SANITAITON CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES : Known as Presidential Decree No.

856, Approved
and Signed by Ferdinand Marcos on December 23, 1975.

CODE ON SANITATION

WHEREAS, the health of the people, being of paramount importance, all efforts of public
services should be directed towards the protection and promotions of health; and

WHEREAS, with the advance in the field of sanitation in recent years, there arises the need
for updating and codifying our scattered sanitary laws to ensure that they are in keeping
with modern standards of sanitation and provide a handy reference and guide for their
enforcement;

CHAPTER I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Title—The title of this Code is “Code on Sanitation of the Philippines.”

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms.—Whenever any of the following words or terms is used herein
or in any rule or regulation issued under this Code, it shall have the meaning given it in this
section, as follows:

a. Code—Code on Sanitation of the Philippines.

b. Department—The Department of Health.
c. Secretary—The Secretary of Health.
d. Regional Director—an official who heads a Regional Health Office.
e. Local Health Authority—an official or employee responsible for the application of a
prescribed health measure in a local political subdivision.
f. Health Officer—Provincial, City or Municipal Health Officer.
g. Engineer—A Sanitary Engineer.
h. Section—any section of this code unless the term refers to other statutes which are
specifically mentioned.

SEC. 3. Functions of the Department of Health—The Department shall have the following
powers and functions:

a. Undertake the promotion and preservation of the health of The people and raise the
health standards of individuals and communities throughout the Philippines;
b. Extend maximum health services to the people in rural areas and provide medical
care to those who cannot afford it by reason of poverty;
 c. Develop, administer and coordinate various health activities and services which
shall include public health, preventive, curative and rehabilitative programs,
medical care, health and medical education services;
d. Upgrade the standards of medical practice, the quality of health services and
programs to assure the people of better health services;
e. Assist local health agencies in developing public health programs including medical
care, and promote medical and public health research;
f. Issue permits to establish and operate government and private hospitals, clinics,
dispensaries, schools of nursing, midwifery, and other paramedical courses,
puericulture centers, clinical laboratories and blood banks;
g. Prescribe standard rates of fees for health, medical, laboratory, and other public
health services; and
h. Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.

SEC. 4. Authority of the Secretary.—In addition to the powers and authority of the Secretary
which are provided by law, he is likewise empowered to promulgate rules and regulations
for the proper implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this Code.

SEC. 5. Authority of the Bureau Directors.—The Bureau Directors shall be responsible for
staff activities involving the development of plans, programs, operating standards and
management techniques in their respective field of assignment.

SEC. 6. Authority of the Regional Directors.—The Regional Directors shall administer health
functions in their regions, implement policies, standards and programs involving health
services; and enforce the provisions of this Code and the rules and regulations
promulgated by the Secretary under this Code.

SEC. 7. Authority of the Health Officers.—The Health officers shall administer health
functions in areas under their jurisdiction and enforce the provisions of this Code and the
rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary under this Code.

SEC. 8. Miscellaneous Provisions.—

a. International treaties agreements and conventions.—The Republic of the

Philippines recognizes international treaties, agreements and conventions on public
health. Their provisions may be considered parts of this Code provided they do not
contravene the Constitution, existing laws or any provision of this Code.
b. Rights and proceedings.—Any proceeding which has commenced or any right which
has accrued upon the effectivity of this Code shall not be affected by any of its
provisions. However, matters of procedure and rights arising after the date of
effectivity of this Code shall conform to the pro visions hereof.
 c. Delegation of power and assignment of duty.—Whenever a power is granted or a
duty is assigned to any public health officer in this Code, the power may be
exercised by a deputy or agent of the official pursuant to law, unless it is expressly
provided otherwise in this Code.
d. Language required.—Any notice, report, statement or record required or authorized
by this Code, shall be written in English or Filipino.
e. Mailing of notices.—Unless otherwise expressly provided, any notice required to be
sent to any per son by any provision of this Code, shall be sent through the postal
service. The affidavit of the official or employee who mailed the notice is prima facie
evidence that the notice was sent as prescribed herein.
f. Condemnation and seizure of property.—When any property is officially condemned
or seized by government authorities in the interest of public health the owner
thereof shall not be entitled to compensation.
g. Command responsibility.—When a duty is expressly vested in a health officer as
provided in this Code, it shall be understood that it shall likewise be the concern of
the superiors of the health office under the principle of command responsibility.

