The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) has moved the processing of Environmental Compliance Certificates and other environmental permits to fully online platforms under the Marcos administration, reducing face-to-face transactions and human discretion in the approval process, EMB Director Michael Drake Matias said Saturday.
Matias made the statement in an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on August 15, as part of the DZRH SONA 2026 Series featuring the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
He said the digitalization of ECC processing means applicants no longer need to appear in person at EMB offices, reducing both the burden on businesses and the opportunities for irregular transactions.
“May mga permits po tayo na dinadagdag opo, na na-streamline po natin ang proseso,” Matias said, describing the change as part of a broader EMB effort to make the permitting process faster and more transparent.
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna explained the significance using a concrete example, likening the digitalization effort to the City Government of Manila’s streamlining of city requirements—where permit applications that once required 25 steps were reduced to 15, and then to 7.
He said the ECC is required by virtually all major companies and infrastructure projects before they can begin operations, meaning that faster and more transparent processing directly accelerates economic activity and reduces the cost of doing business in the Philippines.
Matias said the EMB continues to maintain strict monitoring of environmental compliance even as it streamlines the permitting process, stressing that making it easier to apply for permits does not mean lowering the environmental standards that applicants must meet.
The digital ECC processing is complemented by the DENR Express program, which brings mobile permitting teams to all 17 regions monthly to serve applicants in areas with limited internet access, ensuring that digitalization benefits reach even the most remote communities.
