An Act Creating the Bangsamoro Environmental Adjudication Board, Defining Its Powers and Functions, and for Other Purposes

The Bangsamoro Environmental Adjudication Board Act. It creates a quasi-judicial board, attached to the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy for policy coordination only, with original and exclusive administrative jurisdiction over violations of Bangsamoro environmental laws: pollution control, solid waste and sanitation, inland waters, forest management, wildlife and biodiversity, and compliance requirements of Bangsamoro agencies. It can issue cease-and-desist and closure orders, fine, suspend or revoke permits, order rehabilitation, subpoena and cite for contempt, and recommend criminal or civil cases. It has no jurisdiction over crimes, and violations of national laws such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Solid Waste Act go to DENR and the national Pollution Adjudication Board.

The board has a chairperson and 4 members appointed by the Chief Minister on the MENRE Minister's recommendation and confirmed by Parliament, each with at least 10 years of relevant experience and 5 years' residence in the region, for single 6-year terms. Fines run from ₱5,000 to ₱50,000 for minor violations and ₱50,000 to ₱200,000 a day for serious ones; grave violations carry up to ₱200,000 a day plus permanent cancellation of permits or closure. Second offences draw at least 50% of the maximum fine, and 2 prior final findings within 5 years make an offender habitual. Communities may opt for customary dispute resolution under the board's supervision. Decisions are appealable to the courts.

It was filed on 23 March 2026 by MP Amenodin U. Sumagayan, MP Rashdi T. Adiong, MP Ahmad Amir A. Balindong, MP Amer Zaakaria A. Rakim and MP Alirakim T. Munder, and read on first reading on 27 April 2026. Parliament's index records no committee referral, and it has not moved since.

The explanatory note says the region has no quasi-judicial body to adjudicate violations of Bangsamoro environmental laws, which leaves gaps and delays in enforcement. The board is meant to give the region a local, accessible way to sanction violators while respecting the national Pollution Adjudication Board and the courts' jurisdiction over crimes. The note says fines are calibrated to the ceilings in the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, and that a sunset and review clause answers concerns about overreach.

The same 5 MPs filed Bill 471, the Bangsamoro Sustainable Forest Management Code, on 9 June 2026, 11 weeks later. This bill gives the environmental board original and exclusive jurisdiction over forest management, wildlife and biodiversity cases; the Forest Code creates a separate Bangsamoro Forestry Adjudication Board for forestry cases and does not mention this one. If both passed, 2 regional boards would claim the same cases.

Section 16 is headed "Sunset and Periodic Review Clause", and the explanatory note presents it as a sunset clause, but it sets no end date. It orders a review within 5 years and then says the board's powers "shall remain in force" unless Parliament acts. The penalty matrix also tops out at the same ₱200,000 a day for serious and grave violations, so a grave violation can draw no higher fine than a serious one. The copy filed names no co-authors; Parliament's index lists 16.