This review of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System has a three-fold objective. First, it aims to determine whether the existing EIS System meets the international practice for environmental assessment. Second, it aims to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the system in terms of protecting the environment and promoting balanced socio-economic development through regulation and improved project planning. Third, it hopes to come up with concrete action programs to address gaps and weaknesses of the system vis-à-vis international practice and to set the agenda for reform toward a more efficient and effective system. The review findings will be of importance for the Government, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other donor agencies. Specifically, the review could provide significant insights and inputs to the Philippine legislators who are now drafting the bill to amend the Philippine EIS System and to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in its continuing pursuit to make the EIS System more effective and efficient. On one hand, the results of the review would serve as a base for further analyses; while also providing guidance to the donor agencies as they assist the Government to improve its implementation of the system and its capacity. The study begins with an introduction. The next three sections provide brief descriptions of the country context. Section 2 describes the legal framework while Section 3 describes the institutional framework. Section 4 provides a glimpse of the current environmental policy and regulatory environment. Section 5 describes the objectives, processes and procedures of the EIS System. Formal assessment of the system starts at Section 6 where the adequacy of the Philippine EIS System was examined vis-à-vis international standards, particularly the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA). Section 7 provides an analysis the Philippine EIS System's performance, particularly its effectiveness and efficiency. Section 8 discusses the challenges facing the EIS System and reforms needed.
