Lawmakers push for sanitation regulation in PH

CAGAYAN DE ORO Representative Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Representative Maximo Rodriguez filed a legislative measure calling for a more responsive and comprehensive regulation of environmental and sanitary engineering in the country.

The Rodriguez brothers said the rapid deterioration of the environment due to unplanned and unrestrained waste disposal has affected public safety and health.

They said industrialization and modernization had also produced substances that are now public health concerns.

“The scope and intricacies of pollution have increased and the need for environmental preservation and protection has to be broadened,” said Representative Rufus.

House Bill 6439 seeks to provide a more responsive and comprehensive regulation for the practice, licensing, registration and certification of environmental and sanitary engineers and sanitarians in the Philippines.

The bill also aims to amend Republic Act 1364 and for other purposes for the engineers to be more effective in dealing with today’s worsening environmental and sanitation problems.

The Commission on Higher Education, according to Rufus, also realized the need to update the Sanitary Engineering Law, or RA 1364, for the preparation of the practitioners to a globally competitive professional in the field of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering.

The bill also requested the Congress to enact the new Environmental and Sanitary Engineering Law to come up with a more definitive and responsive environmental and public health engineering law that will be globally acceptable.

Once acted into law, HB 6439 will be known as the “Environmental and Sanitary Engineering Act.” (Annabelle L. Ricalde)