PERTINENT LAWS IN URBAN PLANNING

1. BP 220
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS TO ESTABLISH AND PROMULGATE DIFFERENT
LEVELS OF STANDARDS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIALIZED HOUSING PROJECTS
IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS FROM THOSE PROVIDED UNDER PRESIDENTIAL DECREES NUMBERED NINE
HUNDRED FIFTY-SEVEN, TWELVE HUNDRED SIXTEEN, TEN HUNDRED NINETY-SIX AND ELEVEN HUNDRED
EIGHTY-FIVE

SECTION 1.
It is hereby declared a policy of the Government to promote and encourage the development of
economic and socialized housing projects, primarily by the private sector, in order to make available adequate
economic and socialized housing units for average and low-income earners in urban and rural areas.
SECTION 2.
As used in this Act, economic and socialized housing refers to housing units which are within the
affordability level of the average and low-income earners which is thirty percent (30%) of the gross family
income as determined by the National Economic and Development Authority from time to time. It shall also
refer to the government-initiated sites and services development and construction of economic and socialized
housing projects in depressed areas.
SECTION 3.
To carry out the foregoing policy, the Ministry of Human Settlements is authorized to establish and
promulgate different levels of standards and technical requirements for the development of economic and
socialized housing projects and economic and socialized housing units in urban and rural areas from those
provided in Presidential Decree Numbered Nine hundred fifty-seven, otherwise known as the "Subdivision and
Condominium Buyers' Protective Decree," Presidential Decree Numbered Twelve hundred and sixteen, "Defining
Open Space in Residential Subdivision"; Presidential Decree Numbered Ten Hundred and ninety-six, otherwise
known as the "National Building Code of the Philippines"; and Presidential Decree Numbered Eleven hundred
and eighty-five, otherwise known as the "Fire Code of the Philippines" and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, in consultation with the Ministry of Public Works and Highways, the Integrated
National Police, and other appropriate government units and instrumentalities and private associations.
SECTION 4.
The standards and technical requirements to be established under Section three hereof shall provide for
environmental ecology, hygiene and cleanliness, physical, cultural and spiritual development and public safety
and may vary in each region, province or city depending on the availability of indigenous materials for building
construction and other relevant factors.
SECTION 5.
The different levels of standards and technical requirements that shall be established and promulgated
by the Ministry of Human Settlements only after public hearing and shall be published in two newspapers of
general circulation in the Philippines for at least once a week for two consecutive weeks and shall take effect
thirty days after the last publication.

2. Presidential Decree 957

 REVISED RULES AND REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THE SUBDIVISION AND CONDOMINIUM BUYER'S
PROTECTIVE DECREE (PD 957) AND OTHER RELATED LAWS

RULE I MINIMUM DESIGN STANDARDS

Section 1. Design Standards for Subdivision Residential subdivision projects shall conform with the following
minimum design standards, applicable local government units' (LGU) zoning ordinances as well as pertinent
provisions of the National Building Code if project is with housing component:
Section 2. Design Standards and Guidelines for Residential Condominium Projects
Section 3. Conversion of Existing Structures to Condominium Projects. Existing structures may be converted into
condominium projects upon proper application there for with the Board and compliance with the requirements
of condominium laws and these rules and standards.
Section 4. Variances These design standards and requirements may be modified or varied by the Board in cases
of large scale government and private residential subdivision or condominium projects, housing in areas for
priority development or urban land reform zones, resettlement or social housing projects for low income
groups, or housing projects financed by any government financing institution, or in cases where strict
observance hereof will cause extreme hardship to the subdivision or condominium owner/developer.
RULE II APPROVAL OF SUBDIVISION PLAN
Section 5. Application for Approval of Subdivision Development Plan Every registered owner or developer of a
parcel of land who wishes to convert the same into a subdivision project shall apply with the Board or the local
government unit (LGU) concerned for the approval of the subdivision development plan by filing the following:
RULE III APPROVAL OF CONDOMINIUM PLAN
Section 6. Application for Approval of Condominium Plan Any registered owner or developer of a parcel of land
who wishes to develop the same into a condominium project shall apply with the Board by filing the following:

3. Executive Order 72

4. House Bill 587

LAWS RELATED TO URBAN PLANNING
1. PD 1151 | SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
SECTION 1 – POLICY

It is hereby declared a continuing policy of the State (a) to create, develop, maintain, and improve conditions
under which man and nature can thrive in productive and enjoyable harmony with each other.

