POLLUTION

CONTROL OFFICER
ACCREDITATION
Prepared by: Melissa Q. Cabahug
Information Officer II
Staff, Air and Water Permitting
Section
Clearance and Permitting Division
Definition of
Terms
POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICER
• A technical person competent in
pollution control and
environmental management,
performing the duties and
responsibilities in a particular
establishment and (shall be)
officially accredited by the
Environmental Management
Bureau (EMB) Regional Office to
perform such responsibilities.
ACCREDITATION
• To give official
authorization
to or approval
of

• To recognize or
vouch for as
conforming
with a standard
 Ambulant Vendor
Either itinerant or semi-static. Itinerant vendors are those
who go around shouting their ware while semi-static vendors
are those who are in semi-fixed positions but may move
about as the situation necessitates.
Managing Head
• highest executive officer of the
establishment (i.e. President,
General Manager, Factory/Plant
Manager, Managing Director,
Managing Partner, Chief Executive
Officer, or Local Chief Executive).
Environmental
Management
• the entire system which includes, but is
not limited to, conservation, regulation,
and minimization of pollution; waste
management, environmental law and
policy; environmental education and
information; study and mitigation of
environmental impacts of human
activity; and environmental research.
LEGAL PROVISIONS
FOR PCO
ACCREDITATION
• Republic Act 3931 otherwise known
as an Act Creating the National
Water and Air Pollution Control
Commission approved on June 18,
1964.

• Presidential Decree No. 984 dated

August 18, 1976 commonly known
as the Pollution Control Law

• Paragraph 3 Letter of Instruction

No. 588, dated August 19, 1977 or
the Designation of a Pollution
Control Officer by All Entities
Discharging or Emitting Substances
• Memorandum Circular No. 02 Series of 1981 of the
National Pollution Control Commission or the
Amendments to Article 1 (Noise Control Regulations),
Chapter IV (Miscellaneous Regulations), Rules and
Regulations of the National Pollution Control
Commission (1978)

• Executive Order 192 dated June 10, 1987 otherwise

known as the Reorganization Act of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources

• DENR Administrative Order No. 26-92 Series of 1992

re Amending Memorandum Circular No. 02 Series of
1981: Appointments/Designation of Pollution Control
Officers
DAO 2014-02
REVISED GUIDELINES FOR POLLUTION
CONTROL OFFICER ACCREDITATION
DATED FEBRUARY 3, 2014

• Section 1. Basic Policy. It is the policy of the State to pursue a

policy of economic growth in a manner consistent with the
protection, preservation and revival of the quality of our fresh,
brackish and marine waters.

• Section 2. Objectives.
• To effectively enforce RA 9275 by establishing linkages among
the (1) Department of Environment and Natural Resources, (2)
industrial establishments which are potential and actual
sources of pollution, and (3) local government agencies, and,
• To carry out the national policy of maintaining a reasonable
quality of the environment.
DAO 2014-02
REVISED GUIDELINES FOR POLLUTION
CONTROL OFFICER ACCREDITATION
DATED FEBRUARY 3, 2014

• Section 3. Scope and Coverage. This Order

shall cover the accreditation of PCOs of
establishments that discharge solid, liquid, or
gaseous wastes to the environment or whose
activities, products, or services are actual/or
potential sources of land, water, or air
pollution. This Order shall likewise apply to
local government units (LGUs), development
authorities, government-owned and controlled
corporations, and other public establishments.
SECTION 7.2 PCO FOR LGUS
AND OTHER GOVERNMENT
INSTITUTIONS
Government institutions and
LGUs that operate
establishments but not limited
to slaughterhouses, public
markets, and hospitals and
whose activities necessitate
the appointment/designation
of a PCO under Section 7.0 of
Order shall appoint/designate
a PCO.
DENR Administrative
Order 2014-02

• Ambulant vendors and stall

owners as defined under
RA 6977, Materials
Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
operated by barangays that
do not handle hazardous
wastes are exempted from
this Order.
SECTION 5. PCO Accreditation based on categorization of establishment
Table 1. Criteria for Categorization of Establishments

Criteria Category A Category B

Chemical Usage, Storage, and/or Using, storage, and/or handling Using, storage, and/or handling
Handling chemicals which are not listed in chemicals which are listed in Annex
Annex 1 of this Order 1 of this Order regardless of
capacity
Hazardous Waste Generated Small quantity generator as defined • Large quantity generator as
in Annex 2 of this Order defined in Annex 2 of this Order;
• Accredited Transporter; or
• Accredited Treatment, Storage,
and Disposal (TSD) facility.
Air Emissions Boilers rated less than 50 HP, diesel • Small, medium, large-sized, or
generators at less than 300 kW, or environmentally significant
other sources that have the existing source as defined in
potential to emit less than 10 tons EMB MC 2007-003; or
per year of an air pollutant • Establishments required to
regulated under RA 8749, or undergo stack sampling
establishments not required to
undergo stack sampling
Table 1. Criteria for Categorization of Establishments
Criteria Category A Category B

