The leadership of the House of Representatives has expressed hopes that the Senate will prioritize the passage of a House-approved bill institutionalizing environmental assessments in all policies, plans, programs and projects, a significant move towards sustainable development and environmental protection.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez stressed that House Bill (HB) 11093, or the Philippine Environmental Assessment System Act, would be a vital step in balancing progress with environmental stewardship.
“This bill is a clear testament to our collective responsibility to protect our environment and ensure that development is done responsibly. It is a vital tool for balancing progress with sustainability,” said Romualdez, the bill's principal, The House approved the bill before going on holiday break by an overwhelming 203 votes. Maricel V. Cruz
The measure establishes a Philippine Environmental Assessment System (EAS) that mandates Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) for policies, plans and programs, and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for projects.
These processes aim to integrate environmental considerations into development strategies early on, ensuring that potential environmental, health and socio-economic impacts are thoroughly evaluated.
