As part of the Earth Day Celebration, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), in cooperation with the US AID Economic Cooperation-Asia (Eco-Asia) and the Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network (AECEN), will launch two Compliance Assistance Centers on April 29, 2008 at the Discovery Suites, Pasig City.

The Compliance Assistance Center or CAC is an innovative way of eliciting compliance to 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 to 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 DENR, Environmental Management Bureau, Laguna Lake Development Authority, local government units 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 websites: www.slaughterhousecac-phil.org and www.hogfarmcac-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 comprises 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 establishments 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 a “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.