SEC. 9. Prescribed Standards and Procedures.—Standards for drinking water and their
bacteriological and chemical examinations, together with the evaluation of results, shall
conform to the criteria set by the National Drinking Water Standards. The treatment of
water to render it safe for drinking, and the disinfection of contaminated water sources
together with their distribution systems shall be in accordance with procedures prescribed
by the Department.

SEC. 10. Jurisdiction of the Department.—The approval of the Secretary or that of his duly
authorized representative is required in the following cases:

a. Sites of water sources before their construction;

b. Delivery of water to consumers from new or recently repaired water systems;
c. Operation of a water system after an order of closure was issued by the Department;
d. Plans and specifications of water systems of sub divisions and projects prior to the
construction of housing units thereat; and e. Certification of potability of drinking
water.

SEC. 11. Types of Water Examinations Required.—The following examinations are required
for drinking water:

a. Initial examination.—The physical, chemical and bacteriological examinations of

water from newly constructed systems or sources are required be fore they are
 operated and opened for public use. Examination of water for possible radioactive
contamination should also be done initially.
b. Periodic examination.—Water from existing sources is subject to bacteriological
examination as of ten as possible but the interval shall not be longer than six
months, while general systematic chemical examination shall be conducted every
12 months or oftener. Examination of water sources shall be conducted yearly for
possible radioactive contamination.

SEC. 12. Examining Laboratories And Submission of Water Samples.—The examination of

drinking water shall be performed only in private or government laboratories duly
accredited by the Department. It is the responsibility of operators of water systems to
submit to accredited laboratories water samples for examination in a manner and at such
intervals prescribed by the Department.

SEC. 13. Other Protective Measures.—To protect drinking water from contamination, the
following measures shall be observed:

a. Washing clothes or bathing within a radius of 25 meters from any well or other
source of drinking water is prohibited.
b. No artesians, deep or shallow well shall be constructed within 25 meters from any
source of pollution.
c. No radioactive sources or materials shall be stored within a radius of 25 meters
from any well or source of drinking water unless the radioactive source is
adequately and safely enclosed by proper shielding.
1. No person charged with the management of a public water supply system
shall permit any physical connection between its distribution system and
that of any other water supply, unless the latter is regularly examined as
to its quality by those incharge of the public supply to which the
connection is made and found to be safe and potable.
2. The installation of a booster pump to boost water direct from the water
distribution line of a water supply system, where lowwater pressure
prevails is prohibited.

SEC. 13. Other Protective Measures.—To protect drinking water from contamination, the
following measures shall be observed:

a. Washing clothes or bathing within a radius of 25 meters from any well or other
source of drinking water is prohibited.
b. No artesians, deep or shallow well shall be constructed within 25 meters from any
source of pollution.
 c. No radioactive sources or materials shall be stored within a radius of 25 meters
from any well or source of drinking water unless the radioactive source is
adequately and safely enclosed by proper shielding.
d. No person charged with the management of a public water supply system shall
permit any physical connection between its distribution system and that of any
other water supply, unless the latter is regularly examined as to its quality by those
incharge of the public supply to which the connection is made and found to be safe
and potable.
e. The installation of a booster pump to boost water direct from the water distribution
line of a water supply system, where lowwater pressure prevails is prohibited.

