The House plenary. (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)





With a vote of 215-0-0 (yes-no-abstain), the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 2 the bill that seeks to establish the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS). Embodied in House Bill (HB) No. 8443, PENCAS is a framework that takes into account the country’s natural capital and its impact on the economy. HB No.8443 had earlier been identified as a priority measure by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) Once enacted, the measure will establish a system for the collection, compilation, and development of natural capital accounts in the government as a tool for development planning and programming, policy analysis, and decision-making. The PENCAS will also serve as a comprehensive data framework in the generation of natural capital statistics and accounts for their progressive integration in macroeconomic indicators. “We acknowledge that solid data is crucial in preserving and developing our natural capital and with this proposed legislation, we hope to provide tools and measures that can contribute to the protection, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems,” said House Speaker Martin Romualdez, leader of the 312-strong House of Representatives. “This bill also intends to provide a framework in the generation of natural capital statistics and accounts toward their progressive integration in macroeconomic indicators that is why the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Interagency Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Statistics (IACENRS), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) shall work hand-in-hand in the implementation of the measure,” the highest-ranking House leader from Leyte’s 1st district added. Under HB No. 8443, the PSA will have the overall responsibility for the institutionalization and progressive implementation of PENCAS following the System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework. This refers to a framework that integrates both economic and environmental data to provide a more comprehensive and multipurpose view of the interrelationships among the economy, the environment and ecosystems, and the stocks and changes in stocks of natural assets, as they bring benefits to humanity. Section 9 of the bill also provides participatory mechanisms and citizen remedies wherein any citizen will have the right to information on any account generated under the measure, to have the standing to compel the performance of any of the mandates under the proposed law, and to seek justification from any government agency that may have ignored or neglected PENCAS data in their policy or decision-making. The bill also requires NEDA approval before commencing any development projects involving PENCAS, which are proposed to be undertaken by the national government, national government agencies, government-owned and -controlled corporations, LGUs, and private investors. Some of the authors of HB No. 8443  are Reps. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga, Jr., Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, Francisco Benitez, Antonio Legarda, Jr., LRay Villafuerte, Miguel Luis Villafuerte, Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata, Brian Yamsuan, Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva, Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, Celso Regencia, and Adrian Michael Amatong.