facilities.
The Department of Health (DOH) will formulate
guidelines and standards for the collection,
treatment and disposal of sewage as well as
the guidelines for the establishment and
operation of centralized sewage treatment
system. The MWSS and other agencies
mandated to provide water supply and
sewerage facilities are required to connect
existing sewage lines, subject to the payment
of sewerage service charges/fees within five
years following effectivity of this Act.
All sources of sewage and septage are
required to comply with the law.
 How will the discharge of wastewater
be discouraged?
Anyone discharging wastewater into a water
body will have to pay a wastewater charge.
This economic instrument which will be
developed in consultation with all concerned
stakeholders is expected to encourage
investments in cleaner production and pollution
control technologies to reduce the amount of
pollutants generated and discharged.
Effluent trading per management area will also
be allowed.
Rewards will also be given to those whose
wastewater discharge is better than the water
quality criteria of the receiving body of water.
Fiscal and non-fiscal incentives will also be
given to LGUs, water districts, enterprise,
private entities and individuals who develop
and undertake outstanding and innovative
projects in water quality management.
 What safeguards are provided for?
All possible dischargers are required to put up
an environmental guarantee fund (EGF) as
part of their environmental management plan.
The EGF will finance the conservation of
watersheds and aquifers, and the needs of
emergency response, clean up or
rehabilitation.
 What are the prohibited acts under
R.A. 9275?
Among others, the Act prohibits the following:
1. Discharging or depositing any
water pollutant to the water body,
or such which will impede natural
flow in the water body
2. Discharging, injecting or allowing
to enter into the soil, anything
that would pollute groundwater
3. Operating facilities that discharge
regulated water pollutants without
the valid required permits
4. Disposal of potentially infectious
medical waste into sea by
vessels
5. Unauthorized transport or
dumping into waters of sewage
sludge or solid waste.
6. Transport, dumping or discharge
of prohibited chemicals,
substances or pollutants listed
under Toxic Chemicals,
Hazardous and Nuclear
7. Wastes Control Act (Republic.Act
No. 6969)
8. Discharging regulated water
pollutants without the valid
required discharge permit
pursuant to this Act
9. Noncompliance of the LGU with
the Water Quality Framework and
Management Area Action Plan
10. Refusal to allow entry, inspection
and monitoring as well as access
to reports and records by the
DENR in accordance with this Act
 11. Refusal or failure to submit
reports and/or designate pollution
control officers whenever
required by the DENR in
accordance with this Act
12. Directly using booster pumps in
the distribution system or
tampering with the water supply
in such a way to alter or impair
the water quality
13. Operate facilities that discharge
or allow to seep, willfully or
through grave negligence,
prohibited chemicals,
substances, or pollutantslisted
under R.A. No. 6969, into water
bodies.
14. Undertake activities or
development and expansion of
projects, or operating wastewater
treatment/sewerage facilities in
violation of P.D.1586 and its IRR.
 What are the fines and penalties
imposed on polluters?
The following are among the fines and
penalties for violators of this Act and its IRR:
Upon the recommendation of the Pollution
Adjudication Board (PAB), anyone who
commits prohibited acts such as discharging
untreated wastewater into any water body will
be fined for every day of violation, the amount
of not less than Php 10,000 but not more than
Php 200,000.
Failure to undertake clean-up operations
willfully shall be punished by imprisonment of
not less than two years and not more than four
years. This also includes a fine of not less than
Php 50,000 and not more than Php 100,000
per day of violation. Failure or refusal to clean
up which results in serious injury or loss of life
or lead to irreversible water contamination of
surface, ground, coastal and marine water
shall be punished with imprisonment of not less
than 6 years and 1 day and not more than 12
years and a fine of Php 500,000/day for each
day the contamination or omission continues.
In cases of gross violation, a fine of not less
than Php 500,000 but not more than Php
3,000,000 will be imposed for each day of
violation. Criminal charges may also be filed.
 Who should implement the Clean
Water Act?
The DENR is the primary government agency
responsible for the implementation and
enforcement of this Act, with the support of
other government organizations, local
government units, non -government
organizations and the private sector.
Towards this end, the DENR will review and
set affluent standards, review and enforce
water quality guidelines, classify groundwater
sources and prepare a national groundwater
vulnerability map, classify or reclassify water
bodies, establish internationally accepted
procedures for sampling and analysis, prepare
an integrated water quality management
framework and subsequently prepare 10-year
management plans for each water
management area.
The roles of other key government agencies
are:
• The Philippine Coast Guard shall enforce
water quality standards in marine waters,
specifically from offshore sources.
• The Department of Public Works and
Highways through its attached agencies shall
provide sewerage and sanitation facilities, and
the efficient and safe collection, treatment and
disposal of sewage within their area of
jurisdiction.
• The Department of Agriculture shall formulate
guidelines for the re-use of wastewater for
irrigation and other agricultural uses and for the
prevention, control and abatement of pollution
from agricultural and aquaculture activities.
• The Department of Health shall set, revise
and enforce drinking water quality standards.
• The Department of Science and Technology
shall evaluate, verify, develop and disseminate
pollution prevention and cleaner production
technologies.
• The Department of Education, Commission
on Higher Education, Department of Interior
and Local Government, and the Philippine
Information Agency shall prepare and
implement a comprehensive and continuing
public education and information program