SEC. 45. Sanitary Requirements for Operating an Industrial Establishment.—The following

sanitary requirements shall be applicable to industrial establishments:

a. No person, firm, corporation, or entity shall operate any industrial establishment

without first obtaining a sanitary permit from the Secretary or his duly authorized
representatives.
b. Industrial establishments shall be allowed to operate only in places or zones
assigned for the kind of industry by existing zoning laws, ordinances, or policies. The
local health authority shall determine the suitability of location where no zoning law,
ordinance or policy exists.
c. Adequate potable water supply shall be provided to employees.
d. Sewage disposal shall be by means of a municipal or city sewerage system
whenever possible. If no municipal or city sewerage system exists it shall be done in
accordance with the provisions of this Code. Adequate and conveniently located
toilet and bath facilities shall be provided for each sex.
e. All wastes incident to the operation of the industrial plant shall be collected, stored,
or disposed of in a manner to prevent health hazards, nuisances, and pollution.
Where a city or municipal collection and disposal system exists, it should be
utilized.
f. An abatement program for the control of vermin shall be maintained.
g. Adequate restrooms and mass halls shall be provided for employees.
h. All places of employment and all workrooms, including machinery and equipment,
shall be kept clean and sanitary.

SEC. 46. Responsibility of the Secretary.—The Secretary shall: a. Issue a list of maximum
concentration of atmospheric contaminants as a guide in appraising health hazards and in
evaluating control measures.
 a. The term maximum concentration as used in this Chapter means the amount of
atmospheric contaminant which can be tolerated by man for continuous daily
exposure with non-impairment of health or well-being either immediate or after a
long period of exposure.
b. Review the concentration values at regular intervals to amend or alter the list where
indicated.
c. Specify other concentrations of short intermittent duration capable of causing
acute impairment of health.
d. Require control of other contaminants known or believed to be capable of causing
impairment of health but not included in the list already issued by the Department.
e. Prescribe control measures to eliminate transmission of infection diseases through
processing or handling of industrial products or wastes.
f. Prescribe illumination standard values and order their review at regular intervals to
alter or amend values when indicated.
g. Promulgate measures to effectively and adequately control any possible
radioactivity to which workers may be exposed while on their job.
h. Promulgate control measures to reduce noise and pollution.

SEC. 47. Responsibilities of the Employer and Employees.—The following are the
responsibilities of the employer and employees in industrial establishments:

a. Employer responsibility—
1. Provide, install and maintain in good repair all control measures and
protective equipment;
2. Inform affected employees regarding the nature of the hazards and the
reasons for, and methods of control measures and protective equipment;
3. Make periodical testing of the hearing of all employees in noisy areas of
operation;
4. Adopt measures so that the noise produced is within allowable limits so as
not to affect neigh boring offices, buildings or establishments;
5. Request the Department a permit for variation from the requirements when
other means of equivalent protection are provided; and
6. Provide personal protective equipment and/or protective barriers when they
are necessary.
b. Employee responsibility—
1. Observe strictly protective control measures which are prescribed, and
2. Use equipment provided them properly.
SEC. 48. Environmental Provisions.—The environmental provisions enumerated hereunder
for the protection of the health of workers are applicable to all industrial establishments:

a) Control of atmospheric contaminants—

1. Workers shall not be exposed to atmosphere contaminants hazardous to health.
2. Control of atmospheric contaminants shall be accomplished by methods approved
by the Secretary or his duly authorized representatives or other government
authority.

b.Control of infectious agents—

1. Control measures shall be provided to eliminate or control the transmission of

infectious; diseases through processing or handling of industrial products or
wastes.
c. Control of possible sources of radiation hazards should be carried out under the
supervision of the Radiation Health Officer or his authorized representative.
d. Noise—Control measures shall be provided to reduce intensity of noise sufficiently
to render it harmless to workers and to eliminate it at its source as a nuisance by
following the recommendations of the local health or other government authority.
e. Illumination—
1. Adequate lighting shall be provided and distributed in all work areas in amount
required for the type of work or seeing tasks measured by a light-meter with a
minimum of glare and contrasting intensities between work and workroom.
2. Where the specific task requires more light than provided by general illumination,
supplementary lighting shall be supplied.
f. Ventilation—
1. Natural or artificial ventilation shall be provided in all work areas at a rate to insure a
safe and healthful working atmosphere, free from injurious amounts of toxic
materials and reasonably free from offensive odors and dust throughout the
establishment.
2. Proper control measures shall be used to reduce concentration of toxic
contaminants to allowable limits.
3. Air inlets shall be arranged, located and equipped to insure sufficient air velocity
and an exhaust system which shall be located so that discharged materials shall not
reenter places of employment or habitations nor create any hazard of nuisance.