Solid Waste Generates more than 30 • Centralized MRF; or

kg/day of aggregate solid • Solid waste treatment or
wastes processing facilities; or
• Sanitary landfill or with
sanitary landfill
Wastewater Discharged Less than 30 m3/day and • Equal to or greater than
with effluent quality 30 m3/day; or
parameters not listed in • With effluent quality
Annex 3 of this Order parameters listed in
Annex 3 of this Order; or
• Classified as Strong
Wastewater (with
effluent BOD > 3,000
mg/L); or
• Transporter or treater of
wastewater, sewerage
and/or septage
Sludge Generated n/a Transporter or treater of
sludge
SECTION 7.
APPOINTMENT/DESIGNATION OF
PCOS

• The Managing Heads of establishments,

LGUs, and other government institutions 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 shall appoint/designate and seek
accreditation for their PCO. Provided, that no
PCO shall serve as such for more than one
establishment.
SECTION 6. QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIREMENTS OF PCOS
Basic Qualifications:

• Filipino citizen, of legal age, with

good moral character, and
mentally and physically healthy;
• Full-time employee of the
establishment where he/she is
being appointed/designated as
PCO;
• Has completed the Basic PCO
Training Course by an EMB-
recognized training
organization/institution within the
last three (3) years.
Section 6. Qualifications
Requirements for PCOs
b. For Category B
establishments
Section 10. Duties and Responsibilities of Accredited PCOs
The accredited PCO shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:
Section 10. Duties and Responsibilities of Accredited PCOs
The accredited PCO shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:
Section 10. Duties and Responsibilities of Accredited PCOs
The accredited PCO shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:
Section 10. Duties and Responsibilities of Accredited PCOs
The accredited PCO shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:
Section 10. Duties and Responsibilities of Accredited PCOs
The accredited PCO shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:
Section 10. Duties and
Responsibilities of
Accredited PCOs
• The PCO and the Managing Head
shall be held jointly and severally liable
for any violation of PD 1586, RA 6969,
RA 8749, RA 9003, RA 9275, their
respective IRRs, and other pertinent
rules and regulations, committed by
the establishment.
DAO 2018-07
Section 7.3 PCO FOR
COMMERCIAL BANKS, RICE
MILLERS, DENTAL CLINICS,
AND OTHER SMALL STAND-
ALONE ESTABLISHMENTS

• PCO for Commercial Banks,

Rice Millers, Dental Clinics, and
other Small Stand-alone
Establishments may apply for
clustering for the designation of
their PCO, subject to the
approval of the EMB Central
Office upon the
recommendation of the EMB
Regional Office.
MC 2020-28
CLARIFICATION ON THE RENEWAL AND REVOCATION OF
ACCREDITATION OF POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICERS
ISSUED ON JULY 15, 2020
 CONDITION ACTION OF EMB

1. The PCO must be able to prove •Issuance of renewal of PCO

the following: accreditation, valid for three (3)
years with issuance of
a. Establishment is compliant to Certificate of Accreditation
PD 1586, RA 6969, RA 8749, RA • Awards for the three (3)
9275, RA 9003 and their consecutive years of
respective Implementing Rules Compliance:
and Regulations (IRR), and 1. Issuance of Certificate of
other pertinent conditions such Recognition of to the PCO (See
as submission of Self- Annex B) and Managing Head
monitoring Reports (SMRs) and (See Annex C)
Compliance Monitoring Reports
(CMRs), among others, within 2. Issuance of Certificate of
three (3) consecutive years Compliance to the
period (See Annex A). Establishment (See Annex D)
b. The data provided on the
submissions
must reflect satisfactory
compliance to environment
and natural resources laws.
 CONDITION ACTION OF EMB
2. Establishment is non-compliant to one • PCO accreditation will be renewed, but
or two environmental law(s), IRR or valid for one (1) year only
reports in #1. Violation of • A joint Affidavit of Commitment will be
environmental law is a warrant for the required from the Managing Head and
issuance of non-performance to the the PCO (See Annex E); the
PCO establishment must be compliant to
the requirements in #1 within one (1)
year
• Issuance of non-performance of the
PCO
3. Establishment is still non-compliant of • Issuance of non-performance to the
the Affidavit of Commitment (please PCO
see attached format) executed by the
company and the EMB in item no. 2
after one (1) year period.
4. Non-compliance of any duties and • Issuance of non-performance to the
responsibilities of accredited PCOs PCO
under Section 10 of DAO 2014-02 as
determined by the EMB.
 CONDITION ACTION OF EMB

5. Revocation of the PCO accreditation shall be

based on Section 14 of DAO 2014-02.

