Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office

Section 16 mandates that within their respective territorial jurisdictions, local government units shall ensure and support the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, improve public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.

Section 17 mandates that the Municipal Government shall likewise exercise such powers and discharge such other functions and responsibilities as are necessary, appropriate, or incidental to efficient and effective provision of the basic services and facilities enumerated as follows: implementation of community-based forestry projects and similar projects, management and control of communal forests with an area not exceeding fifty (50) square kilometers; establishment of tree parks, greenbelts, and similar forest development projects; solid waste disposal system or environmental management system and services or facilities related to general hygiene and sanitation; infrastructure facilities intended primarily to service the needs of the residents of the municipality and which are funded out of municipal funds including, but not limited to… communal irrigation, small water impounding projects, and other similar projects, artesian wells, spring development, rainwater collectors and water supply systems, drainage and sewerage, and flood control, and similar facilities; public markets; slaughterhouses; fish ports; and other municipal enterprises, including the acquisition of equipment, regulation and supervision of business concessions, and security services for such facilities.

By virtue of Executive Order No. 192, s. 1987, DENR DAO 92-30 and pursuant to the provisions of Section 59 of Republic Act No. 9003, otherwise known as the "Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000", it is the policy of the State to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program where the Municipal Solid Waste Management Board is tasked to develop, monitor and oversee the implementation of the Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan that shall ensure the long-term management of solid waste, as well as integrate the various solid waste management plans and strategies of the barangays in its area of jurisdiction; adopt specific revenue-generating measures to promote and ensure the viability and effective implementation of solid waste management programs; ensure measures and safeguards against pollution and for the preservation of the natural ecosystem and assist barangays in their solid waste management, where the barangay cannot financially or adequately manage all waste segregation, sorting, recovery, recycling and composting, conducted at the MRF.

Republic Act No. 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 and pursuant to DENR AO No. 2000-81, the State shall pursue a policy of balancing development and environmental protection. To achieve this end, the Local Government Units are likewise tasked to prepare and develop an action plan consistent with the Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework to attain and maintain the ambient air quality standards within their respective airsheds and shall implement air quality standards set by the Board in areas within their jurisdiction.

Section 37 of the Act states that the functions of the Environmental and Natural Resources Office are: (a) to prepare comprehensive air quality management programs, plans and strategies within the limits set forth in Republic Act No. 7160; (b) to provide technical assistance and support to the mayor in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities relative to air quality; (c) to take the lead in all efforts concerning air quality protection and rehabilitation; (d) to recommend to the Board air quality standards which shall not exceed the maximum permissible standards set by rational laws; and (e) to coordinate with other government agencies and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of measures to prevent and control air pollution.

Republic Act No. 9275 or the Philippine Water Act of 2004 mandates the Local Government Unit to share the responsibility in the management and improvement of water quality within their territorial jurisdictions; appropriate the necessary land, including the required rights-of-way/road access to the land for the construction of the sewage and/or septage treatment facilities and subsidize necessary expenses for the operation and maintenance of sewerage treatment or septage facility servicing their area of jurisdiction through local property taxes and enforcement of a service fee system. Through its Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO), it shall monitor water quality; respond to emergency; comply with the framework of the Water Quality Management Action Plan; take active participation in all efforts concerning water quality protection and rehabilitation; and coordinate with other government agencies and civil society and the concerned sectors in the implementation of measures to prevent and control water pollution.