All about PCO

8/3/2019 All about PCO

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DENR Administrative Order

No. 26Appointment/Designation of

Pollution Control Officers


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Section 3. DAO 26

Industrial, commercial and manufacturingestablishments and private entities, whoseactivities are potential and actual sources ofwater, air, and land pollution, shall eachappoint and/or designate a PollutionControl Officer. Likewise, all provincial,municipal and city governments, shall eachappoint/designate. Such appointment/

designation shall be subject toaccreditation by the Department inaccordance with Section 8.


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Qualifications of PCO

Basic QualificationMust be a Filipino citizen

Of good moral character

Mentally and physically healthyOf legal age

And must have a professionalqualification corresponding to the type oftreatment system being handled asdescribed in Section 4.b


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Professional Requirement

Water pollution control systems: For the operation ofWaste Treatment Plant treating highly concentrated ortoxic voluminous wastewater and requiring the

supervision or management of a highly technical person,the officer must preferably be a registered Chemical,Mechanical, Mining or Sanitary Engineer or anyregistered engineer with masters degree inEnvironmental Engineering or related field.

Air Pollution Control Systems: For the operation of airpollution facilities consisting of complete devices tocontrol air pollutants from toxic, hazardous and/orpollutive plants, the officer must preferably be aregistered Chemical or Mechanical Engineer.


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Professional Requirement (cont)

Treatment systems for toxic and hazardous wastes:For the operation of treatment systems for toxic andhazardous solid wastes, the officer must preferably bea registered Chemical Engineer or Chemist.

Small or simple works: For the operation of small orsimple works, facilities or mechanical control devicessuch as septic tanks, or simple works to treatdomestic sewage (for water pollution control),

expansion chambers, impingement tanks, etc. (for airpollution control), or facilities for non-toxic solid waste,the officer could be any knowledgeable technicalperson with basic training in pollution control.


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Duties and Responsibilities of an AccreditedPollution Control Officer in private

companies/establishments

Attend to the requirements of the establishment or agency prior tothe construction or installation of pollution control facilities includingthe application and securing of necessary pollution permits andrenewal thereof.Monitor activities pertaining to the installation or construction of

pollution source and control facilities with the end in view of ensuringtheir compliance with the air, noise and water quality standards; thePCO and the head of establishment shall be held responsible forany violations of PD 984 and its implementing rules and regulationscommitted by establishment where the officer is employed;Supervise the proper operation and maintenance of pollution controlfacilities of the establishment or agency;Report within reasonable time to the Department the breakdown ofany pollution control facility, and the estimated and actual datecompletion/repair and operation;Promptly submit validated/certified as correct by the GeneralManager periodic reports as stipulated in Section 7 hereof asrequired by the Department (otherwise, said reports shall not be

accepted as evidence in a pollution case);


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Duties and Responsibilities of an AccreditedPollution Control Officer in private

companies/establishments

As a liason officer with the Department, he shall keep himselfabreast with the requirements of the Department and the latestavailable technology on the prevention, control and abatement ofpollution;Maintain liason with the city/provincial or municipal or local

pollution control officers;Attend the meetings for Pollution Control Officers which mayfrom time to time be called by the Department;Facilitate compliance of the establishment he represents with therequirements that may from time to time be prescribed by theDepartment; and

Handle other matters of environmental concern as required byhis employer.


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Duties and Responsibilities of an AccreditedPollution Control Officer in government

Implement devolved functions to LGU and/or coordinate thepollution control and prevention activities within the city, municipalityor province, including environmental protection activities such assolid waste management, construction and maintenance of sewersystems, and other pollution control activities. Consistent with theprovisions of the Local Government Code, the officer can seek

assistance from the field offices of DENR regarding violations ornon-compliance with the pollution control requirements and rulesand regulations;Upon verification that pollution control requirements are compliedwith, recommend the filing of all applications for building and/orbusiness permit in coordination with municipal, city or provincial

development staff or engineering office for pollution permitapplications and application for location and zoning clearance,particularly on manufacturing, industrial and commercialestablishments.Cooperate with national/regional officials of the Department in theenforcement/implementation of environmental protection andpollution control laws, rules and regulations.


