The Laguna Lake Development Authority(LLDA), in coordination with the USAID Economic Cooperation-Asia (Eco-Asia) and the Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network (AECEN), launched two Compliance Assistance Centers yesterday at the Discovery Suites, Pasig City.

The move, said to be part of the Earth Day Celebration, creates the Compliance Assistance Center (CAC) which is an innovative way of eliciting compliance with environmental laws, regulations and standards by industries.

A company does not have to be inspected regularly by environmental personnel, be cited for violations or be advised by an environmental consultant to be able to comply with environmental laws, regulations, standards and procedures.

All it has to do is call a CAC or visit its website to get simplified answers to compliance questions.

On the other hand, with very few available personnel for compliance monitoring, the CAC can become a useful tool for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), LLDA, local government units (LGUs) and other agencies charged with enforcement of various environmental regulations.

So far, two CACs have been organized: one for hog farms and the other for slaughterhouses, two of the sectors that are often associated with problems in water pollution and odor.

Initially started to serve the hog farms and slaughterhouses in the Laguna de Bay Region, the CAC will eventually provide services nationwide through its Web sites www.slaughterhousesac-phil.org and www.hogfarmsac-phil.org.

The CAC for the hog farms will be hosted by the Baras Business Council while that for the slaughterhouses will be managed initially by the LLDA while looking for a private organization that is willing to host the CAC.

Simply described, a CAC is compromised of activities, tools or technical assistance which provide clear and consistent information for the regulated establishments to help them understand environmental regulations and be able to comply with their obligations under environmental regulations.

The CAC can provide answers to such questions pertaining to required environmental permits, reporting requirements, monitoring procedures and applicable technologies that will enable to operate in accordance with environmental laws.

Environmental enforcement in the Philippines, like in other countries, has been largely legal and punitive in approach. Relationship between the government and the regulated establishments is characterized by confrontation which has resulted in mutual indifference. Yet compliance remains a problem to both the government and the establishments.

A CAC is being operated independent of the environmental authorities but serves as "connect" between the authorities and business establishments. It is also designed to soften the confrontational relationship between the two parties, thereby paving the way for increased and sustained compliance.