SECTION 2 – GOAL

Assure the people of a safe, decent, healthful, productive and aesthetic Environment. Preserve
important historic and cultural aspects of the Philippine heritage, attain a rational and orderly balance between
population and resource use, and improve the utilization of renewable and non-renewable resources.

SECTION 3 – RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIIRONMENT

In furtherance of these goals and policies, the Government recognizes the right of the people to a
healthful environment. It shall be the duty and responsibility of each individual to contribute to the preservation
and enhancement of the Philippine environment.

SECTION 4 – ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS

All agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or controlled
corporations, as well as private corporations, firms and entities shall prepare, file and include in every action,
project or undertaking which significantly affects the quality of the environment a detailed statement on:

SECTION 5 – AGENCY GUIDELINES

The different agencies charged with environmental protection as enumerated in Letter of Instruction No.
422 shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Decree, submit to the National Environmental
Protection Council (NEPC), their respective guidelines, rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of Sec. 4
hereof on environmental impact assessments and statements.

SECTION 6 – REPEALING CLAUSE

All Acts, Presidential Decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent
with the provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly

2. PD 1152 | SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL CODE

SECTION 1 – SHORT TITLE

Decree shall be known and cited as the "Philippine Environment Code."

TITLE I

Air Quality Management

SECTION 2 – PURPOSES

The purposes of this Title are:

a) To achieve and maintain such levels of air quality as to protect public health and

b) To prevent to the greatest extent practicable, injury and/or damage to plant and animal life and property, and
promote the social and economic development of the country.
CHAPTER 1

STANDARDS

 SECTION 3 – AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

 SECTION 4 – NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS
 SECTION 5 – COMMUNITY NOISE STANDARDS
 SECTION 6 – STANDARDS FOR NOISE-PRODUCING EQUIPMENT
 SECTION 7 – AIRCRAFT EMISSION AND SONIC BOOM

CHAPTER 2

REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT

 SECTION 8 – AIR QUALITY AND NOISE STANDARDS

 SECTION 9 – AIRCRAFTS NOISE
 SECTION 10 – VEHICULAR EMISSION
 SECTION 11 – RADIOACTIVE EMISSION

TITLE II

Water Quality Management

SECTION 14 – PURPOSES

It is the purpose of this Title to prescribe management guidelines aimed to protect and improve the quality of
Philippine water resources through:

a) Classification of Philippine waters,

b) Establishment of water quality standards;

c) Protection and improvement of the quality of Philippine water resources, and

d) Responsibilities for surveillance and mitigation of pollution incidents.

CHAPTER 1

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS

SECTION 15 – CLASSIFICATION OF PHILIPPINE WATERS

The National Pollution Control Commission, in coordination with appropriate government agencies, shall classify
Philippine waters, according to their best usage. In classifying said waters, the National Pollution Control
Commission shall take into account, among others, the following:

a) The existing quality of the body of water at the time of classification;

b) The size, depth, surface area covered, volume, direction, rate of flow, gradient of stream; and

c) the most beneficial uses of said bodies of water and lands bordering them such as residential, agricultural,
commercial, industrial, navigational, recreational, and aesthetic purposes.

CHAPTER 1

 SECTION 16 – RECLASSIFICATION OF WATERS BASED ON INTENDED BENEFICIAL USE

 SECTION 17 – UPGRADING WATER QUALITY
 SECTION 18 – WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
CHAPTER 2

PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF WATER QUALITY

 SECTION 19 – ENFORCEMENT AND COORDINATION

 SECTION 20 – CLEAN-UP OPERATION
 SECTION 21 – WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE

TITLE III

Land Use Management

SECTION 22 – PURPOSES

The purposes of this Title are:

a) To provide a rational, orderly and efficient acquisition, utilization and disposition of land and its resources in
order to derive therefrom maximum benefits; and

b) To encourage the prudent use and conservation of land resources in order to prevent an imbalance between
the nation's needs and such resources.

