Environmental Impact

Assessment in the Philippines

Engr. Lorenz Esperon Borromeo
In the Philippines (1977)
PD 1586: Environmental Impact Statement
System

• Provides the legal and procedural framework for

conducting Environment Impact Assessment (EIAs).

• The main objective of this law is to maintain the balance

between the environment and the socio-economic
development of the country. It aims to protect the
environment despite the increasing demand of natural
resources and development to attain sustainability.
Environmental Impact Assessment
 Process of predicting the likely environmental consequences
of implementing projects.

 Bio-Physical Environment
 Socio-Economic Environment

 Undertaking and designing appropriate preventive, mitigating

and enhancement measures.
People Involved in Formulating EIA
Decision
Maker

Expert
Assessor
Advisors

Special
Proponent Interest
Groups

Reviewer
Fundamental Objectives of EIA

1. Provide baseline information about the environmental, social

and economic conditions in the project area.

2. Provide information on the potential impacts of the project, its

characteristics, magnitude, distribution, affected groups and
their duration.

3. Provide information on potential mitigation measures to

minimize the impact including mitigation costs.

4. To assess the best alternative project at most benefits and least

costs in terms of financial, social and environment.
Types of EIA
 Project EIA
 Programmatic EIA
 Strategic Environmental Assessment Policy EIA
 Sectoral EIA
 Regional/Area EIA
Overview of Stages in Philippine
EIA Process
Baseline Data
Screening Scoping
Gathering

Impact Impact Impact

Evaluation Prediction Identification

EIS
Environmental
Mitigation Preparation
Audit
and Review
Screening
 Done to see whether the project needs an EIA for clearance
or not.
Scoping
 Involves determination of the extent of EIA required for the
project.
Baseline Data Gathering
 Gives a holistic picture of the overall environmental setting of
the project location showing any potentially critical
environmental changes and information about the site.
 The following environmental parameters are usually
considered while preparing the baseline data:
(a) Site location and topography.
(b) Regional demography.
(c) Regional landmarks.
(d) Geology
(e) Hydrology
(f) Meteorology
(g) Ecology
Impact Identification
 It includes the details of project characterization and base-line
environmental characteristics to ensure the identification of
full range of environmental impacts.
 Various methods employed for impact identification are as
follows:
(a) Checklists
(b) Matrices
(c) Quantitative Method
Impact Prediction
 Here the magnitude and other dimensions of changes
associated with the project are identified in comparison with
a situation without the project.
 Involves identification of potential change in the indicators of
various environmental factors.
 The two important models of impact prediction are:
(a) Mathematical Model
(b) Mass Balance Model
Impact Evaluation
 After prediction of the impacts, their relative significance is
assessed
 To determine magnitude of the impact, temporal and spatial
extent of the impact, recovery (resilience) of the affected
environment, and the value of the affected environment.
 Most important method- cost benefit analysis.
Mitigation
 Done to avoid, reduce and if possible, remedy the significant
adverse change.
 Various mitigation measures could be as follows:
(a) Avoidance of Impacts
(b) Reduction of adverse effects
(c) Repair or restoration
(d) Compensation for adverse effect
Decision Analysis
 Individual decision or group response are used
 In order to have minimum bias, group response is usually taken.
 Commonly used approach - multi-step questionnaire based
Delphi approach.
EIS Preparation
 It should include the following five major aspects
(a) The environmental impact of the proposed action.
(b) The adverse impact that cannot be avoided if the
development occurs.
(c) Alternatives to the proposed action.
(d) Relation between the local short-term use of human
environment and maintenance of long-term production.
(e) Irreversible changes in resources.

EIS is to be written in the format provided by the MOEF or

CEQ as per their guidelines.
Environmental Audit
 Involves comparison of the impacts predicted in the EIS with
those actually occurring after implementation to assess
whether the impact prediction performs satisfactorily.
Outline of an EIA Report
 Introduction
 Description of the Project
 Description of the Environment
 Alternatives
 Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
 Economic Assessment
 Environmental Management Plan
 Public Consultation and Information Disclosure
 Conclusions