2.4.C. Other Building Laws

Environmental Laws

• PD 1151: Philippine Environmental Policy (June 6, 1977) outlines a policy to harmonize man and nature, promotes environmental awareness, and emphasizes the right to a healthy environment.
• PD 1152: Philippine Environmental Code (June 6, 1977), also known as the "Environmental Code of the Philippines," is a comprehensive law that regulates air, water, and land use and promotes natural resource management and waste management.
• PD 1586: The Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System (PEISS) is a national system to assess the potential environmental impact of proposed projects and activities.

Environmental Regulatory Laws

• RA 8749: The Philippine Clean Air Act (PCAA) of 1999 is the primary legislation that controls air pollution in the Philippines.
• RA 7586: The National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 established a comprehensive protection system for ecologically important areas, with management overseen by local Protected Area Management Boards (PAMB).

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• The EIA is a systematic process for evaluating the environmental impact of a project, considering both positive and negative effects, to ensure responsible development and minimize harm.
• A positive EIA review leads to the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), allowing projects to proceed.

Heritage Laws

• Anthropological Area: Refers to areas with cultural value, significant for the study of specific ethnic or linguistic groups.
• Adaptive Re-use: Promotes the reuse of buildings and sites for purposes other than their original intent while preserving heritage value.
• Historical Shrines, Monuments, and Landmarks: These designations, attributed by the National Historical Institute, recognize places associated with significant historical events, persons, or achievements.
• Built Heritage: Architectural and engineering structures with historical and cultural significance, encompassing: bridges, government buildings, houses, traditional dwellings, train stations, lighthouses, small ports, educational complexes, and unique landscapes.
• Antique: Cultural property produced before 100 years ago, reflecting the heritage of the nation.
• Cultural Heritage: The totality of cultural property preserved and passed on to posterity, reflecting the identity of a people and nation.
• Cultural Property: Encompasses all creative products of a people's legacy, including tangible and intangible aspects, whether publicly or privately owned, movable or immovable. Cultural property includes:
  • National Cultural Treasures: Highest level of cultural significance, representing the best of the country's heritage
  • Important Cultural Property (ICP): Unique cultural property of high national significance, officially declared by the national museum or historical institute
  • World Heritage Sites: Sites recognized for their outstanding universal cultural value, designated by UNESCO
  • National Historical Shrines: Places hallowed and revered for their history or association.
  • National Historical Monuments: Structures honoring illustrious persons or commemorating historical events.
  • National Historical Landmarks: Sites or structures associated with significant events or achievements in Philippine history.
• Heritage Zone: Historical, anthropological, archaeological, artistic, geographical areas and settings culturally significant to the nation, declared by the National Museum or National Historical Institute.

Other Laws

• RA 9275: The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 focuses on protecting water resources and promoting sustainable water management.
• RA 9003: The Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 addresses waste disposal, recycling, and resource recovery with a focus on environmental protection.
• RA 6969: The Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Act of 1990 regulates the importation, manufacture, processing, transport, storage, and disposal of toxic and hazardous substances.
• RA 10066: The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 is a comprehensive law promoting the preservation, protection, and conservation of cultural heritage.
• PD 705: The Philippine Forestry Reform Code of 1975 focuses on managing forests and protecting natural resources.

Important Cultural Property (ICP)

• Unique cultural property with high significance and importance officially declared by the National Museum or the National Historical Institute.
• Includes works by national artists, heroes, structures, and archival materials dating at least 50 years old.

Tangible Cultural Property

• Historical, archival, artistic, architectural, or anthropological value.
• Consists of traditional production from the Philippines or elsewhere, antiques, and natural history specimens.
• Includes works of significant value, whether of Philippine or other origins, with artistic, archaeological, or traditional significance.

Natural Property of Cultural Significance

• Exceptional ecosystems of national scientific importance, particularly those protected under the National Integrated Protected Areas System.

Conservation and Restoration

• Conservation: Maintaining the cultural significance of a property through a range of measures, including preservation, restoration, reconstruction, protection, and adaptive reuse.
• Restoration: Correcting deterioration and alterations through technical interventions.

Module 2 - Building Laws (Atlas)