Constitution of an Inter-Agency Action Committee for Implementation of Anti-Pollution Laws

June 8, 1977

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 553

1. In order to effectively enforce the existing laws on environmental protection and the prevention and control of pollution, you are hereby directed to constitute yourselves as an Inter-Agency Action Committee, with the Secretary of National Defense as Chairman thereof, and to designate your respective authorized representatives thereto, to initiate, formulate, undertake and implement plans, programs, projects or campaigns as may be necessary to achieve the aims and purposes of the said laws. For this purpose, you shall make available the material, professional, technical, expert and other resources of your respective departments and agencies to support such activities.

2. Direct and/or lateral coordination is authorized to do away with routine bureaucratic procedures. acd

3. All other government departments, agencies and offices, as well as the concerned private sectors, may be called upon to extend full support and assistance to the National Pollution Control Commission or the National Environmental Protection Council, as the case may be, in the enforcement and implementation of the said laws.

4. The Local governments shall likewise extend full support and assistance in the drive to prevent or suppress pollution and other activities that create imbalance in ecology or other disturbance in environmental conditions.

5. The method of enforcement of the said laws shall include prevention thru extensive information and educational campaign; and suppression thru arrest and prosecution of offenders, summary of judicial abatement of nuisance and cancellation or revocation and suspension of government license or permit for the existence of a thing, act or condition that constitutes nuisance.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 8th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Seven. cd