AN ACT CREATING THE LABORATORY OF AIR POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL MANAGEMENT, DEFINING ITS FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the 3rd year DPSPA students in Youth Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short title – This Act shall be known as the “Air Pollution Prevention and Control Management Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure the sustainable use, development, management, renewal and conservation of the country’s environment and natural resources like air, land, forest, mineral, off-shore areas and all bodies of water. The State shall protect and enhance the quality of the environment and provide equitable access of the different segments of the population to the development and use of the country’s natural resources, not only for the present generation but for the future generations as well.

SECTION 3. Creation of the Laboratory of Air Pollution Prevention and Control Management – There is hereby created a Laboratory of Air Pollution Prevention and Control Management, (hereinafter referred to as the LABORATORY), which shall be a special joint-division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Science and Technology.

SECTION 4. Mandate – The laboratory shall be the special government agency responsible for the air pollution regulation, monitor, prevention and control.

SECTION 5 – Functions and Responsibilities – In pursuit of its mandate, the LABORATORY shall have the following functions and responsibilities:
Develop and implement a national integrated and comprehensive action plan for air pollution prevention and control;
Encourage understanding of policies and support of activities designed to enhance air standard quality;
Formulate and prescribe expanded and varied program for a greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, infectious wastes, medical wastes, mobile sources and municipal wastes as mentioned in The Clean Air Act that are some of the sources of air pollution;
Oversee and manage the prevention of hazardous chemicals in the atmosphere;
Develop national regulatory programs to reduce mobile sources related air pollution from light-duty cars and truck, heavy-duty trucks and buses non-road engines and vehicles, and their fuels;
Evaluate emission control technology;
Provide state and local air quality regulators and transportation planners with access to critical information on transportation programs and incentive-based programs;
Test vehicles, engines and fuels;
Determine compliance with emissions and fuel economy standards;
Provide support for the initiation and maintenance of programs for air pollution prevention and control awareness;
Design and conduct massive information dissemination campaigns relating to the issues of air pollution;
Exercise such other functions as may be necessary in pursuit of its mandate;
Request the assistance of appropriate government agencies, local government units and non-governmental organizations for the purpose of implementing this Act.

SECTION 6. Organization – The authority and the responsibility for the implementation of the mandate of the LABORATORY and the exercise of its functions and responsibilities shall be vested in the Executive Director of the laboratory. He shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretaries of Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Science and Technology. He shall:
Exercise overall supervision and control relative to the functions and activities of the LABORATORY;
Establish policies and standards for the efficient and effective cooperation of the LABORATORY in accordance with the overall program of the government;
Implement rules, regulations and other issuances necessary in executing policies, plans, projects and programs of the LABORATORY;
Perform such other functions as, may be provided by law or as appropriately assigned by the President or the Secretaries of Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Science and Technology.

SECTION 7. Staff of the Authority – To achieve its desired goals and objectives, the LABORATORY, through its Executive Director shall organize its working staff of not less than thirty employees, fix to their salaries and remunerations, subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Law.

SECTION 8. Air Pollution Prevention and Control Management Council – There is hereby created an Air Pollution Prevention and Control Management Council composed of representatives appointed by the respective Department Secretary, who shall serve as ex-officio members from the following agencies:
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Department of Science and Technology
Department of Transportation and Communications
Department of Health
The Management Council shall be primarily tasked to advise the Executive Director on the design and promulgation of policies, methods, techniques, programs and projects relative to the air pollution prevention and control management, and to monitor and evaluate the overall performance of the LABORATORY and recommend necessary measures thereon.

SECTION 9. Transitory Provisions – The Secretaries of Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Science and Technology shall oversee the implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity.

SECTION 10. Appropriations – The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year appropriations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Science and Technology. The succeeding appropriations shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for the fiscal year immediately following the effectivity of this Act and every year thereafter.

SECTION 11. Separable Clause – If for any cause, any part of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions shall remain in force and effect.
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause – All acts, decrees, general orders, letters of instructions, regulations and circulars, or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 13. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

Labels: environment