Guidelines on the Designation of Waterbodies as Non-Attainment Areas (NAAs) and Attainment Areas (AAs) and Procedures for Monitoring Restoration, Revival, and Rehabilitation of Initially Designated NAAs

DENR Administrative Order No. 2025-24

Subject: Guidelines on the Designation of Waterbodies as Non-Attainment Areas (NAAs) and Attainment Areas (AAs) and Procedures for Monitoring Restoration of Initially Designated NAAs

Signed: June 2025 . Published: Business Mirror, July 16, 2025 . Acknowledged: ONAR, U.P. Law Center, July 17, 2025

Legal Basis

RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004) and its IRR, DAO 2005-10.

Scope

All waterbodies within designated Water Quality Management Areas (WQMAs). Excludes waterbodies covered by rehabilitation or management plans issued through Presidential Executive Orders or Supreme Court rulings.

Section 5. Basis for Designation

• Non-Attainment Area: monitoring shows exceedance of water quality guidelines for specific parameters over three consecutive years, significant pollution loads from point or non-point sources, and impairment of beneficial uses. WQMAs with persistent non-compliance are prioritized.
• Attainment Area: a former NAA shown to comply with all designated parameters for three consecutive years, with restoration efforts sustained.
• Designation may be initiated by the EMB Regional Office or by petitioners (LGUs, private entities, people's organizations). Immediate designation may be recommended in exceptional circumstances such as disasters or critical public health risks.

Section 6. Data Requirements

Waterbody classification, station coordinates, description and beneficial uses; at least three years of monitoring data with a minimum of 10 datasets per year for primary parameters (excluding fecal coliform), 4 per year for secondary parameters, and 3 per quarter for fecal coliform; point and non-point source inventories and pollution load estimates (per EMB MC 2020-25); waterbody profile (dimensions, velocity, discharge); maps at 1:50,000 or finer; and a stakeholder consultation report. AA redesignation additionally requires evidence of sustained controls and a WQMA Governing Board resolution.

Section 7. Procedures

For NAAs: initiation; EMB RO validation and site inspection; boundary determination using benchmarks (monitoring stations, pollution outlets, land use changes, water intakes, tributary confluences), with extension to tributaries where needed; formulation of the NAA Action Plan and Contingency Plan; public consultation; submission to EMB Central Office; and designation by the DENR Secretary through a DAO. AA reclassification follows a parallel process. The DENR Secretary is the final approving authority.

Section 8. Roles

EMB Central Office evaluates proposals and reports annually to the Secretary. EMB Regional Offices lead technical work, oversee plan implementation, conduct quarterly compliance monitoring, and impose penalties with LGUs. WQMA Governing Boards oversee implementation and report quarterly. LGUs enforce supporting ordinances and report bi-annually. PENROs/CENROs, the private sector, and NGOs support monitoring, clean-up, and financing.

Section 9. Monitoring and Evaluation

Monthly water quality monitoring in NAAs and AAs, including boundary inlets and outlets and additional stations for adjacent sources. Action Plan implementation starts within 30 days of effectivity. A detailed review occurs by the last quarter of the second year; annual evaluations determine redesignation feasibility or added interventions.

Section 10. Plan Contents

• NAA Action Plan (two-year horizon): pollution source inventory and load assessment, measurable parameter targets and timelines (for example, BOD and fecal coliform), reduction strategies (treatment facility upgrades, agricultural best practices, removal of illegal discharges), stakeholder roles, monitoring framework, resource mobilization, and milestones.
• NAA Contingency Plan: triggered if year-two evaluation shows targets will not be met, implemented in the first quarter of year three, with gap analysis, stricter effluent standards for establishments in NAAs, limits on new sources unless offset by reductions from existing sources, mandatory advanced treatment, penalties up to closure, expanded enforcement, ecosystem restoration and green infrastructure, and removal of illegal structures along waterways.

Effectivity

Takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication and upon filing with ONAR.

Signed by Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga. Summary prepared by EnviSynergy from the official DENR issuance; refer to the full text for binding provisions.