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Categories of PCO

A Pollution Control Officer shall be categorizedaccording to the responsibilities/restrictions andbased on the corresponding additional

requirement. The PCO category will be noted inthe Certificate of Accreditation and the PCOshall only act according to its correspondingresponsibility/restriction

Pollution Control Officer IPollution Control Officer II

Pollution Control Officer III


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Categories of PCO

Pollution Control Officer I

Responsibility/Restriction:Shall only be in-charge of the operation of the pollution

control systems of a single establishment belonging tothe classification of relatively less pollutive establishmentas enumerated in Section 4, b(4) or as determined bythe Department.

Additional RequirementOver and above the qualifications ser forth in Sec. 4, theapplicant PCO I should have attended at least one (1)training/seminar/workshop on pollution controlsanctioned by the Department within the past three (3)

years.


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Categories of PCO

Pollution Control Officer II

Responsibility/Restriction:Shall only be in-charge of the operation of single

establishment belonging to the classification of arelatively more pollutive establishment and/or theoperation of a pollution control defined in either Sec.4b1,4b2 and 4b3 as determined by the Department.

Additional RequirementOver and above the qualifications ser forth in Sec. 4, theapplicant PCO II should have attended at least five (5)training/seminar/workshop on pollution controlsanctioned by the Department within the past eight (8)

years.


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Categories of PCOPollution Control Officer III

Responsibility/Restriction:Shall be responsible for the performance of the pollutioncontrol systems and the plant PCO of an establishmentclassified as highly pollutive or to an establishment with two ormore plant locations where every plant has adesignated/accredited PCO or as determined by theDepartment.

Additional RequirementOver and above the qualifications ser forth in Sec. 3, the

applicant PCO III shall meet the following additionalrequirements: Shall be a registered chemist, chemical, mechanical, mining, sanitary or

any registered engineer with at least eighteen (18) units in graduatecourse in environmental engineering or any related field;

Shall have attended at least ten (10)training/seminars/workshops on

pollution control or environmental management sanctioned by theDepartment within the past twelve (12) years.


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Preparation of PCO Quarterly

Report

All accredited private PCO shall submit aperiodic report to the respective RegionalOfficer of the Department every quarter, or

as often as maybe required, based on theoperation and maintenance of pollutioncontrol source and control facilities

concerned.


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Procedure for Accreditation of PCO

The company/LGU shall apply for the accreditation of itsappointed or designated Pollution Control Officer at therespective Regional Offices of the Department withinthirty (30) days from the date of designation and/orappointment, or any date prescribed by the Department.

The application shall be accompanied by the curriculumvitae and/or other supporting documents showing proofof appointees qualification e.g. training on environment,etc.

The Secretary or a duly designated official of DENR shallapprove/disapprove the accreditation of the appointed ordesignated Pollution Control Officer within thirty (30)days from the receipt of application;


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Procedure for Accreditation of PCO

As proof of approval, a Certificate of Accreditation shallbe sent to the firm and the PCO. The Said PCO,however, shall be required to attend an orientationprogram according to Section 10 of this order;For disapproved applications the Department shallofficially inform the firm of the reason(s) and direct saidfirm to submit deficiencies and/or appoint another PCO.The DENR Regional Office shall furnish theEnvironmental Management Bureau a copy of theapproved Certificates of Accreditation and disapproved

applications. EMB shall be the main repository ofaccreditation records and may develop a PCO databasefor that purpose. EMB shall be responsible for periodicreporting to the Office of the Secretary.


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Revocation and Suspension of Accreditationof Pollution Control Officer.

Submission of false documents and/or reports.Failure to perform the functions as indicated in Section 4and 6 of this Administrative Order; andVerifiable negligence of the PCO (such as failure to

submit the necessary report/recommendations tomanagement to address their companys pollutionproblem) resulting to the application of penalty to the firmsuch as closure and/or fine due to violation of pollutioncontrol laws, rules and regulations; andSuspension of the PCO more than once.

The following shall be considered as violationsof accreditation of PCO:


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The following shall be taken with regards to theviolations by a PCO:

First violation: strict warning

Second violation: revocation of accreditation

An accreditation may be suspended due to thefollowing circumstances:

The establishment has a pending pollution case due to thenegligence on the part of the PCO; and

Uncooperative attitude of the PCO.

Note: In the event that the PCO is under suspension, the firm isheld responsible for designating a temporary substitute withinone (1) week from receipt of suspension notice.

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All about PCO