6. 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.
Requirements for PCO Accreditation
New PCO Accreditation
Requirements:
✓ Approved Company Registration System
(CRS)
✓ 2 x 2 Picture of the PCO
✓ E-signature of the PCO
✓ 8 hours Managing Head training
certificate of the Managing Head
✓ PRC License of the PCO (if applicable)
✓ Diploma or Transcript of Records (TOR) of
the PCO
✓ Certificate/s of Employment of the PCO
issued by previous employer/s if
applicable
✓ 40 hours basic PCO training certificate of
the PCO
✓ Establishment Categorization Checklist
Form filled out by the PCO (which can be
downloaded at r7.emb.gov.ph>PCO
Corner>Form 3 Establishment
Categorization Checklist Form)
New PCO
Accreditation
Requirements:
✓ Appointment Letter of
the PCO signed by the
owner or HR or any
authorized
representative of the
company
✓ Certificate of
Employment issued by
current/present
employer (should
indicate that PCO is a
full-time employee of
the establishment)
✓ Notarized Joint Affidavit
of Undertaking between
the PCO and the
Managing Head
New Cluster PCO Accreditation
Requirements:
✓ Approved Company Registration System (CRS)
✓ 2 x 2 Picture of the PCO
✓ E-signature of the PCO
✓ 8 hours Managing Head training certificate of
the Managing Head
✓ PRC License of the PCO (if applicable)
✓ Diploma or Transcript of Records (TOR) of the
PCO
✓ Employment Verification Letter clearly
indicating that PCO is a bona fide full-time
employee of the establishment
✓ Copy of previously acquired 40 hours basic
PCO training certificate of the PCO
✓ Establishment Categorization Checklist Forms
per establishment/branch which are included
in the approved cluster
✓ Copy of previously issued PCO Certificate of
Accreditation
✓ Copy of the approved letter of clustering
issued by EMB Central Office
New Cluster PCO
Accreditation
Requirements:

• Notarized Joint
Affidavit of
Undertaking between
the PCO and the
Managing Head
Where to submit PCO Accreditation
applications?

https://pco.emb.gov.ph
Approved PCO Certificates of
Accreditation:
Approved PCO Certificates of Accreditation:
CONCERNS RELATED TO THE FOLLOWING:
•Change of PCO/Managing Head
•Change of establishment/company name
•Retrieval of user account for OPMS, HWMS, CRS, SMR, CMR, ECC
Please submit a Request Letter signed by the company’s Managing Head and address it to:

Ma. Victoria V. Abrera, Regional Director, EMB-7

DENR Compound, Greenplains Subdivision,
Banilad, Mandaue City
Please also attach and indicate the following:
•Company Name
•Company Address
•Company Reference ID (CRS)
•PCO name (new and previous) – Applicable for change of PCO
•Email address
•Contact No.
•Scanned copy of Company ID
•Scanned copy of Government-issued ID
Send it to [email protected] (cc) [email protected]; For follow-up, please call (032) 260-9777 local 108
Frequently asked questions:
1. Does the 40 hours basic PCO Training
Certificate expire?

2. If the PCO is transferred to another

establishment/company, can he/she
still use the former training certificate
or PCO COA?
Frequently asked questions:
3. Can the PCO act and be accredited as
Managing Head at the same time?

4. If the appointed/designated PCO is not

an engineer, can he/she apply for PCO
Accreditation?
Frequently asked questions:

5. Is there a training requirement for the

renewal of PCO Accreditation?

6. Will the Managing Head be held liable

for violation of environmental laws?
Frequently asked questions:
7. If the appointed/designated
PCO does not have a PRC License
or is not an engineer, is he/she
qualified as PCO for Category B
establishment?

8. Is it okay to cluster gasoline

stations considering its
establishment categories are A?
Frequently asked questions:
9. Can the PCO Accreditation application be accepted even
though the appointed/designated PCO is not yet qualified
for a Category B establishment due to lack of work
experience, but has attended and participated in the 40
hours basic PCO Training?

10. Will the copies of Permits and Certificates of the sister

company of PCO’s establishment be used as requirements
for the renewal of his/her PCO Accreditation?
❖ For queries and concerns, you may
call (032) 260-9777 local 118;
❖ 09662705718;
❖ 09365475943
❖ EMB Region7 fb page