ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT
Project Evaluation and Development Course
for LGUs in the Province of Guimaras

FRANCIS JOHN C. PALABRICA

Senior Economic Development Specialist
April 16, 2021 I Iloilo City
What is Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?

• Process of predicting and evaluating the likely impacts of a

project on the environment during construction,
commissioning, operation and abandonment;

• Designing appropriate preventive, mitigating and

enhancement measures addressing these consequences to
protect the environment and the community’s welfare.

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
LEGAL AND OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE
PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
SYSTEM (PEISS)
• EIA originated with the enactment of Presidential
Decree No. 1151 (1977) known as the Philippine
Environmental Policy

• Presidential Decree 1586 (1978), Establishing the

Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
System
Francis John C. Palabrica
Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
• Presidential Proclamation No. 2146 (1981), Defining the
Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs) and
Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs)

• Malacañang Executive Order No. 291 (1996), Improving

the Environmental Impact Statement System

• DENR AO #2003-30

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
SCOPE OF THE PHILIPPINE EIA SYSTEM
The Philippine EIS system applies to project planned by any
government agency or instrumentality, including government
owned and controlled corporations, firms, or individuals or
other entities which falls within the definition of an
environmentally critical project (ECP) or which will be located
within the environmentally critical area (ECA)

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
Key Operating Principles

The Philippine EIS System (PEISS) is concerned primarily

with assessing the direct and indirect impacts of a project on
the biophysical and human environment and ensuring that
these impacts are addressed by appropriate environmental
protection and enhancement measures.

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
OBJECTIVES:

1. To identify and describe the physical and biological

elements of the environment in which the project is
located

2. To estimate the nature of the impact of project activities

on the identified elements of the environment

3. To assess the significance of the impacts

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
OBJECTIVES:

4. To effectively communicate the impacts to the decision-

makers and the affected communities

5. To generate mitigating measures

6. To provide the basis for project monitoring and evaluation

of environmental impacts

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
The EIA Process in Relation to the Project Cycle

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
IMPACTS EXAMINED BY AN EIA
•biological impacts

•socio-economic impacts

•human health impacts

•geophysical impacts

•risks
Francis John C. Palabrica
Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
Covered Projects of the Philippine EIS System
a) Pursuant to Sec. 4 of PD 1586 (1978), the EIA Process
covers projects which have been originally declared as
Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs) or projects in
Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs) .
b) PD 1586 provisions do not specifically preclude DENR from
including into the EIS System additional non-environmentally
critical project (NECP) types which if located in ECAs may
have significant impacts on the environment.
c) The four (4) ECP project types and 12 ECA cate-
gories have been declared through Proclamation
No. 2146 (1981) and Proclamation No. 803 (1996) Francis John C. Palabrica
Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
I. ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL PROJECTS (ECPs):

A. Heavy Industries
- Non-ferrous Metal Industries
- Iron and Steel Mills
- Petroleum and Petrochemical Industries
- Smelting Plants
B. Resource Extractive Industries
- Major Mining and Quarrying Projects
- Logging Projects
- Major Wood Processing Projects
- Introduction of Fauna in Public/Private Forests
Francis John C. Palabrica
Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
I. ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL PROJECTS (ECPs):
B. Resource Extractive Industries (cont.)
- Forest Occupancy
- Extraction of Mangrove Products
- Grazing Projects
- Dikes for/and Fishpond Development Projects
C. Infrastructure Projects
- Major Dams
- Major Power Plants
- Major Reclamation Projects
- Major Roads and Bridges
D. Golf Courses Francis John C. Palabrica
Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
II. ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL AREAS (ECAs):
• All areas declared by law as national parks, watershed
reserves, wildlife preserves and sanctuaries
• Areas set aside as aesthetic potential tourist spots
• Areas which constitute the habitat for any endangered or
threatened species of indigenous Philippine Wildlife (flora
and fauna)
• Areas of unique historic, archaeological or scientific
interests
• Areas which are traditionally occupied by
cultural communities or tribes
Francis John C. Palabrica
Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
II. ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL AREAS (ECAs):
• Areas frequently visited and/or hard-hit by natural
calamities (geological hazards, floods, typhoons, volcanic
activity, etc.)
• Areas with critical slopes
• Areas classified as prime agricultural lands
• Recharge areas of aquifers
• Water bodies
• Mangrove areas
• Coral reefs
Francis John C. Palabrica
Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
III. PROJECTS NOT COVERED BY THE EIS SYSTEM
• Projects not considered as environmentally critical or not
located in an environmentally critical area
• ECPs, projects or structures within ECAs that have been
operational or in existence prior to 1982, except in cases
where their operations are expanded or the processes are
modified
• Countryside Business and Barangay Entities (CBBEs)
under RA 6810, or the Magna Carta for Countryside
and Barangay Business Enterprise (Kalakalan
20, registered with the LGU between 1991-1994)
Francis John C. Palabrica
Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
Stages in the EIA Process:

