DENR – EMB UPDATES

2020
MEMORANDUM CIRCULARS
Policy Update
• Memorandum Circular 001 Series of 2020 dated
January 22, 2020

• Memorandum Circular 2020 - 28 dated July15,

2020

• Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,

2020
Memorandum Circular 001 Series of 2020 dated
January 22, 2020

Suspension on the Implementation of the Advance Training

Modules for the Pollution Control Officers

Pursuant to Sec. 11 (Renewal of PCO Accreditation) of DENR

Administrative Order No. 2014-02 or the Revised Guidelines for
Pollution Control Officer (PCO) Accreditation shall be renewed every
three (3) years provided that he/she has completed at least forty (40)
hours of cumulative relevant PCO training.
Memorandum Circular 001 Series of 2020 dated
January 22, 2020

Suspension on the Implementation of the Advance Training Modules

for the Pollution Control Officers

In line with effort to simply the renewal process for PCO, the
implementation of Advanced Training Modules (ATM) for PCO is hereby
suspended.

In view hereof, all EMB-recognized PCO Training Organization/ Institution

for Advance Training are hereby directed to suspend the conduct of the
PCO ATM for renewal purposes. Moreover, the guidelines for the renewal
for PCO Accreditation will be issued thru separate Memorandum Circular.
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 28 dated July15,
2020

Clarification on the Renewal and Revocation of Accreditation of

Pollution Control Officer (PCO)
• Condition 1:
The PCO must be able to prove the following:
a. Establishment is compliant to PD1586, RA6969, RA8749,
RA9275, RA9003 and their respective IRR, and other pertinent
conditions such as submission of SMRs and CMRs, among
others, within three (3) years period
b. The data provided on the submissions must reflect satisfactory
compliance to environment and natural resources laws.
Document Compliant

PD 1586 - CNC / ECC RA6969 - HWGID

Document Compliant

RA 8749 – PtO RA 9275 – DP (DENR/LLDA)

Document Compliant

SMR - Quarterly CMR – Semi Annually

Memorandum Circular 2020 - 28 dated July15,
2020

Clarification on the Renewal and Revocation of Accreditation of

Pollution Control Officer (PCO)
• Action of EMB to Condition 1:
- Issuance of renewal PCO accreditation, valid for three (3) years
with issuance of Certificate of Accreditation
- Awards for the three (3) consecutive years of Compliance:
1. Issuance of Certificate of Recognition to the PCO (See Annex B)
and Managing Head (See Annex C)
2. Issuance of Certificate of Compliance to the Establishment (See
Annex D)
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 28 dated July15,
2020

Clarification on the Renewal and Revocation of Accreditation of

Pollution Control Officer (PCO)
• Condition 2:
- Establishment is non-compliant to one or two environmental
laws(s), IRR or reports in #1 condition.
- Violation of environmental law is a warrant for the issuance of non-
performance to the PCO.
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 28 dated July15,
2020

Clarification on the Renewal and Revocation of Accreditation of

Pollution Control Officer (PCO)
• Action of EMB to Condition 2:
- PCO accreditation will be renewed, but valid for one (1) year only
- A joint affidavit of Commitment will be required from the Managing
Head and PCO (See Annex E); the establishment must be
compliant to the requirement in #1 condition within one (1) year
- Issuance of non-performance of the PCO
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 28 dated July15,
2020

Clarification on the Renewal and Revocation of Accreditation of

Pollution Control Officer (PCO)
• Condition 3:
- Establishment is still non-compliant of the Affidavit of Commitment
(see attached format) executed by the company and the EMB in
item no. 2 after one (1) year period.

• Action of EMB to Condition 3:

- Issuance of non-performance to the PCO
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 28 dated July15,
2020

Clarification on the Renewal and Revocation of Accreditation of

Pollution Control Officer (PCO)
• Condition 4:
- Non-compliant of any duties and responsibilities of accredited
PCOs under Section 10 of DAO 2014-02 as determined by the
EMB

• Action of EMB to Condition 4:

- Issuance of non-performance to the PCO
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 28 dated July15,
2020

Clarification on the Renewal and Revocation of Accreditation of

Pollution Control Officer (PCO)

• Condition 5:

- The accreditation of the PCO at the time when the establishment

has an ongoing compliance for a violation shall not be prejudiced if
the said compliance fails.
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 28 dated July15,
2020

Clarification on the Renewal and Revocation of Accreditation of

Pollution Control Officer (PCO)

• Condition 6:

- Revocation of the PCO accreditation shall be based on Section 14

of DAO 2014-02
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 28 dated July15,
2020

The Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately upon

publication in any newspaper of general circulation and upon
acknowledgement of receipt of a copy hereof by the Office of the
National Administrative Registrar (ONAR), UP Law Center.

