COURSE CODE: FSSE 114

COURSE TITLE: Places and Landscape in the Changing World

SCHEDULE: THU | 8:00AM – 11:00AM

CHAPTER 10: Basic Laws On Environment And Natural Resources In The

Pholilippines
What should I know about the Basic Laws on Evoromnvironment and Natural
Resources in the Pholilippines?
How is it relevant to us, students, and our society?
Why study these laws?

CHAPTER POINTS:
 GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS & POLICIES;
 ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND POLICIES ON WASTE & POLLUTION.

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES:
In this chapter, you are expected to:
 know the laws made for the Environment and Natural Resources ;
 Understand the significance of each laws.

GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS & POLICIES

Philippine Environmental Policy

Presidential Decree No. 1151 (06 June 1977): In the pursuit of
advancing both the productive and harmonious relationship of nature and
the Filipino people of today and the future, the Philippine Environmental
Policy mandates an intensive and integrated national environmental
protection program mainly by requiring environmental impact assessments
and statements.

Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System

Presidential Decree No. 1586 (11 June 1978): This policy established
the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System (PEISS) as the
framework for all environmental impact assessment activities nationwide. In
consonance with the Philippine Environmental Policy (PD 1151), the PEISS
includes the classification of every development project as either
environmentally critical or environmentally non-critical. All projects that can
potentially cause any form of significant impact to the environment are
regarded as environmentally critical and are therefore required to secure an
Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act of 1992

Republic Act No. 7611: The Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) is “a
comprehensive framework for the sustainable development of Palawan.” All
projects of government agencies, from planning to implementation, in the
province should be coordinated and aligned to this framework. The main
strategy here is to establish an “Environmentally Critical Areas Network” or
ECAN which is a graded system of protective control over all terrestrial and
marine natural resources, as well as the tribal ancestral lands in Palawan.
The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) was created
pursuant to this policy.

Climate Change Act of 2009

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Republic Act No. 9729: In light of the climate vulnerability of the
Philippines and its people, the Climate Change Act of 2009 integrates climate
change adaptation and mitigation strategies into policy formulation and
development activities of all government agencies. It also created the
Climate Change Commission, chaired by the President of the Republic of the
Philippines, as the central entity for all climate change-related plans and
programs in the country.

Writ of Kalikasan
Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases: The Writ of Kalikasan is
one of the two (2) special civil actions that any person or entity can avail of
whenever their constitutional right to a balanced and healthy environment is
violated or threatened. The other civil action that can be availed of is the
Writ for Continuing Mandamus (A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC Rule 8) which applies
when a government agency or officer violates an environmental policy.

Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010

Republic Act No. 10121: Making the then National Disaster Coordinating
Council (NDCC) into what we know today as the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to serve as the lead agency
for disaster-related programs in the Philippines such as but not limited to the
development of the comprehensive guides for DRR efforts nationwide
(referred to as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Framework [NDRRMF] and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Plan [NDRRMP]).

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND POLICIES ON WASTE & POLLUTION

Philippine Sanitation Code

Presidential Decree No. 856 (23 December 1975): The Philippine
Sanitation Code sets sanitary standards for drinking water, food and other
business establishments, industrial hygiene, schools, health services,
markets, slaughterhouses, transport vehicles, terminals and other service
stations, and lodging areas and infrastructures among many others. It
regulates nuisances (anything that injures health, endangers life, offends
senses, or produces discomfort to the community), and activities concerning
dead persons, their funeral, and remains. Importantly, it regulates other
forms of pollution not covered in the above-mentioned places like that
caused by certain substances, radiation, noise, and biological pollutants
among others. It also sets the requirements for the collection of sewage,
operation of sewerage works and sewage treatment plants, construction of
septic tanks, and disposal of septic tank effluents (Chapter XVII).

Marine Pollution Decree of 1976

Presidential Decree No. 979 (18 August 1976): Pursuant to this policy,
dumping of wastes and other hazardous matter into the ocean and inland
waters of the Philippines is considered unlawful unless due to unavoidable
accidents or otherwise prescribed by the National Pollution Control
Commission or the Philippine Coast Guard.

Water Code of the Philippines

Presidential Decree No. 1067 (31 December 1976): The Water Code of
the Philippines governs the ownership, allocation, utilization, control,
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conservation, and the overall administration of all waters and water
resources in the country through the National Water Resources Board.
Filipinos of legal age and entities, including government agencies, must
acquire a water permit (the written evidence of having a water right) in order
to be able to appropriate and use water. Any activities affecting water
resources shall likewise acquire a permit first.

Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of

1990
Republic Act No. 6969: Importation, manufacturing, processing, sale,
distribution, use, and disposal of substances that pose an unreasonable risk
and/or injury to the health of the people and the environment are prohibited
under this Act. All chemicals being presently imported, manufactured, or
used in the country are listed in an inventory with full details and any new
substances must undergo pre-manufacturing or pre-importation regulations.
To get to know more about hazardous waste management in the Philippines,
check out our definitive guide on this topic here.

Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

Republic Act No. 8749: One of the salient features of this Act is the
establishment of a multi-sectoral Integrated Air Quality Improvement
Framework and Air Quality Control Action Plan which will serve as the
primary guide for air pollution management and control in the country.
Adopting a multi-sectoral or participatory approach (also called “partnership
approach to healthy air” or “people-driven approach”) means that ideas and
comments should be gathered from all stakeholders, and information is
largely disclosed to the public. Alongside many other regulatory measures,
all sources of air pollutant emissions are also mandated by this Act to secure
a permit to operate apart from the Environmental Compliance Certificate
(ECC). Importantly, this Act sets the emission limits for various types of
pollutants both stationary and mobile, including smoking, fuel and fuel
additives, ozone-depleting substances, greenhouse gases, and organic
pollutants among many others.

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

Republic Act No. 9003: Aimed at establishing a nationwide ecological solid
waste management program, this Act provides for the furtherance of proper
segregation, collection and transport, recycling, and composting of wastes in
the Philippines. Article 6 of RA 9003 promulgates the guidelines for a
comprehensive waste management strategy including but not limited to:
Prohibition of open dumps, Requiring a permit for solid waste management
facility construction and expansion, Guidelines for controlled dumps, and
Criteria for siting, establishment, and operations of sanitary landfills in the
country.

Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

Republic Act No. 9275: The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 is the
comprehensive strategy for the protection and conservation of the country’s
water resources, both freshwater and marine. This Act requires the
acquisition of water pollution permits through the “Wastewater Charge
System” which ensures that there are no unauthorized, undocumented, and
unregulated discharges in any water body in the Philippines. Project and
program proponents are also required to establish an environmental
guarantee fund (EGF) in order to finance the preservation and/or
rehabilitation of the health of the affected ecosystems, especially that of the
watersheds and aquifers among others. All persons or organizations that
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cause pollution are likewise required to clean-up any pollution they have
caused at their own expense.

prepared by:
Arnado, Mark Anthony C.
Llander, Evon Claire C.
Senense, Ma. Rosella Katerina A.

Reference:

Complete list of all environmental laws and policies in the Philippines.

GreenDev Solutions. (2024, January 23).
https://greendevsolutions.com/environmental-laws-and-policies-in-the-
philippines/

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