1. Project Screening
2. EIA Study Scoping
3. Conduct of EIA Study & Preparation of Report
4. Review and Evaluation of the EIA Report
5. Decision Making (issuance of either ECC, CNC, or Denial
Letter)
6. Environmental Impact Monitoring and Evaluation/Audit

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
What is an Environmental Compliance Certificate(ECC)?

A document issued to the proponent after a thorough review

of the EIA Report, and certified by the DENR Secretary or
the RED that the proposed project will not cause significant
negative environmental impacts and the proponent has
complied with the requirements of the PEISS

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
How to get an ECC
• Proponents prepare the EIA Report for submission to DENR-EMB.
(* this will be the basis for review , and issuance or denial of an
ECC)
• Upon issuance of an ECC, proponents of ECPs must implement
the project within 5 years;
• proponents of projects within ECAs are required to implement the
project within two (2) years;
• Failure to implement the project on the specified time frame
invalidates the ECC;
• Proponents whose projects are not ECPs but will be
located in ECAs must submit an Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE) to the DENR Francis John C. Palabrica
Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
What is an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)?

• A document prepared by the individual proponent,

People’s Organizations (POs), LGUs and other entities
applying for an ECC on proposed projects classified under
Group II (Non-ECP in ECAs).

• This is a simplified form designed to cater to the need and

situation of proponents in terms of meeting the
requirements and guidelines of the new EIS system.

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
Required Documents by Project Group (for New Project)

I. - ECPs in either ECA or NECA - EIS

II. - NECPs in ECA - EIS or IEER/IEEC or PDR
III. - NECPs in NECA - PDR is optional
IV. - Co-located Projects - EPRMP
V. - Unclassified Projects - PDR is required

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
TOOLS FOR EIA IN PROJECT PROPOSAL PREPARATION
A. Environmental Checklist (EC) is used to determine the
various effects of the project to the environment.

B. Environmental Measures Form (EMF) Relates or links

project activities to possible adverse impacts on the
environment; Describes adverse impacts (key issues) and
identify environmental management measures to alleviate
or manage these impacts.

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
STEPS IN PREPARING AN ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST (EC)

1. List the environmental elements found in the project area

(physical, biological, socio-economic)

2. Identify the nature of project impact on the environmental

elements (adverse, beneficial, or no impact)

3. For adverse impacts, specify the significance (high,

medium, low)

Francis John C. Palabrica

Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM (ECF)
Nature and Significance of Likely Impact
Elements Adverse None Beneficial
High Medium Low

Physical

Surface Water
Ground Water
Soil
Topography/Landscape
River/Natural Drainage

Biological

Aquatic Ecosystem
Terrestrial Ecosystem
Biodiversity (Endangered
Species)

Socio-Economic

Traditional Fishery Francis John C. Palabrica

Traditional Farming Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
STEPS IN PREPARING THE ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES FORM

1. Transfer adversely affected elements identified in the Environmental

Checklist to the first column of the Environmental Measures Form

2. For each element, specify the project activities causing the adverse impact

3. Describe the adverse impact (key issue)

4. For each key issue, develop one or more possible

environmental management measures
Francis John C. Palabrica
Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES FORM (EMF)
Adversely Affected Project Activities Causing Adverse Impacts/ Environmental Management
Elements Adverse Impacts Key Issue Measures

Physical
1. 1. 1.
2.

2. 1.
2.
3.
Biological
1. 1. 1.
2.

2. 1.
2.
3.

Socio-Economic
1. 1. 1.
2.

2. 1.
Francis John C. Palabrica
2.
Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
3.
SAMPLE FORMAT FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
CHAPTER ____ (SOCIAL AND) ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Environmental Aspect
a. Geographical Location
b. Topography and Slope
c. Climate
d. Land Resources – soil type, vegetation, mineral deposits, if
any, presence of underground water/spring, etc.
e. Aquatic Resources – inland (freshwater) and coastal/
marine (brackish and salt water)
f. Environmental Impacts/Effects of the Project
(c/o ECF) Francis John C. Palabrica
g. Mitigating Measures (c/o EMF) Senior EDS, PDIPBD, NEDA 6
Questions/
Clarifications