On May 31, 2022, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna signed DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2022-12 in re: AMENDING SECTION 16.6 OF DENR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2017-15, GUIDELINES ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION UNDER THE PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) SYSTEM.

To recall, in Section 16.6 of DAO No. 2017-15 issued last May 02, 2017, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) representatives were excluded in the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) membership for Mining Projects. With the issuance of DAO No. 2022-12, DENR effectively reinstates the EMB as a member of the said MMT. The MMT shall also regularly submit to the EMB, a Compliance Monitoring Validation Report including report on the compliance of the Contractor/Permit Holder with the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program, and the EMB shall similarly conduct its monitoring activities independent of the MMT.

EMB Regional Office concerned shall resume its function of leading the MMT in the monitoring of the compliance with various environmental laws, Environmental Compliance Certificate, Environmental Management Plan, and Environmental Monitoring Program of Mining Contractors/Permit Holders.

DAO No. 2022-12 was published in The Manila Times on June 25, 2022 and acknowledged by the Office of National Administrative Register of the UP Law Center on June 27, 2022.

 The full version of the said DAO can be viewed here.

By: Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division