SECTION 23 – NATIONAL LAND USE SCHEME

The Human Settlements Commission, in coordination with the appropriate agencies of the government, shall
formulate and recommend to the National Environmental Protection Council a land use scheme consistent with
the purpose of this Title. The Land Use Scheme shall include among others, the following:

a) A science-based and technology-oriented land inventory and classification system;

b) A determination of present land uses, the extent to which they are utilized, underutilized, rendered idle or
abandoned;

c) A comprehensive and accurate determination of the adaptability of the land for community development,
agriculture, industry, commerce, and other fields of endeavor;

d) a method of identification of areas where uncontrolled development could result in irreparable damage to
important historic, cultural, or aesthetic values, or nature systems or processes of national significance;

e) a method for exercising control by the appropriate government agencies over the use of land in area of
critical environmental concern and areas impacted by public facilities including, but not limited to, airports,
highways, bridges, ports and wharves, buildings and other infrastructure projects;

f) a method to ensure the consideration of regional development and land use in local regulations;

g) A policy for influencing the location of new communities and methods for assuring appropriate controls over
the use of land around new communities;

h) a system of controls and regulations pertaining to areas and development activities designed to ensure that
any source of pollution will not be located where it would result in a violation of any applicable environmental
pollution control regulations, and

i) A recommended method for the periodic revisions and updating of the national land use scheme to meet
changing conditions.
 SECTION 24 – LOCATION OF INDUSTRIES

In the location of industries, factories, plants, depots and similar industrial establishments, the regulating or
enforcing agencies of the government shall take into consideration the social, economic, geographical and
significant environmental impact of said establishment.

TITLE IV

NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION

SECTION 25 – PURPOSES

It is the purpose of this Title are:

a) To provide the basics on the management and conservation of the country's natural resources to obtain the
optimum benefits therefrom and to preserve the same for the future generations, and

b) To provide general measures through which the aforesaid policy may be carried out effectively..

3. PD 1308 | SUBJECT: Regulating the Practice of the Profession of Environmental Planning in the
Philippines
TITLE I: TITLE OF DECREE AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE

SECTION 2 – DEFINITION OF TERMS

a. Environmental planning refers to activities concerned with the management and development of land, as well
as the preservation, conservation, and rehabilitation of the human environment.

b. The term “environmental planner”, as used in this Decree, refers to a person engaged in the practice of
environmental planning and duly registered with the Board of Environmental Planning in the manner herein
provided.

SECTION 2 – DEFINITION OF TERMS

a. Environmental planning refers to activities concerned with the management and development of land, as well
as the preservation, conservation, and rehabilitation of the human environment.

b. The term “environmental planner”, as used in this Decree, refers to a person engaged in the practice of
environmental planning and duly registered with the Board of Environmental Planning in the manner herein
provided.

SECTION 3 – SCOPE OF PRACTICE

The practice of environmental planning, within the meaning and intent of this Decree shall embrace, inter alia,
professional services in the form of technical consultation, plan preparation, and/or implementation involving
the following:

a. Development of a community, town, city, or region;

b. Development of a site for a particular need such as housing, centers for activities concerned with research,
education, culture, recreation, or government, industrial estates, agriculture, and water resources, including
creating a spatial arrangement of buildings, utilities and communication routes;

c. Land use and zoning plans for the management and development, preservation, conservation, rehabilitation,
and control of the environment; and d. Pre-investment, pre-feasibility, and feasibility studies.
 SECTION 8 – POWERS AND FUNCTION OF THE BOARD
 SECTION 9 – FEES AND COMPESATION OF THE BOARD
 SECTION 10 – ANNUAL REPORT

TITLE III

(PHYSICAL PLANNING; SOCIAL PLANNING; ECONOMIC PLANNING; PLANNING LAW AND ADMINISTRATION;
AND SPECIAL PLANNING STUDIES)
SUMMARY
PD 1151 | PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
A PREDENTIAL DEGREE STATE THE POLICIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT.
PD 1152 | PHILIPPNE ENVIRONTAL CODES
A PREDENTIAL DEGREE STATE THE RULES AND REGULATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ASSESSMENT.
PD 1308 | REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION
OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN THE
PHILIPPINES
A PREDENTIAL DEGREE STATE THE PRACTICE OF BEING AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANNER IN THE PHILIPPINES.