Trillanes endorses plenary approval of new environmental
planning profession law

Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV has endorsed for plenary approval a proposed legislation that seeks to regulate the practice of environmental planning in the country.

Trillanes is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization, which along with the Committee on Finance headed by Senator Franklin Drilon, had approved Senate Bill No. 3138, or the new "Environmental Planning Profession Law."

The measure, which Trillanes co-sponsored with Senator Loren Legarda, aims to replace Presidential Decree 1308 that regulates the practice of environmental planning in the Philippines since 1978.

"The bill seeks to replace the existing Environmental Planning Profession Law in the country, which has been governing the practice since 1978 in order to make the law more attuned to and in tune with the recent developments in the field of environmental planning," Trillanes said.

Environmental planning is a young profession that combines concerns for the environment and the field of urban planning. It uses natural and social science to promote environmentally sound development and management of natural resources.

Trillanes said replacing the 34-year-old law was in line with the government's policy of recognizing the importance of environmental planning in nation-building and development.

He said the revised legislation would help "develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive and well-rounded professional environmental planners whose standards of practice and service shall be excellent, world-class and globally competitive."

The measure seeks to come up with an "honest, effective, relevant and credible licensure examinations, and through programs, regulatory measures, and activities that foster professional growth, social responsibility and development" of environmental planners.

Under the bill, a new professional regulatory board of environmental planning will be created composed of a chairperson and two members under the administrative control and supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

The members of the regulatory board will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the PRC.

All applicants for registration for the practice of environmental planning will be required to pass the PRC examination to be administered at least once every year.

The bill also imposes mandatory continuing professional education for environmental planners to ensure that practitioners remain globally competitive and abreast with recent developments in the field.