Issued this 15th day of July 2020.

Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,
2020

Guidelines on the Conduct of Online Training for the Pollution

Control Officers (PCOs) and Managing Heads (MH)
Section 1. Basic Policy

DAO 2014-02
a. Accreditation of PCOs of establishment that discharge solid,
liquid, or gaseous wastes to the environment or whose activities,
products, or services are actual and/or potential sources of land,
water, or air pollution; and
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,
2020

a. Only EMB-recognized training organization/institutions shall

provide trainings for PCO and Managing Heads.
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,
2020

Guidelines on the Conduct of Online Training for the Pollution

Control Officers (PCOs) and Managing Heads (MH)
Section 2. Coverage
This guideline covers all training related to accreditation of PCOs,
which include:

a. 40-hours Basic PCO Training

b. 8-hours Environmental Management Training for Managing
Heads
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,
2020

Guidelines on the Conduct of Online Training for the Pollution

Control Officers (PCOs) and Managing Heads (MH)
Section 3. Conduct of Online PCO Training
All EMB-recognized Training Organization/Institution with valid
Certificate of Recognition may conduct trainings for PCO
Accreditation through an online platform provided the following
requirements are fulfilled:
a. Training must involve real-time interaction between participants,
trainers, resource speakers, and/or facilitators during lectures and
workshop activities.
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,
2020
Guidelines on the Conduct of Online Training for the Pollution
Control Officers (PCOs) and Managing Heads (MH)
Section 3. Conduct of Online PCO Training
b. Participants’ attendance must be logged and recorded, and the
same be documented;
c. Number of participants per training must not exceed one hundred
(100) to ensure efficient and effective learning is upheld;
d. The online platform must have a chatroom feature to
accommodate all questions to the speaker;
e. Proof of the training conducted must be available such as, but not
limited to, screen captures with time stamp.
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,
2020
Guidelines on the Conduct of Online Training for the Pollution
Control Officers (PCOs) and Managing Heads (MH)
Section 3. Conduct of Online PCO Training
f. Personnel from EMB-CO and/or Regional Office must be allowed to
observe and monitor the training anytime during the virtual session.
The training organization must provide web invite to EMB personnel
at least two weeks before the conduct of each online PCO and
Managing Head training; anf
g. Pre and post examination must be administered during the online
trainings.
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,
2020

Guidelines on the Conduct of Online Training for the Pollution

Control Officers (PCOs) and Managing Heads (MH)
Section 3. Conduct of Online PCO Training

In addition to the above requirements, the conduct of 40-hours PCO

Training and 8-hours Managing Head Training shall be done in any
combination of training hours as long as the total is forty (40) hours
and eight (8) hours respectively, as indicated in the application of the
training organization.
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,
2020
Guidelines on the Conduct of Online Training for the Pollution
Control Officers (PCOs) and Managing Heads (MH)
Section 3. Conduct of Online PCO Training

The previously approved EMB-prescribed modules (with resource

persons indicated) submitted by the EMB-recognized Training
Organization/Institution shall prevail.

The EMB-Recognized Training Organization/Institution shall inform

the EMB as to what type of training it will conduct through email at
[email protected]
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,
2020
PCEAS Letter to EMB EMB Response to PCEAS
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,
2020
Guidelines on the Conduct of Online Training for the Pollution
Control Officers (PCOs) and Managing Heads (MH)
Section 4. Prohibition

The training organization are prohibited to use computer-based

training using downloadable materials and videos of lectures.
Memorandum Circular 2020 - 29 dated July15,
2020
Guidelines on the Conduct of Online Training for the Pollution
Control Officers (PCOs) and Managing Heads (MH)
Section 5. Effectivity

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately upon

publication in any newspaper of general circulation and upon
acknowledgement of receipt of a copy hereof by the Office of the
National Administrative Registrar (ONAR), UP Law Center.

Issued this 15th day of July 2020.