SEC. 49. Personal Protective Equipment.—The following requirements shall be

applicable for personal protective equipment:
 a. Personal protective equipment and/of protective barriers shall be provided
whenever substances, radiations or mechanical irritants are encountered in
a manner capable of causing any pathological change or injury or
impairment in function of any part of the body through skin and/or mucous
membrane absorption.
b. Personal protection equipment which shall include respiratory protectors
and other accessories shall be fitted to each exposed worker when
necessary.
c. X-ray film badges or pocket desimeters should be worn by workers who,
during their course of work are unavoidably exposed to even a small amount
of radiation.
d. Supervisors and employees shall familiarize themselves with the use, proper
sanitary care and storage of this equipment.

CHAPTER XVII. SEWAGE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL

EXCRETA DISPOSAL AND DRAINAGE

SEC. 73. Operation of Sewage Treatment Works.—

Private or public sewerage systems shall:

a. Provide laboratory facilities for control tests and other examinations needed;
b. Forward to the local health authority operating data, control tests and such
other records and information as may be required;
c. Inform the local health authority in case of breakdown or improper
functioning of the sewage treatment works; and
d. Provide for the treatment of all sewage entering the treatment plant

SEC. 74. Requirements in the Operation of Sewerage Works and Sewage Treatment
Plants.—The following are required for sewerage works and sewage treatment plants:

a. All houses covered by the system shall be connected to the sewer in areas
where a sewerage system is available.
b. Outfalls discharging effluent from a treatment plant shall be carried to the
channel of the stream or to deep water where the outlet is discharged.
 c. Storm water shall be discharged to a storm sewer, sanitary sewage shall be
discharged to a sewerage system carrying sanitary sewage only; but this
should not prevent the installation of a combined system.

d. Properly designed grease traps shall be provided for sewers from restaurants
or other establishments where the sewage carries a large amount of grease.

SEC. 79. Drainage.—

a. Responsibility of cities and municipalities.—It shall be the responsibility of all cities

and municipalities to provide and maintain in a sanitary state and in good repair a
satisfactory system of drainage in all inhabited areas where waste water from
buildings and premises could empty without causing nuisance to the community
and danger to public health.
b. Connection to the municipal drainage system.— Buildings or premises producing
waste water shall be connected to the municipal drainage system in all areas where
it exists.

SEC. 81. Definition of Terms.—As used in this Chapter, refuse is an inclusive term for all
solid waste products consisting of garbage, rabbish, ashes, night soil, manure, dead
animate, street sweepings and industrial wastes.

SEC. 82. Responsibility of Cities and Municipalities.— Cities and municipalities shall
provide an adequate and efficient system of collecting, transporting and disposing refuse
in their areas of jurisdiction in a manner approved by the local health authority.

SEC. 83. Additional Requirements.—

a. Occupants of buildings and residences shall provide a sufficient number of

receptacles for refuse. Re fuse in receptacles shall be protected against vermin and
other animals.
b. Refuse shall be disposed through a municipal collection service. If this service is
not available, disposal shall be by incineration, burying, sanitary landfill or any
method approved by the local health authority.
c. Refuse shall not be thrown in any street, sidewalk, yard, park or any body of water. It
shall be stored in a suitable container while awaiting its final disposal.
d. Streets shall be kept clean by occupants or owners of properties lining the street
from the line of the property to the middle of the street and from one property to the
other.
 e. Parks, plazas and streets adjacent to public buildings shall be kept clean by the
local government concerned.

