TO:	ALL APPROPRIATE MINISTRIES AND THEIR ATTACHED AGENCIES

Pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1536 establishing an Environmental Impact assessment System which requires all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or controlled corporations; as well as private corporations, firms and entities to comply with the EIS System, I hereby issue following instructions:

1. The National Environmental Protection Council is hereby authorized to:
   
   

   a)	issue Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to any entity/firm which hascomplied with the requirements of the EIS system; and
   b)	grant exemptions to any firm/entity from the requirements of the EIS system, upon recommendation of the Minister concerned with the sector.

   
   
   
2. All ministries so designated under P.D. 1586, are hereby directed to constitute an environmental unit from their existing personnel in their respective ministries and their attached agencies to provide technical assistance in the processing and evaluation of environmental impact statements.  These environmental units shall coordinate with the NEPC to achieve an integrated environmental program.

This Letter of Instructions shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila this 14th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-one.