For every proposed project which affects the community and the environment, a genuine and meaningful public participation is key to ensure that social, economic and environmental issues and concerns are taken into consideration. Public participation, thus, is an important component of every proposed project.

In this regard, the Philippine Environment Impact Statement System (PEISS) thru its corresponding Implementing Rules and Regulations provides and esnures a meaningful public participation. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recent guielines on Public Participation (DAO-2017-15) under the Philippine EIS System aims to ensure and encourage public participation of non-governmental, community-based or sectoral organizations.

This primer will only focus on the DAO-2017-15 on public participation.