CHAPTER XIX. NUISANCES AND OFFENSIVE TRADES AND OCCUPATIONS

SEC. 84. Definitions of Terms.—As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall mean and
include:

a. Nuisance.—Anything that injures health, endangers life, offends the senses or

produces discomfort to the community.
b. Offensive trades or occupations.—These are the following :
1. Soap boiling;
2. Guts cleaning;
3. Coiling of offal, bones, fat or lard;[*]
4. Manufacturing of glue or fertilizer;
5. Skin curing;
6. Scrap processing;
7. Manure storing; 8. Lime burning;
8. Lye making; and
9. Any manufacturing process in which lead, arsenic, mercury, phosphorous, or
other poisonous substance is used.

SEC. 85. Types of Nuisances.—For the purpose of this Chapter, the following shall be
considered nuisances:

a. Public or private premises maintained and used in a manner injurious to health;

b. Breeding places and harborages of vermin;
1. Animals and their carcasses which are injurious to health;
2. Accumulation of refuse;
3. Noxious matter or waste water discharged improperly in streets;
4. Animal stockage maintained in a manner injurious to health;
5. Excessive noise; and
6. Illegal shanties in public or private properties.

SEC. 86. Responsibilities of Owners, Managers or Operators.—The Owners, managers or

operators of establishment shall:

a. Secure a sanitary permit from the local health authority before establishing and
operating their business or trade;
b. Remove daily all injurious by-products and wastes;
 c. Prevent the escape of industrial impurities and adopt methods to render them
innocuous;
d. Maintain working establishments and their premises clean and sanitary at all times;
e. Store all materials properly to prevent emission of noxious or injurious effluvia.

SEC. 87. General Provisions.—For the purpose of this Chapter, the provisions of Republic
Act No. 3931, the rules and regulations of the National Water and Air Pollution Control
Commission promulgated in accordance with the provisions of Section 6(a) 2 of the said
Act, the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 480, and the rules and regulations of the
Radiation Health. Office of the Department of Health shall be applied and enforced.

SEC. 88. Authority of the Secretary.—The Secretary is authorized to promulgate rules and
regulations for the control and prevention of the following types of pollution:

a. Pollution of pesticides and heavy metals

b. Pollution of food caused by chemicals, biological agents, radioactive materials, and
excessive or improper use of food additives;
c. Non-ionizing radiation caused by electronic products such as laser beams or
microwaves;
d. Noise pollution caused by industry, land and air transport and
e. Building construction;
1. Biological pollutants including the causative agents of intestinal infections;
2. Pollution of agricultural products through the use of chemical fertilizers and
plant pesticides containing toxic chemical substances and unsanitary
agricultural practices; and
3. Any other type of pollution which is not covered by the provisions of Republic
Act 3931, the Rules and Regulations of the National Water and Air Pollution
Control Commission, the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 480 and the
rules and regulations of the Radiation Health Office of the Department of
Health which is likely to affect community health adversely.

CHAPTER XXII. FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 103.—Penal Provisions.—

a. Unless otherwise provided in any Chapter or section in this Code, any person who
shall violate disobey, refuse, omit or neglect to comply with any of the rules and
regulations promulgated under this Code shall be guilty of misdemeanor and upon
conviction shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months
or by a fine of not exceeding one thousand pesos or both depending upon the
discretion of the court.
 b. Any person who shall interfere with or hinder, or oppose any officer, agent or
member of the Department or of the bureaus and offices under it, in the
performance of his duty as such under this Code, or shall tear down, mutilate,
deface or alter any placard, or notice, affixed to the premises in the enforcement of
the Code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable upon conviction by
imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or by a fine of not exceeding
one thousand pesos or both depending upon the discretion of the Court.

SEC. 104. Separability Clause.—In the event that any section, paragraph, sentence, clause,
or word of this Code is declared invalid for any reason, other provisions thereof shall not be
affected thereby.

SEC. 105. Repealing Clause.—All laws, as well as pertinent rules and regulations thereof
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Code are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 106. Effectivity.—This Code is hereby made part of the law of the land and shall take
effect immediately.